Piano chords · Rock drive

How to play This Is Christmas on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn This Is Christmas in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Eb – Bb – Eb – Bb
This Is Christmas sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIVBbIEbIVBbI
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
384 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Rock hop
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
Rock hopRoot bass rhythm · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 63 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: Gm – F – Bb
The last chords are vi – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmFBb
- GmG · Bb · D
- FF · A · C

What chords are in This Is Christmas?

The loop is Eb – Bb – Eb – Bb (IV – I – IV – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Gm – F – Bb.

What key is This Is Christmas in?

Bb major, at about 63 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in This Is Christmas?

Rock hop: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is This Is 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.