Other arrangements of One Step Closer
Pick a learning view.
break.
I can not take this an y (C#)more,
wish say ing ev ’ry thing I’ve said be (C#5)fore.
(C#5)All these words, (D#5)they (A5)make (G#5)no (C#5)sense: I find bliss (D#5)in (A5)ig (G#5)no (C#5)rance.
(C#5)Less I hear (D#5)the (A5)less (G#5)you’ll (C#5)say, you’ll find that (D#5)out (A5)an (G#5)y (C#5)way,
just like be fore.
Ev ’ry thing you say to me takes me one step clos er to the edge and I’m a bout to break.
I need a lit tle room to breathe ’cause I’m one step clos er to the edge, I’m a bout to break.
I find the an swers aren’t so (C#)clear,
wish I could find a way to dis ap (C#5)pear.
(C#5)All these thoughts, (D#5)they (A5)make (G#5)no (C#5)sense: I find bliss (D#5)in (A5)ig (G#5)no (C#5)rance.
(C#5)Noth ing seems (D#5)to (A5)go (G#5)a (C#5)way o ver and (D#5)o (A5)ver (G#5)a (C#5)gain,
just like be fore.
Ev ’ry thing you say to me takes me one step clos er to the edge and I’m a bout to break.
I need a lit tle room to breathe ’cause I’m one step clos er to the edge, I’m a bout to one step clos er to the edge, I’m a bout to break.
Ev ’ry thing you say to me takes me one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to break.
I need a lit tle room to breathe ’cause I’m one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to
(C#5)break.
Shut up when I’m talk ing to you.
(D5)Shut (C#5)up,
(D5)shut (C#5)up,
(D5)shut (C#5)up.
(C#5)Shut up when I’m talk (E5)ing (D5)to (C#5)you.
(D5)Shut (C#5)up,
(D5)shut (C#5)up,
(D5)shut (C#5)up.
(C#5)Shut up when I’m talk (E5)ing (D5)to (C#5)you.
(D5)Shut (C#5)up.
(D5)I’m a bout to break.
Ev ’ry thing you say to me takes me one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to break.
I need a lit tle room to breathe ’cause I’m one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to break.
Ev ’ry thing you say to me takes me one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to break.
I need a lit tle room to breathe ’cause I’m one step clos er to the edge, and I’m a bout to
(CN.C.)break.
One Step Closer — Visual Piano Sheet Music
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"One Step Closer" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of E, 95 BPM.
This arrangement is a great workout for power chords — you've got a dozen of them across the key of E, and your right hand needs to lock into those tight two- or three-note shapes cleanly every time.
At 95 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the walking bass pattern in your left hand means both hands stay busy, so start hands-separate until each part feels automatic.
Pay special attention to the transitions between C#pow and D#pow — they sit a whole step apart and come up fast, so drill that move in a slow loop until your fingers find the distance without looking.
The Dsus2 and the natural C chord will feel unexpected against the E tonality; don't rush through them, because those moments carry the dramatic tension of the song.
Once you're comfortable, bring both hands together at around 70 BPM and gradually push toward full speed.
If the walking bass ever falls out of sync with your chord hand, drop the tempo — accuracy first, always.
This is the piece that'll solidify your power-chord vocabulary and teach your left hand to walk independently, skills you'll use in practically every rock arrangement from here on.
Try other practice modes:
About “One Step Closer”
- Why does "One Step Closer" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "One Step Closer".
- What key is "One Step Closer" by Linkin Park played in?
- One Step Closer is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "One Step Closer"?
- The arrangement plays at 95 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "One Step Closer" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "One Step Closer"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "One Step Closer"?
- "One Step Closer" was originally performed by Linkin Park. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "One Step Closer"?
- This arrangement uses 12 chords: Apow, Bpow, C, C#, C#pow, D#pow, Dpow, Dsus2, +4 more.
- What other songs by Linkin Park can I play here?
- Try "WAITING FOR THE END", "ONE MORE LIGHT", "LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "One Step Closer"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "One Step Closer".
- Can I see all the notes in "One Step Closer"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of E at 95 BPM.
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