Easy Jingle Bells piano tutorial for beginners

The holidays wouldn’t feel the same without a cheerful round of “Jingle Bells” on piano. This timeless piano song is simple enough that you can start playing it today, even if you’re a beginner. With just a few notes and a little practice, you’ll be able to fill your home with festive music.

At Skoove, we’ll guide you step by step so you can learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on the piano in a way that’s fun, easy and motivating. Whether you’re learning for yourself, helping your kids, or playing together as a family, this tutorial will get you started.

What are the notes in “Jingle Bells” ?

In this tutorial, “Jingle Bells” is in C major, which means you only need the white keys of the piano. No sharps or flats to worry about, making it one of the easiest songs for beginners. The melody is also built on simple quarter notes, so the rhythm is easy to follow.

We’ll start with the right hand melody and then add a simple left hand part. Play each hand separately first, then combine them once you feel comfortable.

Playing the notes with the right hand

Your right hand plays the melody, the part everyone sings. Place your hand in C position and let your fingers fall naturally over the white keys.

Here’s the opening line of “Jingle Bells”:

• E E E – “Jingle bells”
• E E E – “Jingle bells”
• E G C D E – “Jingle all the way”

So, the opening notes are:

E(3) – E(3) – E(3) – E(3) – E(3) – E(3) – E(3) – G(5) – C(1) – D(2) – E(3)

Once you feel comfortable, you can add the left hand to give your playing more depth and make it sound even closer to the version you know.

Playing the notes with the left hand

Our version just has the melody as you can see. However if you fancy your left hand can just keep things simple by playing the bass notes. For a very easy version, just play single notes:

• C for the first phrase (“Jingle bells, jingle bells…”)
• G when you reach “Oh what fun…”
• Then back to C for “sleigh.”

Put your little finger on the C below middle C and let your fingers fall naturally over the white keys again.

It looks like this:
C (5) – G(1) – C(5)

Hold each note steady while the right hand plays the melody on top.

How to play “Jingle Bells” on piano?

Now that you’ve practiced the melody with your right hand and the simple bass notes with your left, it’s time to put them together.

Don’t worry if your hands feel out of sync at first. Everyone experiences that! With a little patience, they’ll start working together smoothly.

The easiest way to master this piano song is by watching it in action. Here’s a step-by-step video tutorial for “Jingle Bells” on piano, play along, pause when you need to, and replay as often as you like.

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Practice tips for “Jingle Bells”

Here are some Skoove-style tips to help you play it with confidence and ease:

• Tackle the repeated notes – The opening has lots of E’s in a row. Instead of tapping quickly, keep your finger relaxed and let your wrist bounce lightly. This makes the sound even and prevents your hand from getting tense.
• Count your beats out loud – Because the rhythm is simple (all quarter notes), 
• counting “1-2-3-4” as you play will keep you from rushing through the phrases. This is especially helpful when holding the left-hand note under the melody.
• Practice the hand switch slowly – Moving from C in your left hand (“Jingle bells…”) to G at “Oh what fun” can feel like a jump. Practice that switch separately a few times until your hand knows where to go without looking.
• Break the chorus in two halves – First practice “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” Then separately practice “Oh what fun it is to ride…” Once both feel good on their own, put them together.
• Sing while you play – Singing the lyrics helps you naturally line up the rhythm. It also makes the practice session more fun, especially if you’re playing with kids!
• Finish each practice by playing through once without stopping – Even if you make mistakes, keep going. This builds confidence and prepares you to actually perform the song.

With these tips, you’ll not only master the “Jingle Bells” piano notes faster, but also develop skills that will help you with other beginner songs.

Ready for more songs?

Now you’ve taken a big step in your piano journey. Even if it’s just the chorus for now, that’s already music you can share with friends and family. 

Remember, the more you play it, the smoother it will feel. And once “Jingle Bells” feels easy, you’ll be ready to tackle other songs with the same step-by-step approach.

At Skoove, we’re here to help you keep going. Inside the app, you’ll find interactive lessons, real-time feedback, and hundreds of songs to explore, from holiday classics to pop hits you love. It’s the perfect way to take what you started here and grow your skills day by day. 

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Author of this blog post:
Matthew Dickman

With over a decade of experience in music education Matthew holds a BA in Music from Paul McCartney’s LIPA and an MA in Composition from the University of Salford. Mathew has developed a distinctive compositional voice and approach to music theory education through his research and work in the music industry. Matthew’s writing for Skoove combines experience from orchestral and media composition, and as a gigging jazz musician, to create a wholistic and accessible pedagogy for musicians of any level. Away from music, he enjoys reading and exploring nature to expand his horizons and knowledge contributing to his holistic teaching style.