Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
How to play Merry Christmas, Baby on piano
Written by Lou Baxter & Johnny Moore
- G major
- 12/8
- 95 BPM
- IV7–I7–IV7–I7 loop
- 1948
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Merry Christmas, Baby in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – G7 – C7 – G7
How it goes
Merry Christmas, Baby sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7IV7G7I7C7IV7G7I7- C7C · E · G · Bb
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Slow-dance heartbeat
How it goes
Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 134 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Slow-dance chords
How it goes
Four slow chords per bar under a swaying fifties ballad. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 95 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about Merry Christmas, Baby
What chords are in Merry Christmas, Baby?
The loop is C7 – G7 – C7 – G7 (IV7 – I7 – IV7 – I7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Merry Christmas, Baby in?
G major, at about 95 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Merry Christmas, Baby?
Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Merry Christmas, Baby 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.