I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day Piano Chords & Patterns

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: Bm – G – Bm – G
How it goes
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviGIVBmviGIV
- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
41 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Waltz ripple
How it goes
A ripple of three notes in three-time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 473 songs of the library.
Waltz rippleBroken chord · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Sleepy waltz chords
How it goes
A long chord, then a double on beat 3: a lazy, rocking waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Sleepy waltz chordsSyncopated chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 144 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: D – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DGD
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day?

The loop is Bm – G – Bm – G (vi – IV – vi – IV) in D major, and the song ends on D – G – D.

What key is I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day in?

D major, at about 144 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day?

Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (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.