Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Merry Christmas From The Family on piano
By Robert Earl Keen
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1995
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Merry Christmas From The Family in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – G – C
How it goes
Merry Christmas From The Family sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVGICIV- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Island seesaw
How it goes
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: G – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GCG
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Questions about Merry Christmas From The Family
What chords are in Merry Christmas From The Family?
The loop is G – C – G – C (I – IV – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on G – C – G.
What key is Merry Christmas From The Family in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Merry Christmas From The Family?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Merry Christmas From The Family 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.