"I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Piano Tutorial)

Christmas comes once a year, but what you learn from a song like this can be applied year-round to your playing. Today’s lesson is a classic Christmas carol from the ‘war years’ with some interesting chords and a beautiful sound.

Before we get started, be sure to grab the lead sheet or the full sheet music!

I’ll Be Home For Christmas 🎄

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was originally recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby, who scored a top ten hit with the song. It was originally written to honor soldiers overseas who longed to be home at Christmas time, and has since gone on to become a seasonal standard.

I’ve got a beautiful, jazzy arrangement with some smart tips ‘n’ tricks along the way– plus we’ve got the full sheet music available so you can really dig in deep and make the most of this beloved carol.

You can do this!

If you are intimidated by some of the more difficult-sounding chords– don’t worry! It’s just a matter of putting your mind to it: Practice and patience are a pianist’s best friend. 🙏

Be sure to check out our rundown on how to Read and Play Complicated Chords On The Piano. It will take the mystery out of those more advanced chord designations, and take your sight reading to the next level.

Let’s Learn!

I’ll break the song down 4 measures at a time so you can follow along and practice sections at your own pace. For Pianote members, remember to take advantage of your ‘Practice Feature‘. It allows you to isolate and loop sections of the song, so you can focus on specific spots that might be giving you trouble.

Looking for something a little easier? I’ve got a simplified lead sheet for your reference, and a few revelations in the video that will get you playing your best. 🙌

🔥🎹 Hot Tip: Check out our lesson on learning to read ledger lines if you find you are having difficulty sight-reading the sheet music!

Merry Christmas, and happy practicing!

Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for more than 20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. Learn more about Lisa.