Play Jingle Bells on the Piano in 5 Ways: A Christmas Lesson
To play Jingle Bells on piano, play the melody in G major starting on B, accompany it with the chords G, C, A and D, then choose a left-hand rhythm: root-fifth bass, oom-pah, eighth-note oom-pah, a blues/rock 'n' roll root-fifth-sixth shuffle, or a ragtime stride pattern.
Key points
- The melody is in G major, starting on B, the 3rd of the scale.
- Chorus chords are G, C, G, A, D; the A major chord is a secondary dominant resolving to D, the dominant of G.
- The second chorus skips A and goes C, G, D, G; the verse uses G, C, D, G.
- Left-hand patterns move from block chords to root-fifth bass, oom-pah, eighth-note oom-pah, blues root-fifth-sixth, and ragtime stride.
- Sing the tune over each left-hand pattern before adding the right-hand melody.
In this Christmas lesson, Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music shows how to play Jingle Bells on the piano. The melody stays the same throughout. What changes is the left hand: you start with simple block chords, then try five rhythmic patterns of rising difficulty. It suits beginners who want an easy accompaniment as well as players looking for a bluesy or ragtime challenge.
The melody in G major
The song is played in G major, which has one sharp, F#. The chorus starts on B, the 3rd of the G major scale, and uses lots of repeated B's for "Jingle bells, jingle bells". If you cannot play the repeated B's fast, a simpler version is fine. The chorus is played twice. The second time it has a slightly different ending. The verse ("Dashing through the snow") climbs gradually in the melody. Try picking out the notes by ear, and sing along as you go.
The chords
Chorus
- G major (G B D) for "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way".
- C major (C E G) for "Oh what fun". G does not sound right against the C in the melody.
- G major again for "it is to ride".
- A major (A C# E) for "in a one-horse".
- D major (D F# A) for "open sleigh", then back to G.
The A major chord is not part of the G major scale. It is a secondary dominant, because it resolves to D. D is the primary dominant of G major, because it resolves to the tonic, G. This A to D to G movement adds excitement before the chorus repeats.
The second time through, skip the A chord. Go C, G, then straight to D and home to G.
Verse
The verse uses G, C and D, then back to G. The D chord fits "o'er the fields we go" because of the F# in the melody.
Starting point: block chords
Hold each chord in the left hand. Strike it on beats 1 and 3 of every bar. This alone is enough to play the song.
Pattern 1: root-fifth bass line
Play only the root, then the fifth, of each chord. Keep it low on the piano and play one note per beat, like a bass player.
- G chord: G, D
- C chord: C, G
- A chord: A, E
- D chord: D, A
It sounds a little like two people playing together.
Pattern 2: oom-pah on the pulse
- The oom is the lowest note of the chord, held longer (legato).
- The pah is the remaining chord notes, played short (staccato).
Alternate oom and pah with the beat. Sing the tune over this pattern first, then add the melody in the right hand.
Pattern 3: oom-pah in eighth notes
Play the same oom-pah twice as fast, counting "one and two and three and four and". Depending on where your right hand plays, you may need to move the left-hand chords lower.
Pattern 4: blues and rock 'n' roll
This pattern is inspired by the Chicago blues left hand, but played straight rather than swung.
- Drop the 3rd of the chord.
- Play the root and 5th together (G and D).
- Then play the root and 6th together (G and E).
Use the same shape on every chord. Watch the A chord: its 6th is F#, not F. Play it in eighth notes for a rock 'n' roll feel.
Pattern 5: ragtime or stride
This combines oom-pah with the root-fifth idea, inspired by ragtime players such as Scott Joplin.
- Play oom (G) and pah.
- Drop the bass to the fifth (D).
- Play the same pah notes again.
You will need quick finger changes, so practise slowly to stop your fingers slipping.
How to practise
Learn the melody and chords first, because they are the foundation. Then work through the patterns in order, singing along before adding the right hand. Once they feel comfortable, try them on other songs too.
Questions about this lesson
What chords do I need for Jingle Bells in G major?
You need G major, C major, A major and D major. The chorus goes G, C, G, A, D the first time and G, C, G, D, G the second time, while the verse uses G, C and D.
Why is there an A major chord in Jingle Bells if it isn't in G major?
A major is a secondary dominant: it resolves to D, which is itself the dominant of G. This A to D to G movement builds excitement before the chorus repeats.
What is the oom-pah piano pattern?
Oom is the lowest note of the chord played longer and smoothly, and pah is the remaining chord notes played short and detached. You can play it on each beat or twice as fast in eighth notes.
How do I play the blues left hand for Jingle Bells?
Leave out the 3rd of the chord and alternate between the root and 5th together and the root and 6th together, such as G-D then G-E. Keep it straight rather than swung, and play it in eighth notes for a rock 'n' roll feel.
Practise it
- PitaraPlay the piano on your computer keys or a MIDI keyboard and see every note on the staff with its chord name.
- Circle of FifthsExplore the Circle of Fifths through keys, scales, chords and intervals.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
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