How To Play O Holy Night

Traditional Christmas Eve supper in Poland - dishes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's Christmas Eve and I've just returned home from our church service. I love singing Christmas songs and this one is so pretty to play on the piano with lots of arpeggio chords in the right hand. It's written in 6/8 time, played in the Key of C. You've heard so many talented folks sing this one.

O Holy Night

Intro: C

C                 F                   C
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
C                      G              C
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth
C                     F              C
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
      F#˚/C   Em          B7            Em
'Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
  G                  C
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
   G                C
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn
Am            Em       Dm             Am
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
  C  G    C  F
O night divine
  C   G                C
O night when Christ was born
  G   G7    C F  D˚ C    G               C
O night, divine, O night when Christ was born

Verse 2:
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings, lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger
Behold, your king
Before Him lowly bend
Behold, your king before Him lowly bend

Verse 3:
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love, and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever
His power and glory ever more proclaim

Chord Breakdown

 The right hand has single eighth notes to play. Here's a pattern to follow when playing single bass notes in the left hand: (no particular order)

L.H. / R.H.

C = C/ E, C, G  - G, G, C

F = F/ F, C, A - A, A, C

G = G/ D, B, G - G, G, B

F˚/C = C/F#, A, C

Em = E/G, G, B - E, G, B

B7 = B/F#, A, B - D#, A, B

Em = E/E, B, G - G, G, B

Am = A/E, C, A - A, A, C

Dm = D/F, D, A - A, A, D

G7 = G/D, G, B - F, G, B

D˚ = D/F, Ab, B

Christmas Midi Files

Printable PDF

Here are some Poinsettia's in my yard. Red seems to be the color of the season.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

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 "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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