The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis') Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis') in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – Dm – C – Dm
How it goes
The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis') sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiCIDmii
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
164 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
How it goes
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
Ping-pong bounceBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
How it goes
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Bouncy bellsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 152 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 – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D

What chords are in The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis')?

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

What key is The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis') in?

C major, at about 152 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis')?

Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Trolley Song (from 'meet Me In St. Louis') 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.