Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Jingle Bells on piano
By J. Pierpont
- E major
- 5/4
- 138 BPM
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Jingle Bells in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – A – F#m
How it goes
Jingle Bells sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 3 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIAIVF#mii- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll rocker
How it goes
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 262 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 138 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: E – B7 – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EB7E- B7B · D# · F# · A
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Questions about Jingle Bells
What chords are in Jingle Bells?
The loop is E – A – F#m (I – IV – ii) in E major, and the song ends on E – B7 – E.
What key is Jingle Bells in?
E major, at about 138 beats a minute in 5/4.
What does the left hand play in Jingle Bells?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jingle Bells easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 3 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Jingle Bells?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 8 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.