Let It Snow: Mastering Christmas Songs on the Piano and Keyboard
October 15, 2011
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A very popular Christmas song is “Let It Snow”. Here’s how to play a simple arrangement of it.
Introduction
Here, Let It Snow is written and played in the key of C Major, and has a 4/4 time signature.
C major makes the higher notes more comfortable to sing, but you could transpose up (or indeed down) if needed.
Main Melody
Hum through the melody and you’ll notice that this effectively has A-A-B-A phrasing. That is, the first phrase is repeated (with only one or two differences in notes/timing) then followed by a different section before returning to the first phrase again.
The melody notes you need to play are:
- – - G G | G G F E D | C G – G G | D C D C | B G – A |
A A G F E | D – - B A | G G F E E D |
C – - G | G G F E D | C G – G G | D C D C | B G – A |
A A G F E | D – - B A | G G F E E D |
C – - B C | D E D B G | D – - B D | C C B A G A |
B – - B C | D E D B G | D – - – | G F E F G A |
G – - G G | G G F E D | C G – G G | D C D C | B G – A |
A A G F E | D – - B A | G G F E E D | C – - – |
Here’s the complete melody written out:
And here’s what it sounds like:
You may want to add some artistic license to all of the dotted eighth notes (quavers) followed by sixteenth (semiquaver) notes, depending upon how you like the phrasing to sound. I know different recording artists have done things slightly differently. Remember, the printed music is only there as a guide for you to add your own performance nuances to, and not an absolute rule.
Fingering
There are a number of octave stretches which, unless you have a very large hand, you’re likely to want to play from thumb to fifth (little) finger (or reverse, for descending octaves).
There are a number of passages where notes descend, not with all consecutive notes in the scale, but it should still be easy enough to finger appropriately. Where there are six notes in a downward run (see bars 2 and 3 for an example) you can play the first five notes with fingers 5,4,3,2 and 1 (thumb) before reaching over with your index finger to play the next note, then switching back to the thumb ready for the next significant interval (in this case, from bar 3 to bar 4).
In bars 18 through 20, you’ll want to ensure you switch fingers when appropriate so that you don’t “run out” of fingers later on.
Single Note Bass Line
Below is a simple bass line for the carol using just one note at a time. From bar 2 onwards, the bass line alternates between a bar of two half notes and a bar of one whole note.
Here’s the printed music:
And here’s what it sounds like:
Adding harmony and fullness with chords
In the final version of Let It Snow, I’ve added two- and three-note chords to the right hand, always with the melody note as the highest note. The bass line has also been slightly altered to fit with the harmonies.
Here’s the printed music.
And here’s what it sounds like:
We hope you found this guide useful. Feel free to leave comments below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Ding Dong Merrily On High: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
October 14, 2011
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Another popular carol in our series on mastering Christmas Carols on Piano and Keyboard is “Ding Dong Merrily On High”.
Introduction
Here, Ding Dong Merrily On High is written and played in the key of F Major, and has a 4/4 time signature.
F major makes the higher notes more comfortable to sing, but you could transpose up (or indeed down) if needed.
Main Melody
Hum through the melody and you’ll notice several things:
- The first four bars are repeated note for note in bars 5-8.
- Bars 9-13 feature the same phrasing in the melody line, but gradually descending. This is useful to remember when playing at speed.
The melody notes you need to play are:
F F G F E D | C – - C | D F F E | F – F – |
F F G F E D | C – - C | D F F E | F – F – |
C Bb A Bb C A | Bb A G A Bb G |
A G F G A F | G F E F G E |
F E D E F D | E D C C |
D F F E | F – F – |
Here’s the complete melody written out:
And here’s what it sounds like:
Fingering
The first eight bars can be played by the right hand in a fixed position, starting with the fourth (ring) finger.
Start bar 9 on the little (fifth) finger and play naturally until the end of bar 11, where you’ll finish on the thumb.
If you can smoothly play the G at the start of bar 12 by scrunching your hand up then you’ll be able to play the rest of the piece without moving again.
Alternatively, use your third (middle) or fourth (ring) finger, but bear in mind you’ll need to move your hand again later on.
