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How to play Silent Night on piano

Level
Easy
Key
C major
Composer
Franz Xaver Gruber (music), Joseph Mohr (lyrics)
Written
1818

First performed on Christmas Eve 1818 in Oberndorf, Austria, with guitar because, the story goes, the church organ was broken. It is in a slow, rocking 6/8 time: count six quick beats in each bar.

Silent Night letter notes

Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.

Keyboard showing the notes used in this songCDEFGABCDEF

  1. Silent night

    GAGE

  2. Holy night

    GAGE

  3. All is calm

    DDB

  4. All is bright

    CCG

  5. Round yon virgin mother and child

    AACBAGAGE

  6. Holy infant so tender and mild

    AACBAGAGE

  7. Sleep in heavenly peace

    DDFDBCE

  8. Sleep in heavenly peace

    CGEGFDC

Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.

Hand position

Right hand starts on G4 with finger 2 or 3. Shift up for the high D and F near the end.

Easy left-hand chords

Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C | C | G7 | C | F C | F C | G7 C | C G7 C.

Chord diagrams: C major, G dominant 7th, F major.

Practice tips

  • The opening 'Si-lent' is long-short: G is held, A is quick.
  • The highest moment, 'sleep in heavenly peace', climbs to F5. Practice that line alone.
  • Left hand plays only three chords: C, G7 and F.

How to practice this song

  1. Listen to each line once with the play button.
  2. Play one line slowly with the right hand until you make no mistakes three times in a row.
  3. Join two lines together, then the whole song.
  4. Add the left-hand chords, at half speed, once the melody is automatic.

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