Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Rock And A Hard Place on piano
- A minor
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 1989
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Rock And A Hard Place in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – F – Em
How it goes
Rock And A Hard Place sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; F is F, A and C; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GVIIDIVFVIEmv- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- FF · A · C
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
How it goes
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 BPM
How it goes
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: F – G – Am
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- AmA · C · E
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Questions about Rock And A Hard Place
What chords are in Rock And A Hard Place?
The loop is G – D – F – Em (bVII – IV – bVI – v) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is Rock And A Hard Place in?
A minor, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Rock And A Hard Place?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rock And A Hard Place 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.