Click on any of the music scores to view/print higher resolution versions
As part of our mastering Christmas carols on piano and keyboard series, here’s our guide to playing Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
We have provided two versions. One in G major, which is fairly high, and another in D major, which is lower and more comfortable to sing.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (G Major): Introduction
Hark the Herald Angels Sing is written here in G major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Main Melody (G Major)
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Those notes are:
D G G F# | G B B A | D D D C | B A B | D G G F# |
G B B A | D A A F# | F# E D | D D D G | C B B A |
D D D G | C B B A | E E E D | C B C | A B C D G |
G A B | E E E D | C B C | A B C D | G G A G |
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (G Major): Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add single bass notes to add some harmony. Most notes are on the 1st and 3rd beats of the bar, with a few quarter notes (crotchets) as well.
Do note the extra sharps — the C# in bar 7, and the G# in bars 14 and 18.
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (G Major): Melody with Chords and Octave Bass
The final version features the playing of chords in the right hand, with the melody as the highest note, and the same bass notes in the left hand.
This is potentially one of the hardest carols we’ve covered so far, in terms of right hand chord changes, but it’s worth sticking with it as it includes some lovely harmonies.
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (G Major): Lead Sheet
Here’s a lead sheet for the carol, featuring the melody note, three verses, and chord names above the stave.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (D Major): Introduction
Hark the Herald Angels Sing is written here in D Major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Main Melody (D Major)
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Those notes are:
A D D C# | D F# F# E | A A A G | F# E F# |
A D D C# | D F# F# E | A E E C# | C# B A |
A A A D | G F# F# E | A A A D | G F# F# E |
B B B A | G F# G | E F# G A D | D E F# |
B B B A | G F# G | E F# G A D | D E D |
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (D Major): Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add single bass notes to add some harmony. Most notes are on the 1st and 3rd beats of the bar, with a few quarter notes (crotchets) as well.
Do note the extra sharps — the G# in bar 7, and the D# in bars 14 and 18.
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (D Major): Melody with Chords and Octave Bass
The final version features the playing of chords in the right hand, with the melody as the highest note, and the same bass notes in the left hand.
This is potentially one of the hardest carols we’ve covered so far, in terms of right hand chord changes, but it’s worth sticking with it as it includes some lovely harmonies.
Here’s how it sounds:
Download MIDI file
Download MP3 file
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (D Major): Lead Sheet
Here’s a lead sheet for the carol, featuring the melody note, three verses, and chord names above the stave.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Lyrics
Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books
Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
One thought on “Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard”