Piano songs that rock, there are a lot of them. In this blog post, we highlight a few. From old-school rock stars like Elton John to new shining superstars like Adele. So, sit back and enjoy the show… No, just kidding of course! Get your butt behind those keys, start reading and do some jamming along the way.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

‘Let It Be’ – The Beatles

Let’s start out with a golden oldie. This track is one you can rock to, like Shakira would say, “wherever, whenever.” It has a beautiful melody that everyone likes, and the song’s lyrics are the best — especially with the days becoming colder and darker, since we’ve said goodbye to the summer.

The chords for “Let It Be” by the Beatles aren’t that tough. Just check out the chord progression for yourself. It pretty much revolves around the basic triads C, G, Am and F. So, if you’re a beginner, this is definitely a song for you! For intermediate and more advanced players, this article has enough challenges in store for you. But still, honing your improvisation skills on a basic chord progression is always a good way to relax and improve. 

‘Make You Feel My Love’ – Adele

We all know that diva Adele has the ability to mesmerize anyone with her full and velvet voice. This song is, therefore, more of a challenge for the signer than the pianist. On the other hand, when you look at the chords for “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele, you’ll notice straight away that they aren’t your usual basic triads. There are a lot of nuances in the tune. It’s played in the key of Bb, so this song has some interesting chords in store for you.

So, for all you beginners out there, this is a bit of a challenge. For the intermediate and pro players this should be a walk in the park. We also understand all the purists that are reading this and thinking, “This track isn’t by Adele… It’s a Bob Dylan song!” Yeah, we know. You can always try out the original of course. The chord progression for “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan is rooted in Db, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

‘Lucille’ – Little Richard

We have a whole channel dedicated to this rock ’n’ roll piano boss. When Little Richard passed away, we shed a tear or two but then reminded ourselves that the man had become a legend. His music will always be associated with upbeat, badass rock ’n’ roll. If you want to play piano songs that rock, then Little Richard’s “Lucille” is a must have on your setlist. 

Just like Bob Dylan’s version of “Make You Feel My Love,” this track is written in the key of Db. “Lucille” contains only four chords; they’re not your basic triads, but still… Just four chords to play a classic? It’s definitely worth the time. Especially since you’ll learn how to play the D7, A7, G7 and Db7. What? You already know these chords! Cool, let’s jam. Want more songs of this legendary rocker? Check out our Little Richard Channel.

‘Tiny Dancer’ – Elton John

Now that we’re on the subject of legendary rockers. What about Elton John? This guy wrote so many beautiful songs on the keys; without compromising his rock ’n’ roll attitude. Truth be told, this song doesn’t have very easy chords. “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John is a track that tells a story about love and cravings. That’s what makes this song so epic. 

The melody is accompanied by a very diverse chord progression, which is rooted in the key of C. Yup, that’s the greatest key there is for piano players. As we already stated, the chords aren’t easy, but they are not very difficult either. So, if you’re an intermediate player, this track is pretty doable. How do you become an intermediate player? Well, you can start by learning songs like this. That will advance your skills in no time.

‘November Rain’ – Guns N’ Roses

Let’s go out with a bang, shall we? This band was one of the greatest of their time, and they still sell out stadiums. When you think of awesome rock ballads, this song from 1992 is definitely in the top 3. Well, it is in ours in any case. “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses is yet again a track for the intermediate player. It’s written in the key of B, and it’s a whole new ball game compared to other Guns N’ Roses songs. The main instrument is the piano, but Axl Rose wrote a bunch of other parts to make it the epic ballad that it is today.

Fun fact: When front man Axl played the track for his bandmates, guitarist Slash and bass player Duff, they said that they didn’t want to play the song. “It’s not our style, man.” Axl didn’t back off and after some explaining and convincing, Guns N’ Roses added the track to their Use Your Illusion I record. “November Rain” turned out to be their ticket to the mainstream. That being said, enjoy playing along with this track, and all the other tracks for that matter. Want more inspiration? Check out our Rocktober Channel. Happy jamming.

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Teo creates content, which means he writes, a lot, about music, and all things interesting. When it comes to jamming, his weapon of choice is the bass guitar.