Joyous Christmas Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Joyous Christmas in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – Am – Dm – G7
Joyous Christmas sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIAmviDmiiG7V7
- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
160 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Tumble down
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 635 songs of the library.
Tumble downBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-knock chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 90 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Joyous Christmas?

The loop is C – Am – Dm – G7 (I – vi – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Joyous Christmas in?

C major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Joyous Christmas?

Tumble down: broken chord 8-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Joyous Christmas 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.