Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer on piano
By Randy Brooks
- E major
- 4/4
- 112 BPM
- IV–I–V–I loop
- 1979
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – E – B – E
How it goes
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; E is E, G# and B; B is B, D# and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIVEIBVEI- AA · C# · E
- EE · G# · B
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
How it goes
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 112 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: E – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EBE
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Questions about Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
What chords are in Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer?
The loop is A – E – B – E (IV – I – V – I) in E major, and the song ends on E – B – E.
What key is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer in?
E major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.