Looking for a Christmas carol with a catchy melody and worship at the heart of the song? Then Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is for you! It’s not one of the most popular Christmas songs that comes to mind when looking for a good tune to play on the guitar during the holiday season, but this one definitely deserves some attention. First of all, the history of the song teaches us that some of the carols we know today were only developed into this version over a long period of time. So it’s quite interesting to learn about the historical background of a song before you actually learn it. And second, it’s a great Christmas song for beginners and advanced guitarists. We show you how to play it in a very easy way and also provide you with a version that is beginner friendly but a bit more challenging.
History of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a classic Christmas carol dating back to the 18th century. The original lyrics were written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement. Wesley’s version was quite different from the one we know today; it began with “Hark how all the welkin rings” where “welkin” meaning the sky or heaven. It wasn’t until 1753 that Wesley’s friend George Whitefield, an evangelical preacher, changed the first line to the now familiar, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. This version quickly gained popularity..
The music to the carol was added more than a century later. In 1855, german composer and pianist Felix Mendelssohn’s melody, originally written to celebrate the invention of the printing press, was adapted by William H. Cummings to accompany Wesley’s lyrics. The majestic and joyous melody perfectly complements the hymn’s message of peace and goodwill, making it one of the most recognized and beloved hymns in the world.
Guitar Tabs for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Let’s start with the easy versions of the song. That’s why we’ll start by fingerpicking the melody. We will use guitar tabs because they are a simple form of notation for fretted instruments and are easier for beginners to read than sheet music. We will start by exploring the melody on just one guitar string, and then show you how to play the melody using multiple strings.
1. Level: Playing only on One Guitar String
Many songs can be played on just one string! The song will sound pretty basic but everybody will recognize the melody immediately. And it’s actually a nice exercise for beginners since they only have to to focus on picking one string and moving only one finger of the left hand up and down on this string. At the same time beginners get a good idea of the different notes of the string. So, let’s push down the string with the index or middle finger of our left hand. Then, pluck the string with the thumb of your right hand. Please note that we need to play a note two times on the second string for this version. But otherwise we stay on the first string.
Here are the tabs for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing on one string:
Below is a recording of how the carol should sound played on the first string of the guitar. You can play along and if it’s too fast, just slow it down.
2. Level: Playing on several Guitar Strings
The next step is to try playing the Christmas carol over several strings, rather than sticking to just one. This approach is not only more typical, but also more efficient for playing melodies on the guitar. One of the main advantages is that it minimizes the need to move your left hand up and down the guitar neck. While using multiple fingers and plucking different strings may seem tricky at first, especially for beginners, it’s a skill well worth mastering with practice!
Here are the tabs for playing the nursery rhyme on the first three strings:
Again, you can listen to the recording to check your playing and see how it should sound.
Guitar Chords for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The fingerpicking arrangement is a great way to introduce yourself to the song. However, if you’d prefer to sing along or perform it with friends and family, strumming chords may be more appropriate. You’ll have to learn a few chords, and the changes happen a little more frequently than in most nursery rhymes for the guitar. But don’t worry – it’s excellent practice, and the chord transitions really complement the melody of the song!
We will play the song in the key of G we need five different guitar chords: G, C, D, Em, A.
Here are chord diagrams for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Can you play these six basic guitar chords? Awesome! If you’re ready, you can jump right into practicing and playing this Christmas carol. If not, take some time to work on the chords individually, focusing on smooth transitions between chords. Start by repeating the G-D-G-C-G-D-G progression until it feels effortless. Once you’ve got that down, you can already start playing and practicing the first two lines of the song!
You may have noticed that the challenge here is the fast chord changes in some parts of the song. This takes a lot of practice for beginners, and that’s why it’s important for a beginner to start slowly and play the song at a slower speed in the beginning. Start with a single downstroke for each chord change so you don’t have to worry too much about complex strumming patterns. Once you’re comfortable playing the entire song this way, you can gradually introduce more advanced strumming techniques.
Guitar Sheet Music For Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
What about reading sheet music? Sheet music is an essential tool that provides clear instructions on a song’s notes, rhythms, and chord progressions. It tells you not only what to play, but also how long to hold a chord or note, ensuring that the music is played exactly as intended. While guitar tabs offer a simplified way to follow along, they often lack the depth and precision that sheet music offers, especially when it comes to rhythm and timing. If you can read music, you should definitely use it!
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Here is the sheet music for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:
Free Guitar Printables for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
If you’re a guitar teacher and want to guide your students through the song, or if you prefer to practice with a printed copy instead of a screen, we’ve got you covered. This is perfect for lesson planning or your own practice sessions.
Interested in instruments other than the guitar? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Hark! The Herald Angels Sing on the piano.
