Did you know? The original “Carol of the Bells” was a song called “Shchedryk” by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych. Written in 1916, it was intended to celebrate New Years and was about a swallow who promises a family wealth in the new year.
The holidays are just around the corner! If you have a sing-along planned for the most wonderful time of the year, you’ll probably want to start practicing soon. Worry not! Here are eight easy Christmas piano songs with free resources and step-by-step tutorials. We’ll also link out to resources for bonus songs at the end of this post.
Table of Contents:
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Learn with real teachers. Each lesson features a step-by-step walkthrough of the entire song complete with downloadable music. It’s like learning the song with the teacher sitting right next to you.
Kick off your holiday celebrations with a classic tune many families know: “Joy to the World”! This song is actually very simple: it sounds great with just three chords and is built from a descending scale. To add more “oomph” to your performance, add notes from the chord above to your melody—just remember to keep your melody note on top because that’s the note our ears gravitate towards.
“Joy to the World” resources:
This is one of our most requested Christmas songs. The haunting minor key melody, the scale run…it’s so beautiful. It’s also a great song to practice expression and dynamics. Because the theme can get repetitive, try experimenting with different dynamics and articulation throughout the song as you build and pull back on intensity.
“Carol of the Bells” resources:
This is another beautiful song and an American favorite. It was first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943 and instantly became popular thanks to its heartwarming message during World War II.
The song can be jazzy and complex, with some very interesting harmony, but its slow pace makes it approachable for beginners. We’ve made a fully notated transcription of the song but we’ve also included the chord symbols so more advanced players can use it as a lead sheet as well.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” resources:
Many beautiful Christmas songs come from the jazz tradition, where chord theory is key. Now, chords can be intimidating (especially if you’re used to standard notation telling you exactly what to play) but they’re worth learning. Chords will enable you to learn a new song quickly and accompany singers in a spur-of-the-moment holiday singalong.
If you’re new to chord theory, check out these free chording resources:
No holiday is complete without awkwardly singing the high notes of “Deck the Halls.” This is a great song with tons of energy that is also super simple to play. If you want to play using the lead sheet, practice transitioning between the chords first before adding (or singing) the melody. Then belt it out with your friends and family.
“Deck the Halls” resources:
Lisa’s beginner tutorial on “Silent Night” is a must-see for adult beginners. In this video, Lisa guides a relatable adult beginner, Kaitlyn, through the learning process. You’ll see how Kaitlyn can learn “Silent Night” with a lead sheet despite not knowing how to read notes yet!
Some takeways from this tutorial include identifying and focusing your weakest areas, practicing in chunks, and trying not to overthink. When it comes to practice, consistency is key: try to practice regularly, even if it’s only 5 minutes.
> “Silent Night” Tutorial and Sheet Music
Chesnuts roasting on an open fire… “The Christmas Song” is another relaxed and jazzy song perfect for snuggling up to the fireplace. The chords can feel intimidating, but we’ll break everything down in our step-by-step tutorial and show you the easiest way to transition between each chord. If the 7th chords feel too much, that’s okay! Just take away the 7th and play the song in triads. It’ll still sound great 🙂
“The Christmas Song” resources:
We’re proud to introduce the new Pianote Christmas Songbook! This beautiful, spiral-bound book contains 20 Christmas classics arranged by our in-house father-son team, Kevin Castro and Carlos Castro. Each song is presented in both a traditional and simplified arrangement, along with some expert practice tips.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, where Pianote is headquartered, we don’t get white Christmases often. So, I expect many of us are humming this song and praying for snow!
We have a cool “Let It Snow” arrangement that’s jazzy and fun. It can be a little difficult for beginners, though, so Lisa will show you how to simplify the left hand using the chord symbols if you’re just starting out on the piano.
Some quick tips:
If your holiday tradition includes watching Charlie Brown Christmas, then you must learn this song! It was written by Vince Guaraldi with lyrics by Lee Mendelson, who penned the words in half an hour on the back of an envelope.
This is not an easy song, what with the many jazz chords. But its slow-moving nature makes it more forgiving for beginners. What makes this song unique is its atmosphere: it’s a little more somber than other holiday songs, making it an excellent interlude in any holiday recital setlist.
“Christmas Time Is Here” resources:
This Mariah Carey hit has been a classic for a few decades, and it’s really fun to belt out too! If you’re new to Ultimate-Guitar.com, it’s good for pianists too—you can toggle the chord diagrams to “piano” to see exactly which keys to play. Handy!
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that helps kids learn Hebrew and the Torah. At one point, the dreidel game was played in secret to avoid prosecution. This is a fun song for kids who celebrate Hannukkah.
Another Christmas favorite, “White Christmas” is perfect for those cold, nostalgic nights. It was first written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film Holiday Inn.
In 2020, “Feliz Navidad” celebrated its 50th anniversary. The song is the same two sentences repeated over simple chords, but it’s been enticing audiences all over the world for more than half a century.
Charmaine Li is a Vancouver writer who has played piano for over 20 years. She holds an Associate diploma (ARCT) from the Royal Conservatory of Music and loves writing about the ways in which music—and music learning—affects the human experience. Charmaine manages The Note. Learn more about Charmaine here.
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