Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch) on piano
By The Brian Setzer Orchestra
- C major
- 4/4
- 156 BPM
- IV–I–V7–I loop
- 1958
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – G7 – C
How it goes
Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch) sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIG7V7CI- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll climb
How it goes
Up three chord notes and one step past: the 1950s rock’n’roll climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 156 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- GG · B · D
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Questions about Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch)
What chords are in Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch)?
The loop is F – C – G7 – C (IV – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch) in?
C major, at about 156 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch)?
Rock’n’roll climb: broken chord 1-3-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Run Rudolph Run (from The Grinch) 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.