Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Silver Bells on piano
By Jay Livingston
- C major
- 3/4
- 132 BPM
- 1950
- Easy
Learn Silver Bells in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em7 – Em7 – C – C
Silver Bells sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em7 is E, G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Em7iii7Em7iii7CICI- Em7E · G · B · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Moonlit climb
Three notes rising to a soft, jazzy top note in three, left to ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-7 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 211 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 132 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: C – G7 – C
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C- G7G · B · D · F
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Questions about Silver Bells
What chords are in Silver Bells?
The loop is Em7 – Em7 – C – C (iii7 – I – iii7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is Silver Bells in?
C major, at about 132 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Silver Bells?
Moonlit climb: broken chord 1-5-7 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Silver Bells 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Silver Bells?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 11 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.