Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer on piano
By Robert L. May
- C major
- 4/4
- 95 BPM
- ii–V7–ii–V7 loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – G7 – Dm – G7
How it goes
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiiG7V7DmiiG7V7- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
What chords are in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer?
The loop is Dm – G7 – Dm – G7 (ii – V7 – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in?
C major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rudolph The Red-Nosed 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.