Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play It Came Upon The Midnight Clear on piano
Written by Richard S. Willis
- Ab major
- 6/4
- 130 BPM
- 2003
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn It Came Upon The Midnight Clear in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Ab – Fm – Ebsus4
How it goes
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Ebsus4 is Eb, Ab and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbVAbIFmviEbsus4Vsus4- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- FmF · Ab · C
- Ebsus4Eb · Ab · Bb
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
Play next
Questions about It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
What chords are in It Came Upon The Midnight Clear?
The loop is Eb – Ab – Fm – Ebsus4 (V – I – vi – Vsus) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is It Came Upon The Midnight Clear in?
Ab major, at about 130 beats a minute in 6/4.
What does the left hand play in It Came Upon The Midnight Clear?
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 It Came Upon The Midnight Clear 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.