Rooms On Fire Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Rooms On Fire in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – G – F – G
Rooms On Fire sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVGVFIVGV
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
96 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Run-up chords
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Run-up chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Rooms On Fire?

The loop is F – G – F – G (IV – V – IV – V) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Rooms On Fire in?

C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Rooms On Fire?

Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Rooms On Fire 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.