PianoChords.studio

The Twist by Chubby Checker

Piano chords, voicings & structure breakdown · 21 steps · 3 unique chords · 1960s

Expert transcription. These chords come from a published research transcription of the original recording by trained musicians. A second independent transcription to cross-check against isn't available (or differs in places), so this page isn't marked verified.
IntroStep 1 of 21

B

LeftB1, F♯2RightB3, D♯4, F♯4
C4B1B3F♯2D♯4F♯4
Left hand Right hand Middle C (C4)

Harmonic Analysis & Structure

Overview

Key: E major · Chords used: 3 · Sections: 9

Form: Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Solo → Verse → Chorus ×2

Where these chords come from: an expert transcription of the original recording made for the McGill Billboard Project (Burgoyne, Wild & Fujinaga, 2011). This page shows that transcription as-is: the analysis below is generated directly from it by code, not written by AI. Consecutive repeats of a chord are shown once, and the piano voicings are our playable arrangement of each chord symbol, not a note-for-note transcription.

Section by section

Intro

  • B – A – E
    V – IV – I

Verse 1

  • E – A – E – B – A – E
    I – IV – I – V – IV – I

Chorus 1

  • E – A – E – B – A – E
    I – IV – I – V – IV – I

Verse 2

Same chords as Verse 1.

Chorus 2

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Solo

  • E – A – E – B – A – E
    I – IV – I – V – IV – I

Verse 3

Same chords as Verse 1.

Chorus 3

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Chorus 4

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Chord vocabulary

ChordRoman numeralRoleHeard in
BVIn the keyIntro, Verse, Chorus, Solo
AIVIn the keyIntro, Verse, Chorus, Solo
EIHome chord (tonic)Intro, Verse, Chorus, Solo

Sources & accuracy

  • Chords and sections: the McGill Billboard Project (Burgoyne, Wild & Fujinaga, 2011). Expert transcription by trained musicians (song 0948, CC0), via ChoCo.
  • Not verified: only one expert transcription of this song is available so far.
  • Rhythm and chord durations aren't shown; each step is one chord change.

Sources & Accuracy

Every chord on this page comes from the expert transcription listed first below. Piano voicings are our arrangement of the reported chord symbols, not a note-for-note transcription.

All Piano Voicings

#SectionChordLeft handRight handSources
1IntroBB1, F♯2B3, D♯4, F♯4—
2IntroAA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
3IntroEE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
4Verse 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
5Verse 1AA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
6Verse 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
7Verse 1BB1, F♯2B3, D♯4, F♯4—
8Verse 1AA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
9Verse 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
10Chorus 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
11Chorus 1AA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
12Chorus 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
13Chorus 1BB1, F♯2B3, D♯4, F♯4—
14Chorus 1AA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
15Chorus 1EE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
16SoloEE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
17SoloAA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
18SoloEE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—
19SoloBB1, F♯2B3, D♯4, F♯4—
20SoloAA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
21SoloEE2, B2B3, E4, G♯4—