Sleigh Bells Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Sleigh Bells in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – G7 – Dm – G7
Sleigh Bells sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIG7V7DmiiG7V7
- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- DmD · F · A
13 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch chordsBlock chords · StrideRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 100 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: Dm – G7 – C
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C

What chords are in Sleigh Bells?

The loop is C – G7 – Dm – G7 (I – V7 – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.

What key is Sleigh Bells in?

C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Sleigh Bells?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Sleigh 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.