Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart) on piano
By Gene Autry
- D major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–ii–V7–I loop
- 1956
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Em – A7 – D
How it goes
You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart) sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIEmiiA7V7DI- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
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.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart)
What chords are in You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart)?
The loop is D – Em – A7 – D (I – ii – V7 – I) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart) in?
D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart)?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is You Can See Old Santa Claus (When You Find Him In Your Heart) 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.