How to play We Wish You a Merry Christmas on piano
- Level
- Easy
- Key
- C major
- Composer
- Traditional English
- Written
- 16th century origins
A West Country English carol whose roots go back to the 1500s, when carollers sang for figgy pudding at wealthy houses. It is in 3/4 time and each line climbs one step higher than the last.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
We wish you a merry Christmas
GCCDCBAA
We wish you a merry Christmas
ADDEDCBG
We wish you a merry Christmas
GEEFEDCA
And a happy New Year
GGADBC
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Right hand starts on G4, then moves around C5. This song covers a wider range; let your hand travel.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C F | D7 G | E7 Am | F G C.
Chord diagrams: C major, F major, D dominant 7th, G major, A minor.
Practice tips
- Each 'merry Christmas' line starts one note higher: C, then D, then E.
- Count '1 2 3'. The first note 'We' is a pickup on beat three.
- Left hand: C, F, D7 (or D), G, then C.
How to practice this song
- Listen to each line once with the play button.
- Play one line slowly with the right hand until you make no mistakes three times in a row.
- Join two lines together, then the whole song.
- Add the left-hand chords, at half speed, once the melody is automatic.