Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play The Holly And The Ivy on piano
By Traditional
- F major
- 3/4
- 110 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Holly And The Ivy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – C – Bb – F – C7 – F – Bb – F – C7
How it goes
The Holly And The Ivy sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 9 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVCVBbIVFIC7V7FIBbIVFIC7V7- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Sliding twins
How it goes
Two notes together step down beat by beat, like a hymn closing. Musicians call it lh power fifths (3/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 258 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleepy waltz chords
How it goes
A long chord, then a double on beat 3: a lazy, rocking waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: F – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FC7F
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Questions about The Holly And The Ivy
What chords are in The Holly And The Ivy?
The loop is Bb – C – Bb – F – C7 – F – Bb – F – C7 (IV – V – IV – I – V7 – I – IV – I – V7) in F major, and the song ends on F – C7 – F.
What key is The Holly And The Ivy in?
F major, at about 110 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in The Holly And The Ivy?
Sliding twins: lh power fifths (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Holly And The Ivy easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 9 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Holly And The Ivy?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.