Single Note Bass Line
Below is a simple bass line for the carol using just one note at a time. Most of the bass notes are minims (half notes) so you play two evenly in each bar – one on beat 1 and the other on beat 3. The exception to this is in bars 2 and 6, which feature a dotted minim (half note) and a crotchet (quarter note). This means you play the first note on beat 1 and the second note on beat 4.
Here’s the printed music:
And here’s what it sounds like:
More elaborate bass line
This bass line varies a little from the previous example. It features more crotchets (quarter notes) to give more of a “walking” feel to the piece. Bars 2 and 6 still feature the dotted half note and quarter note, while bars 4 and 8 feature two half notes.
Here’s the printed music:
And here’s what it sounds like:
Adding harmony and fullness with chords
In the final version of Ding Dong Merrily on High, I’ve added two- and three-note chords to the right hand, always with the melody note as the highest note. The bass line has also been slightly altered to fit with the harmonies.
In particular, pay attention to the chord and bass note in the 3rd beat of bar 13. It’s a G major chord with a B natural in the bass. Be sure not to play the B flats as you would at any other place in the music.
Here’s the printed music.
And here’s what it sounds like:
We hope you found this guide useful. Feel free to leave comments below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Good King Wenceslas: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
October 13, 2011
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Another popular carol in our series on mastering Christmas Carols on Piano and Keyboard is “Good King Wenceslas”.
Introduction
Good King Wenceslas is written and played in the key of G Major, and has a 4/4 time signature.
Main Melody
Hum through the melody and you’ll notice several things:
- The first two lines are repeated note for note
- The second half of the third line is identical to the second half of the first and second lines
The melody notes you need to play are:
G G G A | G G D – | E D E F | G – G – |
G G G A | G G D – | E D E F | G – G – |
D C B A | B A G – | E D E F | G – G – |
D D E F | G G A – | D C B A | G – C – | G – - -
Here’s the complete melody written out:
And here’s what it sounds like:
Fingering
The first and second lines can be played by the right hand in a fixed position, starting with the fourth (ring) finger.
Each bar on the third and fourth lines can be played as a smooth group but you will need to move the right hand or at least stretch in order to play all the notes.
Single Note Bass Line
Below is a simple bass line for the carol using just one note at a time. It’s written so that it follows the melody to some degree.
Here’s the printed music:
And here’s what it sounds like:
Adding harmony and fullness with chords
In the third version of Good King Wenceslas, I’ve added two- and three-note chords to the right hand, always with the melody note as the highest note. The bass line is, in the main, a single note per bar.
And here’s what it sounds like:
We hope you found this guide useful. Feel free to leave comments below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
December 9, 2010
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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.
Introduction
Hark the Herald Angels Sing is written here in G major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Main Melody
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
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 |
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.
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.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard: The Holly and the Ivy
December 9, 2010
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As part of our mastering Christmas carols on piano and keyboard series, here’s our guide to playing The Holly and the Ivy.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
Introduction
Like Silent Night, Away in a Manger and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy is in 3/4 (Waltz) time.
It’s written here in G major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Main Melody
The main melody repeats, as the chorus keeps the same tune as the verse. Bar 1 to the beginning of bar 9 is the verse, with bar 9 to bar 17 the repeat.
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
Those notes are:
G | G G G E | D B G | G G G E | D D C | B A G B B |
E E D G A | B C B A | G G | G G G E | D B G | G G G E |
D D C | B A G B B | E E D G A | B C B A | G
Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add a single bass note to each bar to add a little harmony. In fact, it only uses three different notes — G (predominantly), C and D.
Walking Bass
This extends the above theme with a slightly more complex bass line. Instead of one bass note per bar, I’ve introduced a ‘walking’ bass line feel comprised primarily of crotchets (quarter notes).
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, plus two bass notes an octave apart in the left hand, plus occasional fill-in notes.
This version will cause the right hand to hop around a little, as you move from chord to chord, although if you look at each chord progression, many keep one or more of the same notes and similar shape. For example, at the start of bar 3, the chord changes from a G major in root position to a G major in 2nd inversion (D in the bass), and then to a perfect fourth interval with that same D as the root.
