Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day on piano
By MercyMe
- E major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 2005
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Esus4 – E – Esus4 – B
How it goes
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Esus4 is E, A and B; 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.
Esus4Isus4EIEsus4Isus4BV- Esus4E · A · B
- EE · G# · B
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Rock hop
How it goes
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
How it goes
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
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Questions about I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
What chords are in I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day?
The loop is Esus4 – E – Esus4 – B (Isus – I – Isus – V) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day in?
E major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day?
Rock hop: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day 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.