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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!
View a range of Christmas Carols Music Books at Amazon.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Lyrics
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some, so bring some out here
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
One thought on “We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard”
oh, this is nice songs ^^ and very helpful for me to learn, easy also ^^