Introduction
Here we present a simple arrangement of the traditional English Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
This is part of our mastering Christmas carols on the piano and keyboard series.
Format
Written in a minor key, we have found versions in G minor. However, we have chosen A minor here as it means the melody can be played entirely on the white keys of the keyboard, and there are few accidentals (sharps and flats) except a few in the chords of the left hand.
It is in 4/4 time and features a lot of eighth notes (quavers) which run in scale-like patterns.
The melody can be broken up into four distinct sections:
- Section 1: bars 1 through to 3
- Section 2: the end of bar 3 to bar 5 – a repeat of section 1
- Section 3: the end of bar 5 to halfway through bar 7
- Section 4: the end of bar 7 to the end (bar 11)
Nearly all notes are either eighth notes or quarter notes. In bar 9 there’s a run of two sixteenth notes followed by an eighth note. The final bar has a dotted half note.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen melody
Here we provide the music for the carol’s melody. We have also provided simple chords above the staff which can be used to accompany.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen bass line
Here is a version with a simple one note bass line in the left hand. It is comprised of half notes, with two bass notes played per bar.
Note there is one accidental, an F#, in bar 7. Not all versions feature a major chord here (as seen from above, the chord is an inversion of D major) but use the minor instead. This would make the note an F and the chord a Dm/F.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen chords
Finally we provide a version of the carol with left hand chords. We have several chords which include the G sharp — the piece is in A minor and G# is the seventh note of the harmonic rather than the natural minor scale.
See the E chords in bar 3, 5, 8 and 10 (some in different inversions).
There is also a D major chord in bar 7. As mentioned above, some versions have a minor rather than major chord here — in which case you would play a Dm/F instead.
A quick note about ‘slash’ chords — these are written in x/y format. They indicate the chord to play followed by the bass note.
If the bass note is already part of the chord (say C/A) then it means to play that chord in an inversion. Alternatively, you can play the C major chord and a separate, lower A bass note if desired.
As a quick guide, here are the slash chords in this carol:
- C/E — means to play the first inversion of a C major chord — E G C
- D/F# — means to play the first inversion of a D major chord — F# A D
- E/B — means to play the second inversion of an E major chord — B E G#
We hope you found this tutorial useful.
