Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Nightmare Before Christmas on piano
Artist unknown
- Bb major
- 2/4
- 92 BPM
- Easy
Learn The Nightmare Before Christmas in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – A – Bb – Dm
The Nightmare Before Christmas sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; A is A, C# and E; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIAVIIBbIDmiii- BbBb · D · F
- AA · C# · E
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Little march
A chord, then a single low note: left, right, like a little march. Musicians call it lh chords (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 278 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
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Questions about The Nightmare Before Christmas
What chords are in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The loop is Bb – A – Bb – Dm (I – VII – I – iii) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is The Nightmare Before Christmas in?
Bb major, at about 92 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Little march: lh chords (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas 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.