Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Alma Navideña on piano
Written by Miguel Abdala Char
- G major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–V–I loop
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Alma Navideña in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – D – G
How it goes
Alma Navideña sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVDVGI- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
How it goes
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bossa chords
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: soft Brazilian chords. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
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Questions about Alma Navideña
What chords are in Alma Navideña?
The loop is G – C – D – G (I – IV – V – I) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Alma Navideña in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Alma Navideña?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Alma Navideña 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.