The Specials

Rat Race – The Specials: piano chords

Rat Race by The Specials uses 8 chords in E major; difficulty on the piano: medium.

Practice this song
E major Difficulty: medium

Chords in the song

C#m C# G# G A B G#m E

Chord sheet

Intro 1

C#m C# G# G C#m A B C#m G#m A B

Verse 1

C#m G#m A B C#m G#m A B C#m G#m A B C#m G#m A B

Chorus 1

E B A E B A E B A C#m A B

Bridge 1

C#m G#m A B

Chords on the piano

C#m

C♯ — bass noteC♯E — chord toneEG♯ — chord toneG♯
C♯EG♯
Practice C#m

C#

D♭ — bass noteD♭F — chord toneFA♭ — chord toneA♭
C♯FG♯
Practice C#

G#

A♭ — bass noteA♭C — chord toneCE♭ — chord toneE♭
G♯CD♯
Practice G#

G

G — bass noteGB — chord toneBD — chord toneD
GBD
Practice G

A

A — bass noteAC♯ — chord toneC♯E — chord toneE
AC♯E
Practice A

B

B — bass noteBD♯ — chord toneD♯F♯ — chord toneF♯
BD♯F♯
Practice B

G#m

G♯ — bass noteG♯B — chord toneBD♯ — chord toneD♯
G♯BD♯
Practice G#m

E

E — bass noteEG♯ — chord toneG♯B — chord toneB
EG♯B
Practice E

Questions

Which chords does Rat Race by The Specials use?

Different chords: 8. They are all in the list under “Chords in the song”.

What key is Rat Race by The Specials in?

The chords fit E major. This is estimated from the chords, so the recording may be in another key.

How hard is Rat Race to play on the piano?

Difficulty: medium. The rating counts the different chords (8), 7th and extended chords, and chords with another bass note.

More by The Specials

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