Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Steel Rails on piano
Written by Louisa Branscomb
- E major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–ii–IV–V loop
- 1973
- Easy
Learn Steel Rails in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – F#m – A – B
Steel Rails sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; F#m is F#, A and C#; A is A, C# and E; B is B, D# and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIF#miiAIVBV- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Island seesaw
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE
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Questions about Steel Rails
What chords are in Steel Rails?
The loop is E – F#m – A – B (I – ii – IV – V) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Steel Rails in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Steel Rails?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Steel Rails 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.