Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
- E major
- 4/4
- 144 BPM
- IV–I–IV–I loop
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll written out as piano music: the IV – I – IV – I loop in E major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays sleepy heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 3 · 3&) and the right hand steady chords.
It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in E major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | IV | A C# E |
| 2 | E | I | E G# B |
| 3 | A | IV | A C# E |
| 4 | E | I | E G# B |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: sleepy heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 3 · 3&) in the left hand and steady chords in the right, over the A – E – A – E chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll
Does the sheet music for It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll?
The loop is A – E – A – E (IV – I – IV – I) in E major, and the song ends on E – A – E.
What key is It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll in?
E major, at about 144 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll?
Sleepy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.