If you’ve recently received a piano as a Christmas gift, you probably want to learn how to play some Christmas songs on the piano. But to do that, you’ll need to become the master of the instrument.
Impress your holiday guests by serenading them with some of their favorite carols.
Here are a few classics that are easy to learn and play after a few glasses of egg nog or hot chocolate!
Let It Snow
Best known for the classic Dean Martin cover, this is one of the most famous songs of the season. And it’s relatively easy to play on the piano.
The other benefit of this is that this one is one of the rare Christmas songs that everybody loves. Far from just an overplayed hit, this song is a classic in part because of the assurance and charisma of Martin.
The song’s easy-going tempo will let you replicate that assurance with a little bit of practice. So try to work on your singing voice as well!
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad is a popular Christmas carol written by the Mexican songwriter Jose Feliciano in 1968.The song is based on the popular Spanish folk song “Noche de Paz” (Night of Peace). Feliz Navidad is easy-to-learn Christmas song, particularly well-suited for beginner piano students.
The best part about this Christmas carol is that it has very easy chords and a repetitive melody, making it one of the easiest songs for beginners to learn on the piano. .It has been performed by many artists and groups, but is most commonly associated with José Feliciano’s performance.
Jingle Bells
Another classic, this one is sure to remind everyone of their childhood. We all know how fun it is to go sleigh-riding in the winter, and this carol lets you enjoy that experience without having to take a trip outside.
In fact, it’s probably this song’s ability to recapture childhood nostalgia that makes it such a smash hit.
The key to playing this one is tempo — as soon as you master that, you’ll be ready to show people just how fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. They’ll probably even belt out the “heys” for you.
The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy is a famous Christmas song that was written by Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone. They composed the song in 1941, but it only became well-known after the release of an animated television special in 1968. It tells the story of a poor boy who wants to play for the King, even though he has no drum.
The song is often sung at Christmas time and has been covered by many artists over the years, including Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This Christmas song is super fun to learn on the piano and eventually play for your family.
Frosty The Snowman
This song is the “Bohemian Rhapsody” of Christmas carols. It tells a beautiful and heartbreaking story while ending on a note of bittersweet continuity. And while he did need to melt at the end of the winter, we also know that one day Frosty will return.
To make this song extra fun, you can try playing it faster or slower than people expect.
After you master this one on the piano, you’ll be able to tell that story around the fireplace. Because maybe he wasn’t a fairy tale after all, and the music you create can bring him back.
Silver Bells
The song “Silver Bells” is an iconic Christmas song that has been recorded by many famous artists, including Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Dean Martin. The song was written in 1952 by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It’s the perfect Christmas tune for this time of year.
Silver Bells! Silver Bells! It’s Christmas time in the city. Learn this fun song on the piano and start to sing along with your friends and family this Christmas.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
When you’re playing a series of classic Christmas songs, this song is one that everybody wants to hear.
Featuring an upbeat tempo, it really is fun for everyone. It’s also a song that most of your guests know the words to and is perfect for a family sing-along.
It’s also a good way to practice playing songs with varying structures — the chorus and verses of the song have a totally different feel.
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
One of the most popular holiday songs is “Rocking around the Christmas Tree”. The song has been recorded by many artists and bands, and was made popular in 1957 by Brenda Lee.
There are many versions of this song that have been recorded over the years. Learn how to play Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree on piano with this video tutorial.
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is similar to Frosty The Snowman in tone and lyrics. Both songs focus on telling a story about somebody who is a bit of an outcast. In the case of Frosty, his problem is a society that doesn’t think he’s real.
In the case of Rudolph, we have one of the classic Christmas carols that double as a story about feeling left out. That makes this a feel-good song that everybody will enjoy.
Holly Jolly Christmas
A classic Christmas song I remember singing along to many times during the holiday season. A Holly Jolly Christmas was written by Johnny Marks and was famously performed by Burl Ives.
