In The Bleak Midwinter Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn In The Bleak Midwinter in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: F – Dm – Bb – C
How it goes
In The Bleak Midwinter sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A; Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIDmviBbIVCV
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
95 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Velvet jazzLeft-hand chords · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Push-and-land chords
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Push-and-land chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 100 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 – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF

What chords are in In The Bleak Midwinter?

The loop is F – Dm – Bb – C (I – vi – IV – V) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is In The Bleak Midwinter in?

F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in In The Bleak Midwinter?

Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is In The Bleak Midwinter 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.