Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play A Christmas Carol on piano
Written by Leslie Bricusse
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- 1970
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn A Christmas Carol in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – C7 – F
How it goes
A Christmas Carol sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVC7II7FV- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Fiesta bounce
How it goes
A long fifth, then high root and low root: a happy fiesta bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 5-8-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 119 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Eb – F7 – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbF7Bb- F7F · A · C · Eb
Play next
Questions about A Christmas Carol
What chords are in A Christmas Carol?
The loop is Bb – Eb – C7 – F (I – IV – II7 – V) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F7 – Bb.
What key is A Christmas Carol in?
Bb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in A Christmas Carol?
Fiesta bounce: broken chord 5-8-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is A Christmas Carol easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.