A Holly Jolly Christmas has easily become a top Christmas song and a favourite among many novice piano students. Learn this song and grow your Christmas repertoire.
Walking In a Winter Wonderland
Another jazzy and fun classic from the mid-20th century, Walking in a Winter Wonderland has the perfect feeling for Christmas. The notes used in this song will literally warm up your entire body.
Like some other songs on the list, you’ll need to really focus on tempo to get this one right. But once you do, you’ll have everybody in your house walking towards the piano to hear more.
Deck The Halls
Deck The Halls is a bit less contemporary than a number of the songs on this list. But it’s one of the classic Christmas carols for a reason — no song better captures the feeling of preparing for the holidays with your family.
This song is relatively easy to play. We think you should give it a shot because we can guarantee that this is the sonic equivalent of a glass of hot cocoa.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
This is a toe-tappingly dancey member of the pantheon of classic Christmas carols, one of the most fun to play in the days leading up to the holiday. Everybody knows the feeling of excitement as Christmas approaches. If you want to bring that excitement forward musically, this is one of the best song choices.
Silent Night
A lot of Christmas carols are a lot of fun. If you want something a bit more serious in tone, you should consider playing Silent Night.
This song is perfect for learning just how hard you need to hit the keys. Being able to play with a quiet tone will be incredibly beneficial to you in every circumstance, not just while playing classic Christmas carols. So if you want a song that’s a good teacher, give this one a try.
Jingle Bell Rock
Everybody remembers Jingle Bell Rock as the “fun” song from their school’s winter music showcase. Because of its upbeat tempo and fun melody, this song is just as fun to play as it is to sing.
The song also features a lot of instrumental repetition, meaning it shouldn’t be too hard to master.
If you want to get everybody swaying during your Christmas party, Jingle Bell Rock can be a great song to close out on. It’s by far the most contemporary-sounding of the classic Christmas carols, and that alone gives it an appeal perfect for closing out a set.
30 More Christmas Songs on the Piano
If the 10 above weren’t enough for you here are another 30 Christmas songs you can learn how to play on the piano. Everything from the classic Jingle Bell Rock to Mariah Carey’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. It is so much fun to learn how to play your favourite Christmas carols on the piano for you and your family to sing along with. Get the family together and choose a few from this list to learn this year.
| SONG | LISTEN / WATCH |
|---|---|
| All I Want For Christmas Is You | YouTube |
| All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth | YouTube |
| Baby, It's Cold Outside | YouTube |
| The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) | YouTube |
| Christmas Time Is Here | YouTube |
| Do You Hear What I Hear | YouTube |
| Feliz Navidad | YouTube |
| Frosty The Snow Man | YouTube |
| Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | YouTube |
| Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) | YouTube |
| A Holly Jolly Christmas | YouTube |
| I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | YouTube |
| I'll Be Home For Christmas | YouTube |
| Jingle Bell Rock | YouTube |
| Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! | YouTube |
| The Little Drummer Boy | YouTube |
| The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year | YouTube |
| My Favorite Things | YouTube |
| Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree | YouTube |
| Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer | YouTube |
| Santa Baby | YouTube |
| Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town | YouTube |
| Silver Bells | YouTube |
| Sleigh Ride | YouTube |
| Somewhere In My Memory | YouTube |
| White Christmas | YouTube |
| Winter Wonderland | YouTube |
| You're All I Want For Christmas | YouTube |
| The First Noel | YouTube |
| Wham! Last Christmas | YouTube |
Learn Classic Christmas Carols
If you want to be able to play the classics, you’ll need to learn from the best. On top of being a music store, we also offer assistance to people learning to play piano and other instruments.
Whether you want to play Frosty the Snowman on piano or Stairway to Heaven on guitar, our expert team of teachers can help make that happen. Learning with us is easy and a lot of fun.
So stop daydreaming about learning these tunes and contact us to make it happen.
