How to play Treat Me Rough on piano

Learn Treat Me Rough in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Am – Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
Treat Me Rough sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviDmiiG7V7CI
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
35 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Three-step climbBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
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.
Hopscotch bellsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 152 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 – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Treat Me Rough?

The loop is Am – Dm – G7 – C (vi – ii – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Treat Me Rough in?

C major, at about 152 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Treat Me Rough?

Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Treat Me Rough 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.