Nine Little Reindeer Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Nine Little Reindeer in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – B7 – E7 – A
Nine Little Reindeer sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIB7II7E7V7AI
- AA · C# · E
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- E7E · G# · B · D
34 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
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.
Hopscotch bellsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 86 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B

What chords are in Nine Little Reindeer?

The loop is A – B7 – E7 – A (I – II7 – V7 – I) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.

What key is Nine Little Reindeer in?

A major, at about 86 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Nine Little Reindeer?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Nine Little Reindeer 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.