Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Boogie Woogie Santa Claus on piano
By Leon Rene
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 126 BPM
- ii–V7–ii–V7 loop
- 1952
- Easy
Learn Boogie Woogie Santa Claus in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Bb7 – Fm – Bb7
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiiBb7V7FmiiBb7V7- FmF · Ab · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 126 BPM
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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
What chords are in Boogie Woogie Santa Claus?
The loop is Fm – Bb7 – Fm – Bb7 (ii – V7 – ii – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Boogie Woogie Santa Claus in?
Eb major, at about 126 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Boogie Woogie Santa Claus?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 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.