Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Shake, Rattle and Roll on piano
Artist unknown
- F major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- I–IV7–I–V7 loop
- Easy
Learn Shake, Rattle and Roll in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb7 – F – C7
Shake, Rattle and Roll sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBb7IV7FIC7V7- FF · A · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Rockabilly wiggle
Root, a skip down, a step down and back up: a rockabilly shake. Musicians call it broken chord 8-6-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 76 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Shake, Rattle and Roll
What chords are in Shake, Rattle and Roll?
The loop is F – Bb7 – F – C7 (I – IV7 – I – V7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Shake, Rattle and Roll in?
F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Shake, Rattle and Roll?
Rockabilly wiggle: broken chord 8-6-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Shake, Rattle and Roll 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.