Learning to play hymns on the piano is a beautiful way to develop your skills and connect with meaningful music. In today’s tutorial, we’re going to walk through how to play “The Old Rugged Cross”—a timeless favorite—in the key of C Major.
🎹 Step 1: Key and Setup
This arrangement of Old Rugged Cross is in C Major, which means you’ll mostly be playing the white keys. But don’t be surprised if we sneak in a couple of black keys—keys are more like guidelines than strict rules!
We’ll start by learning the right-hand melody (the part you’d sing), then add the left-hand chords, and finally put both hands together.
✋ Right Hand: Melody Notes
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the melody using finger numbers and notes. Begin with your thumb (1) on E:
- E F G
- Move your pointer (2) to F#, then A G
- G G A G# B A
- Then A B A G, pointer to F G F, and thumb on E
Repeat the phrase with slight variations:
- E F G F# A G
- G G A G# B A
- Then A A B A G F E D C
Final part:
- B C D D D D C B C
- C B A A A C B A G
Closing with some arpeggios and runs:
- G C E E E E F E A
- F F E D C
- G B D, then land on C
✋ Left Hand: Chords You Need
You only need three chords to play this song:
- C Major (C – E – G)
- F Major (F – A – C)
- G Major (G – B – D)
Each of these uses a “skip” pattern, meaning each note skips one white key.
To simplify chord playing, we’ll use octaves in the left hand and play chords in the right hand as needed, especially when accompanying a singer.
🧠 Memorization Tip: Song Structure
The hymn has a very repetitive structure, making it easier to memorize:
- 4 lines of music
- Each line has 4 measures
- First two lines: C – F – G – C
- Third line (Refrain): G – C – F – C
- Final line: C – F – C – G – C
Think of it as a chord sandwich (C on both ends), and imagine a bouncing ball pattern during the refrain: landing on C, bouncing to F, and back to C.
👐 Putting Hands Together
The final step for learning how to play “Old Rugged Cross” is playing with both hands:
- Start with E F (melody) as a pickup, then land on C chord
- Continue melody, switch to F chord on A
- Switch to G chord, then back to C
- Repeat for the second line (same progression)
For the B section (refrain):
- Switch to G chord, then C, then F, then C again
Final line:
- Start with C, move to F, then a quick C – G – C cadence to end
This progression sounds beautiful and is very playable for beginners.
🎵 Bonus Tip for Accompaniment
If you’re playing at church or accompanying a singer, consider just playing chords and letting the singer carry the melody. Holding a chord or playing gentle arpeggios is often more effective than playing every note.
For practice, try using this play-along video:
Final Thoughts
Learning how to play “Old Rugged Cross” is a beautiful hymn with a powerful message. Learning to play it can be both spiritually rewarding and musically enriching. With just a few chords and some practice, you’ll be able to perform this classic with confidence.
