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Deck the Halls is carol number 8 in our series on mastering Christmas carols on the piano and keyboard.
Deck the Halls: 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)
Deck the Halls: 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 |
Deck the Halls: Single Note Bass Line
Here’s how to add single bass notes to each bar to add a little harmony:
Deck the Halls: 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.
Deck the Halls: Lyrics
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
I hope you find this guide useful for helping you to play Deck the Halls.
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books
Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
