Everyone knows Jingle Bells, Silent Night or We Wish You a Merry Christmas, but how about another Christmas carol that is also quite well known, but among the most popular. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a great one among the most popular carols because it has a really nice melody and highlights the origin of Christmas pretty well. And this carol is a great one to learn and play on the piano during the holiday season. We focus on beginner-friendly versions and also provide you with the lyrics with the easy sheet music as well as the sheet music of the song for more advanced musicians or teachers.
History of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of the most enduring Christmas carols, with roots dating back to the 18th century. The original lyrics were written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, a key figure in the founding of Methodism. However, Wesley’s initial version was quite different, beginning with the line “Hark how all the welkin rings,” “welkin” referring to the heavens. It wasn’t until 1753 that George Whitefield, an evangelical preacher and Wesley’s contemporary, revised the opening to the now-famous “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. This change quickly caught on with listeners and cemented its place in Christmas traditions.
Interestingly, it wasn’t until more than a century later that the familiar melody was paired with the lyrics. In 1855, William H. Cummings adapted a composition by German composer Felix Mendelssohn – originally written to commemorate the invention of the printing press – to Wesley’s words. The grand, uplifting melody perfectly underscores the song’s message of joy, peace, and goodwill, helping it to become a popular hymn.
Piano Letter Notes For Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Not everyone knows how to read music, and an excellent alternative for beginners and young beginners is to simply use the lyrics with the notes above. It’s much more accessible and easier to understand without much knowledge of music theory. All you need to know is where to find the notes on your keyboard. That’s the first step we need to take before playing the song, familiarizing ourselves with the location of each required note on the piano. The illustration of the piano keyboard below will help you with this.
We will be playing the song in the key of G. This also requires the use of a black key, which may be a bit challenging for beginners, but the song is a great opportunity to introduce beginners to playing black keys if they haven’t used them yet. Please note that we are using two different notes, D and E, in this song. To make the distinction clear, the notation D’ and E’ refers to the higher octave version of the D and E note.
Here are the keys on the keyboard that you have to use for the carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:
For absolute beginners, labeling the piano keys can be a great idea. It allows them to quickly find the correct notes while playing along with lettered lyrics. However, as students gain confidence and begin to play songs more fluidly, we suggest gradually removing these labels. This shift helps them develop muscle memory and a stronger grasp of the instrument, encouraging more independent and intuitive playing.
To ease this transition, be sure to explore our Piano Note Reading Guide. It provides helpful tips and techniques for recognizing piano keys and understanding their relationship to notes on sheet music. By following these strategies, students can build the confidence to navigate the keyboard without relying on labels, deepening their connection with the music.
The following chart with the lyrics and the letter notes enables you to learn and play Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:
Check out our piano recording of the song to see if you got it right. You can also slow it down and play along as you practice.
Piano Sheet Music for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The sheet music for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is relatively simple, but it does require a basic knowledge of musical notation. To play it correctly, you’ll need to understand the basics, such as notes, rhythms, and various symbols. For beginners, especially younger students, these concepts may seem a bit difficult at first. However, if you’re just starting to learn to read music, this carol is a great tune to start. Its simple melody makes it an accessible and enjoyable way to get familiar with music notation.
Here are the music notes for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:
Free PDF Printables for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
You can download our free PDF printables of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing for free, which include both the lyrics piano letter notes and traditional sheet music.
Interested in instruments other than the piano? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Hark! The Herald Angels Sing on the guitar.
