Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play I'm Still Standing on piano
By Elton John
- A major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 1983
- Easy
Learn I'm Still Standing in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Bm – E7 – Dm
I'm Still Standing sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Bm is B, D and F#; E7 is E, G#, B and D; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiBmiiE7V7Dmiv- AmA · C · E
- BmB · D · F#
- E7E · G# · B · D
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Tiptoe seesaw
A low note, then the higher note tiptoes on every “and”. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 207 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about I'm Still Standing
What chords are in I'm Still Standing?
The loop is Am – Bm – E7 – Dm (i – ii – V7 – iv) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is I'm Still Standing in?
A major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I'm Still Standing?
Tiptoe seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I'm Still Standing 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.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.