Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence on piano
By Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Db major
- 3/4
- 106 BPM
- 1982
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gb – Ab – Bbm – Fm
How it goes
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gb is Gb, Bb and Db; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GbIVAbVBbmviFmiii- GbGb · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbmBb · Db · F
- FmF · Ab · C
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 106 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: Gb – Ab – Db
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- DbDb · F · Ab
Questions about Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
What chords are in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
The loop is Gb – Ab – Bbm – Fm (IV – V – vi – iii) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence in?
Db major, at about 106 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 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.