Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play London Calling on piano
By The Clash
- E minor
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Learn London Calling in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Fmaj7 – Em – Fmaj7
London Calling sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiFmaj7bIImaj7EmiFmaj7bIImaj7- EmE · G · B
- Fmaj7F · A · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about London Calling
What chords are in London Calling?
The loop is Em – Fmaj7 – Em – Fmaj7 (i – bIImaj7 – i – bIImaj7) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is London Calling in?
E minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in London Calling?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is London Calling 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.
Can I hear the real melody of London Calling?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.