Christmas time is music time! And if you are playing the piano you are probably motivated to play a few carols during the Christmas season. And the carol The First Noel is a beautiful Christmas carol to play on the piano. And even if you are still beginner on the piano, this song is also a good one to start one because we will show you how to play the carol the easy way! Let’s also discover a bit of the history and background of the song. As for every song on our site we provide you free printables (easy letter notes and sheet music) that you can use for your practicing or piano lessons.
History of The First Noel
The First Noel is a classic English Christmas carol believed to have originated in the 17th century, although its exact beginnings remain uncertain. The song is thought to have roots in Cornwall and was first published in its modern form in the early 19th century, appearing in two important collections: Carols Ancient and Modern, published in 1823, and Gilbert and Sandys Carols, published in 1833. These collections were edited by William Sandys, with Davies Gilbert arranging the carol and even adding additional verses for the collection Hymns and Carols of God.
The term “Noel” comes from the French word for Christmas, and the carol tells the story of the Nativity, emphasizing the appearance of the star to the shepherds and wise men. Its simple, flowing melody and memorable refrain have made it a holiday favorite, evoking a warm sense of tradition and nostalgia during the Christmas season.
Piano Letter Notes For The First Noel
The First Noel is not only a holiday classic, it’s also an excellent piece for beginning pianists. When starting out, young students often have limited knowledge of music theory, and reading music can feel overwhelming. To simplify this carol, using letter notes can be a great way to introduce a song to beginners. This method helps young pianists who may not be comfortable reading traditional sheet music, making the learning process smoother and more enjoyable.
But before we dive into the song, it’s important that we familiarize ourselves with the location of each note on the keyboard. In this song, we will need to recognize both the high and low octaves of the C note, where we will use C’ for the high C note.
Here are the keys on the keyboard that you have to use for the Christmas carol The First Noel
Labeling piano keys is a helpful tool for children and beginners, allowing them to easily find the correct keys and easing the learning curve. However, as students build confidence and start playing songs independently, it’s important to gradually remove the labels to promote self-reliance and muscle memory.
To assist with this transition, check out our piano note reading guide. It provides simple strategies for remembering and locating keys on the keyboard, while also explaining how these keys correspond to the notes on sheet music, helping learners develop a deeper understanding of the instrument.
The following chart with the lyrics and the letter notes enables you to learn and play The First Noel in an easy way:
Check out the piano recorder below to play along or to check if you got it right on the piano!
Every song can be approached with either one or both hands. Sure, playing a piece with both hands gives you the opportunity to make it sound richer and more complex. However, two-handed piano playing is also more challenging, and beginners are better off learning a melody with one hand, note by note. As they gain experience, they can gradually start using both hands and work their way up to more complex arrangements.
Piano Sheet Music for The First Noel
When learning to play the piano, sheet music is usually the most important resource. It gives you all the information about a piece of music. The sheet music will help you clearly identify the two different pitches of the C notes used in the song, making it easier to play accurately. You will also notice that sheet music is much more precise about when to play each note and how long to hold it. But for young beginners, reading music can be overwhelming at first. Starting with simple, short songs is a great way to ease them into reading music, and The First Noel is one of them.
Here are the music notes for The First Noel:
Free PDF Printables for The First Noel
You need to print out the the lyrics with the letter notes or the sheet music for your piano lessons? No problem, you can download them for free and share them with your students!
Interested in instruments other than the piano? You can also find a free lesson on how to play The First Noel on the guitar.
