Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: B7 – E – B7 – E
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B7 is B, D#, F# and A; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
B7V7EIB7V7EI
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
414 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Push and land
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Push and landRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Bouncy-ball chords
One chord, then chords bouncing on every “and”, like a ball. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Bouncy-ball chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 116 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: A – B – E
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#

What chords are in Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree?

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

What key is Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree in?

E major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree?

Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree 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.