How to Play "What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)" by Danny Elfman on Piano
“What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” is in C major, 2/4 time, at 120 BPM. This lesson teaches a simple version of the song: the melody in your right hand and easy chords in your left, one phrase at a time. The song has 19 phrases, and 3 of them repeat ones you will already know.
- C major
- 2/4
- 120 BPM
- Very easy
- Melody + easy chords
Free to play. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack.
What you need to know
Read from the song's own melody and chords. The left hand is kept simple on purpose.
Time signature
2/4
2 beats in every bar, at 120 BPM
It starts with a short pickup before the first full bar.
The chords you play
The song uses 15 chords. You learn them a phrase at a time: C, B, Em, G, F#dim, Am, Gm, Bbm, Bm, Cdim, E, Abaug, Baug, Cm and G#.
Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays C where the sheet music writes Cmaj7.
Your left hand for this song
Beat chords
We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: the whole chord on the strong beats. The melody is busy, so the left hand stays simple.
Right hand
The melody
The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, with finger numbers.
The lesson, step by step
3 short steps for each phrase of the song. Each one opens in the lesson player, so you can listen and play along on your own piano.
- Start hereRight hand
Step 1: Melody
Listen, then play the tune with your right hand, with finger numbers.
Open this step - Left hand
Step 2: Chords
Your left hand learns this phrase's chords: a bass note, block chords, or a simple pattern.
Open this step - Both hands
Step 3: Hands together
The melody with your left hand's chords under it. When you can play this, you can play the phrase.
Open this step Then play the whole song
When you can play every phrase, play the full sheet music in the player.
Play the full song
Frequently asked questions
What key is “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” in?
“What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” is in C major, which has no sharps or flats. The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A and B.
What are the chords in “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)”?
The lesson plays 15 chords, one easy shape each: C, B, Em, G, F#dim, Am, Gm, Bbm, Bm, Cdim, E, Abaug, Baug, Cm and G#. As the sheet music writes them: C, Cmaj7, C/G, B, B/D#, B7/D#, Em, Em6/C#, G7, G, F#dim7, F#dim7/D#, F#dim7/Eb, Am, Am/G#, Gm and 9 more. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays C where the sheet music writes Cmaj7.
What should my left hand play in “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)”?
First your left hand learns each phrase's chords on its own, then with the melody. It plays a bass note or a block chord when the chord changes, or a simple pattern: you choose, and the same choice stays on both steps.
What tempo is “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)”?
“What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” plays at 120 BPM in 2/4. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.
Is “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” hard to play on piano?
It is rated Very easy. The melody goes from Eb4 up to A5. The lesson teaches a simple version: the melody and one easy chord shape at a time in the left hand.
Where can I get the sheet music for “What's This? (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)”?
Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack. It is this lesson on paper, with fingering, one left-hand style per PDF.