Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Jingle Bells on piano
By Glee Cast
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 2010
- Easy
Learn Jingle Bells in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Ebm – Bb – G7
Jingle Bells sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ebm is Eb, Gb and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIVEbmivBbIG7VI7- EbEb · G · Bb
- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 BPM
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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- FF · A · C
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Questions about Jingle Bells
What chords are in Jingle Bells?
The loop is Eb – Ebm – Bb – G7 (IV – iv – I – VI7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Jingle Bells in?
Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Jingle Bells?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jingle Bells 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.