Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Gather Around The Christmas Tree on piano
By John H. Hopkins, Jr.
- F major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- I–ii–V7–I loop
- 1991
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Gather Around The Christmas Tree in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Gm – C7 – F
How it goes
Gather Around The Christmas Tree sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIGmiiC7V7FI- FF · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Giant steps
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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: Gm – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmC7F
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Questions about Gather Around The Christmas Tree
What chords are in Gather Around The Christmas Tree?
The loop is F – Gm – C7 – F (I – ii – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C7 – F.
What key is Gather Around The Christmas Tree in?
F major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Gather Around The Christmas Tree?
Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Gather Around The Christmas Tree 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.