Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Rebel Yell on piano
By Billy Idol
- D major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Learn Rebel Yell in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – G – F#m – Bm
Rebel Yell sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviGIVF#miiiBmvi- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Lingering chords
Two chords, then a late one after beat 3 that hangs in the air. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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 – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Rebel Yell
What chords are in Rebel Yell?
The loop is Bm – G – F#m – Bm (vi – IV – iii – vi) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Rebel Yell in?
D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Rebel Yell?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rebel Yell 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.