In other places, it’s a case of moving some of your fingers by one note. The last two chords in bar 8 move from a G major in 2nd inversion to a D major root chord. All this requires is to move the top note down from B to A and the middle note down from G to F sharp, which is quite an easy finger move.
The only places you’ll really need to watch your jump is accurate are places like in bar 2, moving from the first inversion G major chord to the major 3rd interval on the higher C.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play The Holly and the Ivy.
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
All Through the Night: Mastering Songs on the Piano and Keyboard
December 7, 2010
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Strictly speaking, as far as I can tell, “All Through the Night’ — a traditional Welsh lullaby — is not directly Christmas themed, which is why I haven’t put it in the mastering Christmas carols series. However, as Sainsbury’s in the UK is currently using the theme, sung by a male voice choir, in its Christmas adverts, I thought some people might be looking for the music.
Introduction
All Through the Night is written here in Bb major. Though it seems a little high to sing, it’s the same key as used in the advert, so I’ve stuck to it. It’s also a tiny bit more complicated to play than, say, G major. It’s in 4/4 time.
Main Melody
There’s an obvious pattern with the melody. Of sixteen bars, the first, second and fourth block of four bars feature identical melody, and nearly identical accompaniment. The third block of four bars (bars 9-12) are different, comprising the highest pitched part of the song.
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
Those notes are:
Bb A G Bb | C Bb A F | G A A | Bb
Bb A G Bb | C Bb A F | G A A | Bb
Eb D Eb F | G F Eb F | Eb D C Bb | D C Bb A
Bb A G Bb | C Bb A F | G A A | Bb
Single Note Bass Line
Adding a single bass note to the song provides a bit of harmony, though you won’t get the full effect as you would by playing chords. However, playing a single note with each hand keeps things simple.
Melody and Accompaniment
This version of All Through the Night includes two or three note chords in the right hand. All the chords include the melody note at the top. The single bass note remains — you might want to play octaves for a little more fullness.
You might find the right-hand stretch in bar 10 a little difficult. If you can’t stretch the whole range from low E to high G, miss out the low E and just play the G octave.
Chords Only
The final version is just the chords. This would be good to use if accompanying one or more people are singing the words.
The left hand keeps the single bass note, while the right hand plays a series of four-note chords.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play All Through the Night.
Deck the Halls: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
October 13, 2010
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Deck the Halls is carol number 8 in our series on mastering Christmas carols on the piano and keyboard.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
Introduction
Deck the Halls is written here in F major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in. (See Away in a Manger and O Little Town of Bethlehem as other carols in F major)
Main Melody
It’s quite easy to see a pattern in “Deck the Halls”. The first and second lines are identical, and the fourth line is very similar except for the change in the last two bars.
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
Those notes are:
C Bb A G | F G A F | G A Bb G A G | F E F |
C Bb A G | F G A F | G A Bb G A G | F E F |
G A Bb G | A Bb C G | A B C D E F | E D C |
C Bb A G | F G A F | D D D D C B | A G F |
Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add single bass notes to each bar to add a little harmony:
Melody and Accompaniment
The final version features the playing of chords in the right hand, with the melody note as the highest, plus two bass notes an octave apart in the left hand.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Deck the Halls.
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
Away in a Manger (alternative tune): Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
August 16, 2010
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How to play Away in a Manger on the piano or keyboard. Note that this is an alternative (some might say the original) version of the melody. The British version of Away in a Manger is also available.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
Introduction
Like Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Away in a Manger is in 3/4 (Waltz) time.
It’s written here in F major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Main Melody
The melody is quite different to the alternative version. There’s more variation here, though there is a hint of repetition between the two halves.
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
Those notes are:
- – C | C Bb A | A G F | F E D | C C | C D C | C G E | D C F | A C | C Bb A |
A G F | F E D | C C | Bb A G | A G F | G D E | F
Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add a single bass note to each bar to add a little harmony. In fact, it only uses three different notes — C, F and Bb.
