“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn in July 1945, during a heat wave in Hollywood. Vaughn Monroe had the first hit, and Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra recorded famous versions. It’s a holiday swing favorite.
The form is a 32-bar AABA. The harmony uses the I-vi-ii-V progression with secondary dominants, giving it a cozy, swinging feel. The bridge moves to the IV chord area before returning.
Section by section: in the A sections, outline the I-vi-ii-V with guide tones and keep the swing light and playful. In the bridge, target the third of the IV chord and outline the secondary dominants. In the final A, add a turnaround lick to lead back to the top or into the ending.
Practice at a relaxed swing. Learn the melody from Dean Martin’s version.
Transposing tip: singers often perform it in different keys, so learn it in at least two.
Arrangement idea: open with a short piano introduction based on the turnaround, play the melody with a relaxed swing, and end with a three-time tag on the final phrase.
Practice checklist for the Let It Snow Lead Sheet PDF: play the melody from memory, play roots through the form, play guide tones, improvise one chorus of chord tones only, and finally record yourself soloing over a play-along. Listening back is the fastest way to spot what to fix next.
Memorizing the Let It Snow Lead Sheet PDF: learn the form in sections, not all at once. Play the first eight bars until you can do them with your eyes closed, then add the next section. Within a week or two you won’t need the page at all, which is the real goal of any lead sheet.
Is it hard to play? It’s beginner-friendly. Recordings to study: Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Learn more about the composer on Jule Styne’s Wikipedia page, and find more holiday lead sheets on Minedit.