How to Actually Play In The End on Piano (Linkin Park)
To play the In The End piano intro, loop the low melody Eb, Bb, Bb, Gb (followed by a phrase built on F) below middle C in the right hand, while the left hand plays fifth chords on Eb, Db, B and back to Db, using the pedal and lifting it at each chord change.
Key points
- The In The End intro is a short melody loop starting Eb, Bb, Bb, Gb, played low below middle C.
- The left hand plays fifth (power) chords on Eb, Db, B and Db, because triads sound muddy in the bass.
- The melody fills out the harmony, turning the Eb fifth into Eb minor and adding a major-seventh colour over B.
- Pedal each chord and lift the pedal at every chord change.
- Offbeat eighth notes in the left hand add rhythmic drive.
What this lesson teaches
In this lesson, Jason Zac from Nathaniel School of Music shows you how to play the famous piano intro from Linkin Park's In The End. It is one of the first pieces many people want to learn after listening to contemporary rock, and it is easy to pick up. The lesson skips heavy theory and simply shows you the notes, then thickens the sound with left-hand chords so it sounds bigger and more powerful than the single-note original.
This page suits beginners who can find notes on the keyboard and want a recognisable riff to play for friends and family.
Step 1: The right-hand melody loop
Like many Linkin Park songs, the intro is a short phrase that loops for almost the whole song. Start with these notes:
- Eb, Bb, Bb, Gb (Gb can also be thought of as F#)
Play this low, below middle C in the bass clef area. Do not play it higher up, because that is not where the loop sits. A fingering that works well is thumb on Eb, ring finger on both Bbs, and index finger on Gb.
The loop then continues with a phrase that settles on F: a run of repeated Fs with quick touches of F# (Gb) in between. Once you can play both parts back to back, you have the full melody loop.
Step 2: Left-hand fifth chords
The left hand plays chords, but full triads sound muddy in such a low register. Instead, use fifth chords, also called power chords: just the root and the fifth.
- Eb5: Eb and Bb
- Db5: Db and Ab
- B5: B and F#
- Back to Db5: Db and Ab
Play the same melody loop over each new chord. The order is Eb, Db, B, Db, and then it repeats.
Why these simple chords sound rich
These fifth chords may look plain, but the melody fills in the harmony. Over the Eb fifth, the Gb in the melody completes an Eb minor chord (Eb, Gb, Bb). The Db section gives a lovely spread-out voicing of Db, and over the B fifth the melody adds the third (D#) and the major seventh (A#), giving the colour of a B major seventh sound. So the hands together create fuller harmony than either hand alone.
Step 3: Pedal and rhythm
Use the sustain pedal to let each chord ring out. Lift the pedal at each chord change and press it down again, so the harmonies stay clean and don't blur into one another.
For extra drive, you can add rhythmic motion in the left hand by playing the fifth chord on the offbeat eighth notes instead of only holding it. Jason Zac likes to do this sometimes to give the loop more energy.
How to practise it
- Learn the right-hand loop alone until it flows, keeping it low on the keyboard.
- Practise the four left-hand fifth chords on their own: Eb, Db, B, Db.
- Put the hands together slowly, playing the full loop over each chord.
- Add the pedal, changing it cleanly with each new chord.
- Try the offbeat eighth-note version once the basic loop is steady.
- Play it with as much emotion as you can, and finish by stopping cleanly, which is where the song itself begins.
Questions about this lesson
What are the notes of the In The End piano intro?
The loop starts with Eb, Bb, Bb, Gb (also called F#), and continues with a phrase built on repeated Fs with quick touches of F#. Play it low, below middle C.
What chords does the left hand play in In The End?
The left hand plays fifth chords: Eb5 (Eb and Bb), Db5 (Db and Ab), B5 (B and F#), then back to Db5. The same melody loop repeats over each chord.
Why use power chords instead of full triads in the left hand?
Full triads sound muddy in the low bass register. Fifth chords stay clear, and the melody supplies the missing notes, such as the Gb that turns the Eb fifth into Eb minor.
How should I use the pedal for this intro?
Press the sustain pedal to let each chord ring, then lift and press it again whenever the chord changes so the harmonies stay clean.
Practise it
- Voicing RoomA hands-on lesson room for piano chord voicings.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
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