Rock ’n’ Roll Is King Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Rock ’n’ Roll Is King in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: A – E – A – D
How it goes
Rock ’n’ Roll Is King sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; E is E, G# and B; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIEVAIDIV
- AA · C# · E
- EE · G# · B
- DD · F# · A
76 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll climb
How it goes
Up three chord notes and one step past: the 1950s rock’n’roll climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
Rock’n’roll climbBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pumping chordsPumping 8ths · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 160 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA

What chords are in Rock ’n’ Roll Is King?

The loop is A – E – A – D (I – V – I – IV) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.

What key is Rock ’n’ Roll Is King in?

A major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Rock ’n’ Roll Is King?

Rock’n’roll climb: broken chord 1-3-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Rock ’n’ Roll Is King easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.