Rock, Pop

Rocket Man Chords

Elton John Intermediate Key of C 5 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Guitar

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Ukulele

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Piano

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Banjo

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Mandolin

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Rocket Man Chords – Harmonica

Elton John’s sci-fi classic about an astronaut’s loneliness is one of rock’s greatest songs. The sweeping chord progression creates a sense of vast space and melancholy.

Sweeping Rock Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The intro uses arpeggiated Am and Dm chords to create that floaty, spacey feel. Build the dynamics throughout – the chorus should feel like liftoff. Let chords ring and sustain.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am Dm

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight

F C

Zero hour, nine a.m.

F C F C

And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then

Chorus

C F

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time

C

‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find

F C

I’m not the man they think I am at home

F G

Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man

Am F G C

Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here a-lone

Verse 2

Am Dm

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids

F C

In fact it’s cold as hell

F C F C

And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Rocket Man"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Rocket Man" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Rocket Man" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Rocket Man"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1972.