Jingle Bells (First Notes) — Kids Christmas Piano Sheet Music, Free to Print

Where your hand goes

Find middle C: the white key just to the left of the two black keys nearest the middle of the piano. Put your right thumb on it and rest one finger on each white key going up, so your fingers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sit on C, D, E, F and G.

This piece uses 4 notes: C, D, E, G. In the music, the number above each note tells you the finger and the letter under it tells you the key. Your hand never has to move.

About this arrangement

The first line of the Jingle Bells chorus, the part everyone knows. Put your thumb on middle C and finger 3 on E: eight of the eleven notes are E. Count four in every bar. Each “jin-gle” is two one-count notes and each “bells” is a minim, two counts. Then finger 5 plays G, your thumb plays C and finger 2 plays D, before the long E on “way”, held for four counts. In the song “all” is a little longer and “the” a little shorter; here they are even, the way beginners usually learn it.

Practice tip: Keep finger 3 resting on E the whole time, even while other fingers play, so it is always ready for the next “jin-gle bells”. Play it twice: once softly, then loudly, like sleigh bells coming closer.

The words

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

A short history

James Lord Pierpont, an American organist and songwriter, published the song in Boston in 1857 as “One Horse Open Sleigh”. Two years later it came out again as “Jingle Bells, or The One Horse Open Sleigh”. It is a song about racing sleighs through the snow, and the words never mention Christmas at all.

The chorus we sing today is simpler than the one Pierpont printed, which moved about more; the easier version took over later.

In December 1965 the astronauts of Gemini 6 played it on a small harmonica and bells they had taken on board, the first musical instruments played in space.

Quick facts

Tune: James Lord Pierpont, 1857 (the chorus as it is sung today)
Words: James Lord Pierpont, 1857
Level: Kids (a handful of notes, right hand only)
Key: C position (right thumb on middle C)
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 4 bars
Tempo: Brightly, crotchet = 100
Hands: Right hand only: thumb on middle C, one finger for each key; the finger number is above every note and the letter name under it
Copyright: Public domain tune and words; arrangement by Digital Greenhouse, free for personal, church and classroom use

Questions and answers

What level is this arrangement of Jingle Bells (First Notes)?

Kids. Very first Christmas tunes for children: just a handful of notes, all under the five fingers of the right hand, with the finger number above every note and the letter name underneath. Put your thumb on middle C and you can play them, even if you have never had a lesson. It is in C position, no sharps or flats, 4/4 time, 4 bars.

Is Jingle Bells (First Notes) out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is by James Lord Pierpont, 1857 (the chorus as it is sung today) and the words sung here are by James Lord Pierpont, 1857, so both are in the public domain in Australia. Our piano arrangement is new and free for personal, church and classroom use.

Any tips for a first go?

Keep finger 3 resting on E the whole time, even while other fingers play, so it is always ready for the next “jin-gle bells”. Play it twice: once softly, then loudly, like sleigh bells coming closer.

Can I print it?

Yes. Press Print above the music to put this piece on its own pages, or choose Save as PDF as the printer for a file. It prints on A4 paper; if yours is US Letter, choose US Letter in the box beside Print.

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