When it comes to playing Christmas songs with children it can get tricky - because many Christmas songs are not that easy! A lot of chord changes, a wide note range or difficult keys can make a beginner get frustrated soon (which is why some of them might hate playing Christmas songs in the first place).
We put together and simplified for you 5 Christmas songs that you can play with pretty much every beginner on most instruments. Extra good: They only have maximum 6 different notes!
Which Christmas songs can I play as a beginner?
Jingle Bells
Little Drummer Boy
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Last Christmas
1. Jingle Bells
Although the verses of this Christmas classic have a wider note range, the chorus is pretty easy. In this version you can play the first few bars of the chorus and people will for sure recognise the song!
Tips for this song?
This version has a pretty steady rhythm through all of its quarter notes. That makes it good to practice for speed, so take your metronome (or drum simulator) and get this song faster and faster! After all: The song is about a fast sleigh ride. :-)
2. Little Drummer Boy
This popular Christmas song has normally a rhythm that, well - you need to get used to. In our shortened version the bars to count are not that much of a problem. Enjoy playing this song with your kids!
Tips for this song?
The difficulty here lies maybe in the eighth notes and the long notes in the second and third line. Practice this song with a metronome or someone that counts with you to make sure all the notes are long enough.
3. Deck the Halls
Regularly, this song has a fast tempo and some swinging notes. To make it easier many of the notes now are normal quarter notes. Play it fast enough and it still has lots of groove!
Tips for this song?
Focus mainly on a good speed and the eighth notes in the third line. Careful though: If you play the first two line too fast, the third line (with its eighth notes) gets too fast for you!
4. Ding Dong Merrily on High
The beginning of this easy Christmas song for kids is here fairly easy to play. We also put it in a good key for most of the instruments.
Tips for this song?
Don't play this song too fast. Rather: Play it in a steady tempo. The eighth notes in the first line might slow you down, while the dotted half note in the second line might make you impatient (and therefore you might play it shorter).
5. Last Christmas
A modern Christmas classic! Many people would say it's easy to play but that is actually not the case. This version we needed to make simpler in many ways: different key, different note values and short. But not - with the right speed - it still sounds dangerously like the original. :-)
Tips for this song?
This is a fast one. And for recognising the original melody in your playing you need to play it fast. Practice note for note and make sure the eighth notes have the right speed (and don't slow you down whenever you reach them).
Sources and Links
Photo 1: by PAUPA
How can I find more music activities?
Find more ideas for music games, note sheets and useful printables on our website: https://www.paupa.org
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