Christmas Tears Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Christmas Tears in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C7 – F7 – C7 – F7
How it goes
Christmas Tears sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7I7F7IV7C7I7F7IV7
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
43 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Rocking chair
How it goes
Low, high, low, high, slow and swaying, like a rocking chair. Musicians call it rocking octaves (12/8) (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in 29 songs of the library.
Rocking chairRocking octaves · 50s doo-wopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
4
Both hands at 87 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Christmas Tears?

The loop is C7 – F7 – C7 – F7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Christmas Tears in?

C major, at about 87 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in Christmas Tears?

Rocking chair: rocking octaves (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Christmas Tears 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.