Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – E7 – A – Am
How it goes
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; E7 is E, G#, B and D; A is A, C# and E; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIE7I7AIVAmiv
- EE · G# · B
- E7E · G# · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- AmA · C · E
38 songs go round the same chords
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.
Stride jumpsStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 140 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE
- BB · D# · F#

What chords are in Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town?

The loop is E – E7 – A – Am (I – I7 – IV – iv) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.

What key is Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town in?

E major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town?

Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town 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.