Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Limbo Rock on piano
Written by Billy Strange & Jon Sheldon
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–V–I–IV loop
- 1961
- Easy
Learn Limbo Rock in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Ab – Db
Limbo Rock sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIEbVAbIDbIV- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Hurry-and-wait pulse
Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Ab – Db – Ab
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbDbAb
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Questions about Limbo Rock
What chords are in Limbo Rock?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Ab – Db (I – V – I – IV) in Ab major, and the song ends on Ab – Db – Ab.
What key is Limbo Rock in?
Ab major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Limbo Rock?
Hurry-and-wait pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Limbo Rock 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.