The piano notes for Jingle Bells
Phrase by phrase, as shown beneath each note in the sheet music:
- E E E E E E E G C D E
- F F F F F E E E E E D D E D G
- E E E E E E E G C D E
- F F F F F E E E E G G F D C
How to Play It
- Place your thumb (1) on C and keep your hand in place. Play D with finger 2, E with 3, F with 4, and G with 5. You can play the entire chorus from this position.
- It starts with seven E notes in a row, followed by G, C, D, E. Play the first three E notes with the same finger (3) and count "one, two, three-four" to bring out the rhythm.
- In the first phrase, C D is played as a dotted quarter note followed by an eighth note. This gives the melody its "bounce." Clap the rhythm before playing it.
- In phrases 2 and 4, the Fs and Es repeat several times. Count them aloud so you don't skip or add any.
- Start with the metronome at 80 quarter-note beats per minute. This song should feel energetic, so increase it to 100 once you feel confident.
The left hand
This song has the most chords in the section: C major (C), F major (F), D7 (D7), G major (G), and G7 (G7). If that feels like too much, start with just C and G7 and add the others one at a time. Play one chord per measure, following the symbols above the score.
Chords in this score: C, F, D7, G, G7.
About the Piece
James Lord Pierpont published the song in Boston in 1857 as "The One Horse Open Sleigh," and it has long been in the public domain. This version includes only the chorus, with the right-hand melody in C major, note names underneath, and left-hand chords above.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes for Jingle Bells on piano?
In C major, the chorus starts like this: E E E, E E E, E G C D E. The second phrase starts on F, and the song ends on C. All the notes, phrase by phrase, are in the list above.
Is Jingle Bells easy to play on piano?
Yes. It uses only white keys, and your hand stays in one position. The main thing is to count the repeated notes carefully and get the dotted quarter note and eighth note rhythm right.
Which part of Jingle Bells does this sheet music include?
Just the chorus, which is the part almost everyone recognizes. It's short enough to learn in one sitting.