Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Ding Dong! Merrily On High! on piano
By French Carol
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Ding Dong! Merrily On High! in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Bb – Bb7 – Eb – C7 – F7 – Ebmaj7 – Em7 – F7
How it goes
Ding Dong! Merrily On High! sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 9 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D; Em7 is E, G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIBbIBb7I7EbIVC7II7F7V7Ebmaj7IVmaj7Em7#iv7F7V7- BbBb · D · F
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- Em7E · G · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Power fifths
How it goes
Root and fifth together: big and bold. Musicians call it lh power fifths (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 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 140 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: C7 – F7 – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
C7F7Bb
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Questions about Ding Dong! Merrily On High!
What chords are in Ding Dong! Merrily On High!?
The loop is Bb – Bb – Bb7 – Eb – C7 – F7 – Ebmaj7 – Em7 – F7 (I – I7 – IV – II7 – V7 – IVmaj7 – #iv7 – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on C7 – F7 – Bb.
What key is Ding Dong! Merrily On High! in?
Bb major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ding Dong! Merrily On High!?
Power fifths: lh power fifths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ding Dong! Merrily On High! easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 9 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Ding Dong! Merrily On High!?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.