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Silent Night: An Introduction
Silent Night is written and played here in the key of A Major, and has a 3/4 (waltz) time signature (as does Away in a Manger).
(See Silent Night in C Major for exactly the same tutorial in a higher key.)
Silent Night: 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:
E F# E : C# : E F# E : C# : B B : G# : A A : E :
F# F# : A G# F# : E F# E : C# : F# F# : A G# F# : E F# E : C# :
B B : D B G# : A : C# : A E C# : E D B : A :
And here’s what it sounds like:
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 B in the fifth bar, start on your 5th (little) finger and run naturally
- Play the F# of the 9th bar with your 3rd (middle) finger, the notes should then run naturally. This phrase repeats.
- Play the B 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 A with your 5th (little) finger.
Silent Night: 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: A, D and E.
And here’s what it sounds like:
Silent Night: 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.
And here’s what is sounds like:
Silent Night: Alternative Versions
The final two versions of Silent Night use some alternative left-hand chord structures to give the piece a different feel. They may prove off-putting if you are accompanying singers (depending on the situation) but if you are playing the carol on its own for enjoyment or performance, you may find one or both are interesting alternatives. See how you like them!
Here’s how it sounds:
And here’s the second version:
Silent Night: Lead/Chord Sheet
Finally, here’s a very simple lead sheet for Silent Night. Notice that you only need three chords to play it: A major, D major, and E major:
Silent Night: Video Tutorials
Follow our lighted keyboard video to gain more insight into playing this Christmas carol.
Want more ideas and inspiration for playing simple versions of Silent Night? Check out our video (this is recorded for the C Major version but can be adapted to A Major):
Silent Night: Lyrics
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
That’s it for now. Happy playing!
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Series Index: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard
