Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Candy Cane Christmas on piano
Written by Frank Rogers, Darius Rucker & others
- D major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- V7–I–biio–ii loop
- 2010
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Candy Cane Christmas in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – D – D#dim – Em
How it goes
Candy Cane Christmas sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; D#dim is D#, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DID#dimbii°Emii- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- D#dimD# · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 84 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: Em – A7 – D
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EmA7D
Play next
Questions about Candy Cane Christmas
What chords are in Candy Cane Christmas?
The loop is A7 – D – D#dim – Em (V7 – I – biio – ii) in D major, and the song ends on Em – A7 – D.
What key is Candy Cane Christmas in?
D major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Candy Cane Christmas?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Candy Cane Christmas 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.