How to play Jingle Bells on Piano
Have you always wanted to know how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano?
Learning how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano feels like some sort of right of passage. I mean, if you don’t know how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano, do you even know how to play piano?
…just kidding, of course you do! But if you still don’t know how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano, or you would like to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in a new style, then this FREE piano workshop is for you!
This online piano class for adults will teach you how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in three totally different styles! When you sign up for the class, you’ll have access to three unique styles for learning how to play “Jingle Bells
Take the workshop to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano!
How to play “Jingle Bells” on Piano in 3 Steps
If you’re trying to learn the basics, you can start here with how to play “Jingle Bells” on the piano in 3 simple steps.
What are the notes on a piano for “Jingle Bells?”
What are the notes on piano a piano for “Jingle Bells?” The simplest way to start learning how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano is to start with the melody in the right hand, or finding what are the notes on a piano for “Jingle Bells.” The melody is the part that we normally sing, you know, “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…”
Simpler yet, just learn the chorus. All of that “Dashing through the snow,” business starts to complicate things. This will simplify the process, because do you know how many notes are there in “Jingle Bells?” If you’re only playing the melody of the chorus (you know, “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way…”) then there are only 5 notes in “Jingle Bells!”
So to get started, learn what are the notes on a piano for “Jingle Bells,” in the right hand in order to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano. Once you have the hang of that, we can start adding in harmonies and stylistic details.
How do you play “Jingle Bells” with two hands on the piano?
The next step in learning how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano is to add in some harmony. So if you’re ready to learn how do you play “Jingle Bells” with two hands on the piano, first you want to learn what are the notes on a piano for “Jingle Bells” in the right hand, then add in intervals or chords in the left hand to support the melody.
If you are planning to sing along while you play piano, you may choose to use just chords while you learn how do you play “Jingle Bells” with two hands on the piano, and omit the original melody altogether. (Don’t worry, it was still a good thing to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in the right hand, even if you are singing along once you know how to play “Jingle Bells” with two hands on the piano!)
Time to Get Fancy with “Jingle Bells” on Piano
Now that you know not only what are the notes on a piano for “Jingle Bells,” and how to play “Jingle Bells,” with two hands on the piano, it’s time to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in your own style. Your full blown performance of “Jingle Bells” will depend on the context that you want to play “Jingle Bells” on piano for. Do you want people to sing along? Would you rather play a piano solo?
When deciding how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano, you’ll want to pick which version you prefer. You can play the melody (the part that we sing) in the right hand with sustaining chords in the left hand.
If you are planning to lead a family sing-along, you may want to leave out the melody altogether and create a fun rhythmic pattern with the left hand playing bass notes and the right hand playing chords. It’s a good idea to know the melody, though, in case your motley crew of singers needs a little help finding the notes!
If you want to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in three different styles, be sure to watch the free workshop on how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in 3 ways!
Weird fun facts about “Jingle Bells”
“Jingle Bells” is not about Christmas.
Or Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Yule… it’s actually a secular song! It is believed to have been written to commemorate annual sled races that actually happened closer to Thanksgiving!
“Jingle Bells” is basically a poem about going out with your friends and your date.
Weirdly enough, my family and I found a hundred year old family letter in a collection of family heirlooms, and its content read eerily like the lyrics of “Jingle Bells.” It described a date on a sleigh ride, meeting friends and going out unchaperoned… oh my!
The composer of “Jingle Bells” is pretty disappointing
*Sigh.* Another American folk song turns out to be composed by a racist. Surprise.
Despite being from a family of abolitionists, James Lord Pierpont moved south to join the Confederate army during the Civil War. To make matters worse, it is believed that the first public performance of the piece was done in blackface.
It has been performed in amazing and innovative ways
When I find out that songs woven into our day to day routines have grossly problematic histories, I do my best to acknowledge that systems in place that have preserved these narratives and then give credit to the Black musicians, that have shaped the American musical landscape. It’s not a reach to say that Ella Fitzgerald has one of the best interpretations of Jingle Bells. Nat King Cole recorded a classic crooner version of this song. I love this Oscar Peterson recording, and of course Stevie Wonder has a completely different take. In complete contrast, Gucci Mane released “Jingle Bales” in 2019, which revamps everything you know about this tune. For a boogie woogie spin, listen to J. Lawrence Cook’s arrangement.
Despite all the covers, it’s virtually unchanged from the original version.
Here’s the second ever recording of “Jingle Bells,” made in 1898. It pretty much sounds the same!
Questions about learning how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano:
How Many Notes are there in “Jingle Bells?”
There are only five notes in “Jingle Bells!” That is… if you just play the melody of the chorus! If you want to learn how do you play “Jingle Bells” on piano with two hands… then you’ll find there as just as many notes as any other song.
What are the “JIngle Bells” piano notes?
The short answer here is E-E-E, E-E-E, E-G-C-D-E… but be sure to watch the workshop and download the free sheet music for “Jingle Bells” on piano to get the full picture!
Is Jingle Bells hard to play on Piano?
One of the best things about learning songs like how to play Jingle Bells on the piano is that you can make it as challenging as you want! If you want to learn how to play Jingle Bells on the piano for beginners, you can make it simple by just playing the melody notes of Jingle Bells- you know, the part you would sing. If you don’t think that Jingle Bells is hard to play on piano, then you can add chords in your left hand, or try playing it different styles like we do in the free class of How to Play Jingle Bells on Piano in 3 styles!
How do you play Jingle Bells on the keyboard?
The same way that you play it on piano! You’ll press the same keys. If you want to try something new and learn how to play piano with the technology you have around, I’d challenge you to try to play Jingle Bells on a piano app on your phone or tablet! It’s really fun, and you can start a sing along at your next holiday party!
Where can I find Free sheet music for “Jingle Bells” on piano?
There are three different types of music are included when you sign up for my How to Play Jingle Bells on Piano in 3 Ways workshop!
Do I need sheet music to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano?
Nope! If you want to learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano, you can apply the steps I described above by picking out the notes and chords by ear, or you can follow along with the free workshop!
What’s the best video for learning how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano?
I’m pretty sure it’s my free video- you’ll learn three different ways to play “Jingle Bells” on piano, and have music for each of the three styles at the end of the workshop.
I want to learn other holiday songs on piano!
I have an incredible book of holiday music arranged for playing the melody and accompaniment parts of classic holiday songs on piano! This book features a sample of music from different holiday traditions, including Christmas music, a classic Hanukkah song, and music with gospel roots, as well as a variety of secular and very popular winter holiday music. There’s even a kit of lyric zines that you can give out like yuletide greeting cards, so everyone can sing along! Even better? I teach a 5 week Keyboard Caroling class so you can learn to lead your own winter holiday sing along, Christmas caroling, or just play piano to entertain your friends and family through the holidays. Created in 2020 when many folks were further separated from their families due to COVID-19, this class ends with a livestream performance! Performing is completely optional, but it is an easy way to share your music and growth with all of your friends and family. Bonus points for ordering the lyric zines and mailing them out ahead of time! Oh, and don’t worry- there’s one more unique arrangement for how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano in the book!
I need more help. Can you show me how to play “Jingle Bells” on piano?
Sure! Schedule your first private lesson here.
Can you play “Jingle Bells” on piano for me?
Yes! My partner and I have an incredible set of holiday music full of classics and fun holiday favorites. It’s such a great way to elevate your party and cultivate a festive mood. We’re playing private house concerts and corporate events throughout the midwest every weekend in December! Send me an email at kelsey.georgesen@gmail.com if you live in between Illinois and New York state.
