Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Cold December Nights on piano
Written by Shawn Stockman & Michael McCary
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1993
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Cold December Nights in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Gsus4 – C – F
How it goes
Cold December Nights sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Gsus4 is G, C and D; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviGsus4Vsus4CIFIV- AmA · C · E
- Gsus4G · C · D
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. 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: 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- GG · B · D
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Questions about Cold December Nights
What chords are in Cold December Nights?
The loop is Am – Gsus4 – C – F (vi – Vsus – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Cold December Nights in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Cold December Nights?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Cold December Nights 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.