Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard: Silent Night
November 27, 2006 by Andy
The third carol I’ll look at in our series on mastering Christmas Carols on Piano and Keyboard is “Silent Night”.
Introduction
Silent Night is written and played in the key of C Major, and has a 3/4 (waltz time) time signature (as does Away in a Manger).
Main Melody
Several short phrases in each verse are repeated.
The first phrase, to which the words “Silent Night” are sung, is repeated twice. The third and fourth lines have the same 4-bar melody.
Here’s the complete melody written out:
Those notes are: G A G : E : G A G : E : D D : B : C C : G : A A : C B A : G A G : E : A : C B A : G A G : E : D D : F D B : C : E : C G E : G F D : C
Note that there are a number of places with a similar rhythm, formed by a dotted crotchet (quarter note) followed by a quaver (eighth note) and a crochet (quarter note). These take up one bar’s worth of time. Imagine that the bar is split into 6 half-beats. The first note (dotted crochet/quarter-note) takes 3 of these; the second note (quaver/eighth note) takes just 1 of these; the final crochet (quarter note) takes the remaining 2 half-beats.
Fingering
Here are some suggestions:
- Start on the 4th finger and play naturally.
- On the D in the fifth bar, start on your 5th (little) finger and run naturally
- Play the A of the 9th bar with your 3rd (middle) finger, the notes should then run naturally. This phrase repeats.
- Play the D of the 17th bar with your 3rd (middle) finger.
- You have time to move your whole hand between bar 20 and 21, to play the C with your 5th (little) finger.
Single Note Bass Line
Below is a simple bass line for the carol using just one note. It’s written so that you only have to play one note per bar, and in fact there are only three different notes used: C, F and G.
Adding harmony and fullness with chords
In the third version of Silent Night, I’ve added two-note chords to the right hand, always with the melody note as the highest note. The bass line remains the same.
Alternative feel, chords in left hand, single melody line
This final version of Silent Night uses some alternative left-hand chord structures that give the piece an interesting feel. It may prove off-putting if you are accompanying singers (depending on the situation) but if you are playing the tune on its own for enjoyment or performance, you may find it an interesting alternative. See how you like it!
That’s it for now. Happy playing!
Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
dis is rubbish, no offence yh but u cudve put da notes as in c’s n d’s n alla dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
peace out!
Are you talking about your grades in English class or something?
Ok, as you can see, “dude” told me that this page was “rubbish”, so I added the names of the notes as you’d see them on the keyboard.
Unless you’re trying to be humorous, Please *read* the whole sentence and you’ll see what it refers to.
I tried this on my keyboard and it didnt sound as good as it did on my piano wat am i doin wrong cuz itz hard as heck.
Its very hard to play ona keyboard this song cuz idk y. wats happenin to me y cant i play yall? FTW GTH
dude this website sux
Hey “piano4321luver” and “sweetfrucker”. I know you’re the same “person”.
If you genuinely want some help with playing the carol or getting it to sound good, then please ask and don’t hurl insults around.
Thanks.
this is crap give us the keys
This is the quickest thing i learnd on my keyboard and really enjoyed learning it!!!!
he he he
And all the dudes who think its crap obv cant play the piano propperly !!!!!
so keep your insults to your self thanks i like this website the shut up lol anywayz thanks !! again
I know you can see me email adress is it possible for you to post some carols to my email ready to print i would be most gratefull thanks !!
i know hot to play it firstly it is (G,A,G G,A,G A,F,G THATS ALL I NO LOL
i know hot to play it firstly it is (G,A,G G,A,G A,F,G THATS ALL I NO LOL…..
Those notes are: C G E : G F D : C
THATS WRONG
its
C G E : G E D : C
Hi ILJ,
I think possibly the ending can be sung in at least two ways, which is why you claim the notes are wrong.
As per the printed score above, this is how I’ve always sung the carol. It may vary slightly for others. I’ve sung your version and I can see how it might work that way, too.