Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Silent Night on piano
By Harry Belafonte
- C major
- 3/4
- 120 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Silent Night in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – G7 – C
How it goes
Silent Night sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIG7V7CI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Waltz push chords
How it goes
Chord, a push before beat 3, then the landing: a waltz with a nudge. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: C – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C
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Questions about Silent Night
What chords are in Silent Night?
The loop is G7 – C – G7 – C (V7 – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is Silent Night in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Silent Night?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Silent Night 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.