Piano songs · Beginner
We Wish You a Merry Christmas on piano
We Wish You a Merry Christmas is bouncy, short and fun to play. The tune climbs a step each line, which makes it easy to remember. Here are the notes with a simple left hand.
The tune in letter names, lit as it plays. Right hand in peach, left hand in lilac. Turn off "Both hands" to hear the tune alone.
About the piece
A traditional carol from the West Country of England, sung by carollers who went from house to house (hence the demand for figgy pudding). It's in waltz time: three beats to a bar.
The notes
The letters above are the tune, played by your right hand: G C C D C B A; A A D D E D C B; G G E E F E D C; A G G A D; B C. Longer boxes are longer notes. Press Play and follow along, then slow it down with the speed slider and play with it.
How to learn it
- The quick notes: each line starts with one long note then four quick ones ("wish you a mer-ry"). Keep them even.
- The pattern: each line starts one step higher than the last (C, then D, then E). Spot it and you've learned the song.
- Three beats: count "1-2-3" and lean slightly on the 1.
- Left hand: one low note per bar, changing with the harmony.
Learning We Wish You a Merry Christmas? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a rhythm that runs away. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What are the notes for We Wish You a Merry Christmas?
In C: G, C C D C B, A A A, D D E D C, B G G, E E F E D, C A G G, A D B, C.
Is it easy on piano?
Yes: it stays in one hand position, and the rhythm follows the words.
More songs to play
A simple arrangement of a public-domain melody. Piano sound: Salamander Grand Piano by Alexander Holm, CC BY 3.0.