Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen on piano
- D minor
- 4/4
- 155 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fmaj7 – Em7 – A7 – Dm – Em7 – F – Em7
How it goes
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E; Em7 is E, G, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Fmaj7IIImaj7Em7ii7A7V7DmiEm7ii7FIIIEm7ii7- Fmaj7F · A · C · E
- Em7E · G · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 155 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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
What chords are in God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen?
The loop is Fmaj7 – Em7 – A7 – Dm – Em7 – F – Em7 (IIImaj7 – ii7 – V7 – i – ii7 – III – ii7) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen in?
D minor, at about 155 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.