Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Silent Night on piano
By Josh Groban
- C major
- 3/4
- 74 BPM
- Easy
Learn Silent Night in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – Bb
Silent Night sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIBbbVII- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Giant waltz
Warm low chords on all three beats, like a slow church waltz. Musicians call it lh chords (3/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 328 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Waltz chords
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 74 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: F – G – C
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 Silent Night
What chords are in Silent Night?
The loop is C – F – C – Bb (I – IV – I – bVII) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Silent Night in?
C major, at about 74 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Silent Night?
Giant waltz: lh chords (3/4), 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.