Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
Christmas Tears: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Eric Clapton
- C major
- 12/8
- 87 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–IV7 loop
- Easy
Christmas Tears written out as piano music: the I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7 loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays rocking chair (rocking octaves (12/8)), and the right hand sings the tune.
Christmas Tears chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C7 | I7 | C E G Bb |
| 2 | F7 | IV7 | F A C Eb |
| 3 | C7 | I7 | C E G Bb |
| 4 | F7 | IV7 | F A C Eb |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: rocking chair (rocking octaves (12/8)) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the C7 – F7 – C7 – F7 chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
Play next
More by Eric Clapton
Questions about Christmas Tears
Does the sheet music for Christmas Tears have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.