Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Lonesome Christmas on piano
Written by Lloyd Glenn
- E major
- 4/4
- 108 BPM
- IV7–I7–V7–IV7 loop
- 1978
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Lonesome Christmas in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – E7 – B7 – A7
How it goes
Lonesome Christmas sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; E7 is E, G#, B and D; B7 is B, D#, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7IV7E7I7B7V7A7IV7- A7A · C# · E · G
- E7E · G# · B · D
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll rocker
How it goes
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 262 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 108 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about Lonesome Christmas
What chords are in Lonesome Christmas?
The loop is A7 – E7 – B7 – A7 (IV7 – I7 – V7 – IV7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Lonesome Christmas in?
E major, at about 108 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Lonesome Christmas?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Lonesome Christmas easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.