‘Jingle Bells’ is one of the most famous and favorable Christmas songs that anyone can practice on the first grade piano level. It is quite simple to learn since it uses very few lines and the rhythm is catchy, making it quite enjoyable to play. With jingle bells piano notes, chord diagrams, and instruction, this guide will help you learn this song from start to finish, and have fun doing it.
Getting Started: Jingle Bells Piano Notes and Basics
- Key of C Major: The song “Jingle Bells on piano” is composed in the C major piano keys which means that all of the notes used in the song are white keys. There are no sharps (#) or flats (b) and it is much easier for beginners.
- Basic Chords: This guide contains chord accompaniments that can be played with the left hand in order to enhance the sound.
Jingle Bells Piano Keys and Finger Positions
When playing jingle bells on piano, each note has to be played with the correct fingers. This assists the hands to glide gently on the keys and helps to reduce friction. The following are the jingle bells piano keys number assigned to each finger:
- Thumb: Finger 1
- Index Finger: Finger 2
- Middle Finger: Finger 3
- Ring Finger: Finger 4
- Pinky Finger: Finger 5
Step-by-Step Guide to Play “Jingle Bells On Piano”
Now, let’s divide “Jingle Bells piano notes” based on sections. We will examine the notes for each of the lines and the placement of fingers together with the chords to be played.
Verse Breakdown: “Dashing Through the Snow”
Line 1: “Dashing through the snow”
| Syllable | Dash- | -ing | through | the | snow |
| Note | E | E | E | E | E |
| Finger | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Chord | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj |
| Chord Notes | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G |
Line 2: “In a one-horse open sleigh”
| Syllable | In | a | one | horse | o-pen | sleigh |
| Note | G | C | D | E | F | G |
| Finger | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Chord | G Maj | F Maj | C Maj | C Maj | D Min | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | G-B-D | F-A-C | C-E-G | C-E-G | D-F-A | G-B-D |
Line 3: “O’er the fields we go”
| Syllable | O’er | the | fields | we | go |
| Note | C | C | C | C | D |
| Finger | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Chord | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | D Maj |
| Chord Notes | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | D-F#-A |
Line 4: “Laughing all the way”
| Syllable | Laugh- | -ing | all | the | way |
| Note | E | G | E | C | D |
| Finger | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Chord | G Maj | G Maj | C Maj | G Maj | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | G-B-D | G-B-D | C-E-G | G-B-D | G-B-D |
Line 5: “Bells on bobtails ring”
| Syllable | bells | on | bob | tails | ring |
| Note | E | E | E | E | E |
| Finger | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Chord | G Maj | G Maj | G Maj | G Maj | C Maj |
| Chord Notes | G-B-D | G-B-D | G-B-D | G-B-D | C-E-G |
Line 6: “Making spirits bright”
| Syllable | Mak- | -ing | spi- | -rits | bright |
| Note | F | F | E | D | G |
| Finger | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Chord | F Maj | F Maj | E Min | D Min | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | F-A-C | F-A-C | E-G-B | D-F-A | G-B-D |
Line 7: “What fun it is to ride”
| Syllable | What | fun | it | is | to | ride |
| Note | C | C | C | D | E | F |
| Finger | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Chord | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | D Maj | E Maj | F Maj |
| Chord Notes | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | D-F#-A | E-G#-B | F-A-C |
Line 8: “And sing a sleighing song tonight”
| Syllable | And | sing | a | sleigh- | -ing | song | to- | -night |
| Note | G | G | F | E | D | C | E | F |
| Finger | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Chord | G Maj | G Maj | F Maj | C Maj | D Min | C Maj | C Maj | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | G-B-D | G-B-D | F-A-C | C-E-G | D-F-A | C-E-G | C-E-G | G-B-D |
Chorus: “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All the Way”
Line 1: “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells”
| Syllable | Jin- | -gle | Bells | Jin- | -gle | Bells |
| Note | E | E | E | E | E | E |
| Finger | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Chord | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj |
| Chord Notes | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G |
Line 2: “Jingle all the way”
| Syllable | Jin- | -gle | all | the | way |
| Note | E | G | C | D | E |
| Finger | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Chord | C Maj | G Maj | F Maj | C Maj | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | C-E-G | G-B-D | F-A-C | C-E-G | G-B-D |
Line 3: “Oh what fun it is to ride”
| Syllable | Oh | what | fun | it | is | to | ride |
| Note | F | F | F | F | F | E | D |
| Finger | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Chord | F Maj | F Maj | F Maj | F Maj | F Maj | G Maj | C Maj |
| Chord Notes | F-A-C | F-A-C | F-A-C | F-A-C | F-A-C | G-B-D | C-E-G |
Line 4: “In a one-horse open sleigh”
| Syllable | in | a | one- | horse | o-pen | sleigh |
| Note | G | E | C | D | E | F |
| Finger | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Chord | G Maj | G Maj | C Maj | C Maj | C Maj | G Maj |
| Chord Notes | G-B-D | G-B-D | C-E-G | C-E-G | C-E-G | G-B-D |
Pro Tips To Play Jingle Bells Piano Note
- Repetition Helps: Some notes are repeated and therefore makes the song easy to sing along and learn. Rehearse this part up until you are able to play it by heart without having to look at the keys.
- Finger Placement: Use your middle finger (finger 3) for E so that it is convenient to get to the other notes.
- Smooth Transitions: It is also important that you try to keep your fingers as close to the keys as possible especially when moving between two notes in a row.
- Practice in Sections: If this part feels a bit tricky, split it into smaller sections and practice each one slowly. When you’re comfortable, put them all together.
“Jingle Bells piano notes” might be easier for beginners to pick because the tune is quite simple and majorly consists of a sequence of notes that can be easily memorized. Since it is played C major piano keys, you don’t have to worry about confusing the notes with black keys on piano. Choosing a song beginners are able to play in order to sound distinct is a good way to build confidence and have them spend more time practicing piano.