Melody and Accompaniment
The final version features the playing of chords in the right hand, with the melody note as the highest, plus two bass notes an octave apart in the left hand.
Note that the lowest one or two notes in each right hand bar are held for the duration (three beats) while the melody notes are played. This can either be done by physically holding the notes down (if comfortable), using the sustain pedal, or a combination. See what sounds the best — generally sustaining a whole bar when there are only a few melody notes in each will still give a pleasing sound without fear of notes running too much into one another.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Away in a Manger.
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
Away in a Manger: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
August 13, 2010
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How to play Away in a Manger on the piano or keyboard. Note that this is the English version of the melody. Here is a well-known alternative tune for Away in a Manger.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
Introduction
Like Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Away in a Manger is in 3/4 (Waltz) time.
It’s written here in F major, which is a comfortable key for most people to sing it in.
Main Melody
With the exception of the last couple of notes, which are swapped, almost exactly the same melody is repeated twice in each verse. However, the accompaniment chords do vary very slightly.
Here’s the complete melody written out on the treble clef stave, as you’d play it with the right hand:
Listen to the melody (MIDI file, should play directly in your browser. Alternatively, iTunes or Quicktime will play it).
Those notes are:
- – C | F F G A | F F A Bb | C C D | Bb G A | Bb Bb C |
A A F A | G D F | E C | F F G A | F F A Bb | C C D |
Bb G A | B B C | A A F A | G D E | F -
Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add a single bass note to each bar to add a little harmony. In fact, it only uses three different notes — C, F and G.
Chords Only
If you simply want to play appropriate chords so you can sing or have another instrument playing the melody, here are very simple ones. Note that in bar 8 the chord is a G major in first inversion (this is significant because it requires you to play a B natural not a B flat). It doesn’t sound bad if you play a G minor chord here, but I prefer this version. [Find out more about major and minor chords here]
Melody and Accompaniment
The final version features the playing of chords in the right hand, with the melody note as the highest, plus two bass notes an octave apart in the left hand.
Note that the lowest one or two notes in each right hand bar are held for the duration (three beats) while the melody notes are played. This can either be done by physically holding the notes down (if comfortable), using the sustain pedal, or a combination. See what sounds the best — generally sustaining a whole bar when there are only a few melody notes in each will still give a pleasing sound without fear of notes running too much into one another.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Away in a Manger.
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
November 11, 2009
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We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Introduction
Like Silent Night and Away in a Manger, We Wish You A Merry Christmas is in 3/4 (waltz time).
The version presented here is played in G Major. This is a fairly easy key to play in (one sharp – F# – though there are some occasional accidentals along the way) and, importantly, to sing in.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Main Melody
You’ll notice that the main “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” line is repeated three times, rising in pitch but with the same basic melodic shape.
For each phrase, the first and second notes are a perfect fourth apart (find out more about songs to help you learn note intervals).
The run of notes are fairly easy to play, but it’s worth noting that, in this key, the third phrase begins on the black note of F#.
Here’s the complete melody written out:
Those notes are:
D : G G A G F# : E C E : A A B A G :
F# D F# : B B C B A : G E D D : E A F# :
G D : G G G : F# F# : G F# E : D A :
B A A G G : D(high) D D D : E A F# : G
And here’s what it sounds like:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Single Note Bass Line
Below is a simple bass line for the carol using just one note. Most of the time, you only need to play one note (a dotted minim (half note)) per bar, except in four bars that have a minim (half note) followed by a crotchet (quarter note).
And here’s what it sounds like:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Adding Harmony and Fullness With Additional Notes
In the third version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas,, I’ve created some depth by adding some extra notes for the right hand to play, always with the melody note as the highest note. The bass line remains the same, and you never have to play more than three notes in total — one or two with the right hand and one with the bass — at any one time.
And here’s what is sounds like:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Alternative Version With Walking Bass
This final version of We Wish You A Merry Christmas uses a walking bass style for the left hand, adding a little more movement.
Here’s how it sounds:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Chord Sheet
Finally, here’s a chord sheet and lyrics for those who prefer it.
That’s it for now. Happy playing!
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