{"id":10024,"date":"2022-12-16T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=10024"},"modified":"2023-05-02T10:40:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T17:40:46","slug":"christmas-time-is-here-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/christmas-time-is-here-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Christmas Time Is Here&#8221; (Charlie Brown Christmas) Piano Tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/em> is one of the most beloved holiday movies of all time, and part of what makes it so good is the music. In this tutorial, we\u2019ll show you how to play \u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d on piano, which captures that classic, jazzy, Charlie Brown sound.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d was written by jazz pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi and producer Lee Mendelson. The version we\u2019ll teach here was arranged especially for Pianote by Kevin Castro. You can find the sheet music in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/christmas-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Christmas Songbook<\/a>. And if you\u2019re a Pianote+ Member, you can download the sheet music in the Members Area. Not a Member yet? Check out the community (and download some sheet music!) with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free trial<\/a>, just for you \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Never Miss a Song Tutorial<\/b><\/h3><p>Love our video tutorial? Your favorite song might be next! Subscribe to our newsletter for piano news, exclusive interviews, new tutorials, interesting articles, and more delivered to your inbox every week. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Guide to \u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d Piano Chord Types<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a beginner at reading chord charts, the chords in \u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d may seem intimidating. But don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll break them down here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Slash Chords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ex. Am7\/C<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you see a slash chord, play the chord to the left of the slash (Am7) with your right hand and the note to the right of the slash (C) with your left hand. You can think of the slash as &#8220;over&#8221; and you&#8217;ll essentially play \u201cAm7 over C.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>Am7\/C<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Major 7th vs. Dominant 7th Chords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ex. Fmaj7, E\u266d7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll see that some chords have \u201cmaj7\u201d and some just have \u201c7.\u201d These are both four-note chords. In maj7 chords, the distance between the root note and the top note is a major 7th <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/interval-ear-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interval<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>Fmaj7, E\u266d7<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201c7\u201d chords are dominant 7th chords. This means the distance between the root note and top note is a minor 7th interval. So, Fmaj7 would have the notes F-A-C-E because F-E is a major 7th interval. On the other hand, F7 would have the notes F-A-C-E\u266d because F-E\u266d is a minor 7th interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Diminished 7th Chords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ex. Bdim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diminished 7th chords are a little crunchy, but they add a lot of color. A diminished 7th chord is essentially a four-note stack of minor thirds. A Bdim chord has the notes B-D-F-A\u266d, and you\u2019ll notice that the interval between each note in the stack is a minor third.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>Bdim<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Suspended (&#8220;Sus&#8221;) Chords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ex. Csus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A suspended (\u201csus\u201d) chord means that you substitute the middle note of a triad with the 2nd or 4th note from the root. Usually, this is noted in the chord symbol (ie. Csus4). In the case of Csus, more than one note is suspended so we\u2019ve left out the number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>Csus<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Chord Extensions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ex. C13\u266d9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Numbers that are greater than 7 are chord extensions. In a chord like C13, we add the 13th note from the root (A) to the chord stack. If there is also an accidental (the \u266d9, in our case), that means we lower the 9th note from the root by a half-step. C13 is therefore a C7 dominant 7th chord with extensions to the 13th, and would have the notes C-E-G-Bb-Db-F-A.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>C13\u266d9<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Why \u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d Is So Iconic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jazz isn\u2019t as popular as it used to be, but many sources praising the legacy of \u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d point to how the song is perhaps the one jazz tune most people know. Part of the reason why the song remains so popular is because so many people (of multiple generations) grew up watching the Peanuts Christmas TV special. There\u2019s a nostalgic atmosphere in the jazz tensions of the song that, together with the children\u2019s choir, gives the song an unpolished yet wholesome atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<div style=\"width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:75%;position:relative;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/Y6J3n0t4In4li\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"position:absolute\" frameBorder=\"0\" class=\"giphy-embed\" allowFullScreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChristmas Time Is Here\u201d may also be popular because it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/melmagazine.com\/en-us\/story\/vince-guaraldi-christmas-time-is-here\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a little somber<\/a>. The song isn\u2019t as rambunctiously joyful as, say, \u201cJoy to the World\u201d or \u201cWe Wish You a Merry Christmas.\u201d And despite Christmas being commercialized as a happy holiday, many people relate with the reality that the holidays can be complicated. Charlie Brown struggles to find the true meaning of Christmas in the movie, and not everyone has a simple Christmas. Nevertheless, many audiences find comfort and contentment in Guaraldi\u2019s simple melody and (not so simple) chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:20px;\">\ud83c\udfbc <b>Learn Your Favorites, Step By Step<\/b><\/h3><p> As a Pianote+ Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists who have played with rock stars.<\/p><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to play &#8220;Christmas Time Is Here&#8221; on piano from A Charlie Brown Christmas in this step-by-step tutorial with Kevin Castro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1106,508],"tags":[1086],"class_list":["post-10024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-seasonal","category-song-tutorials","tag-l3s"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10024"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13471,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions\/13471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}