Illegal Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Illegal in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Em – A – Em – A
Illegal sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiiAVEmiiAV
- EmE · G · B
- AA · C# · E
33 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Wobbly heartbeat
Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 267 songs of the library.
Wobbly heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-knock chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 72 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: G – Gm – D
The last chords are IV – iv – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GGmD
- GG · B · D
- GmG · Bb · D
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Illegal?

The loop is Em – A – Em – A (ii – V – ii – V) in D major, and the song ends on G – Gm – D.

What key is Illegal in?

D major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Illegal?

Wobbly heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Illegal easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.