Play “Carol of the Bells” on piano

Looking for a magical song to light up your piano this holiday season? “Carol of the Bells” is a beloved Christmas piano piece that is instantly recognizable. Originally composed in 1916 by Ukrainian musician Mykola Leontovych, as a choral work called Shchedryk, this song is written in a minor key and uses a driving rhythm that gives it a sense of urgency and holiday excitement. It’s a great festive piece for beginners to practice. Skoove is here to help you learn how to play “Carol of the Bells” on piano with step-by-step guidance. Let’s dive in!

Video tutorial

Find the full beginner arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” on piano. Start a free trial today!

“Carol of the Bells” chords chart

Here are the chords for “Carol of the Bells” in the key of E minor:

Each chord can be played with the right hand using three fingers. Try this hand position:

• Thumb (1),
• Middle finger (3),
• Pinky (5).

As you practice these shapes will start to feel natural under your fingers. When starting out let your left hand play a single bass note, just the root of each chord. For example, when you play the E minor chord, your left hand plays an E note. Same for C, D and Bm. This keeps your accompaniment simple but rich. You can add the full chords as you get more comfortable.

“Carol of the Bells” piano notes

The “Carol of the Bells” piano sheet music is in the key of E minor. The melody lives mostly in your right hand, while the left hand repeats a steady pattern to support it.

The melody begins with a repeating four-note pattern:

G – F# – G – E

The left hand plays single bass notes, steady and strong:

E – G – E

It follows a repeating rhythm: one note per beat. This gives your right-hand melody a foundation to float over.

Lesson plan

Let’s take a look at a guided lesson plan to take you through the “Carol of the Bells” piano tutorial.

Step 1: Listen to the song

Listen to the song “Carol of the Bells” by David Foster a couple of times to get a sense of its overall structure and nuances. This will get the song in your head and give you a feel for its overall sound and tempo.

Step 2: Practice the “Carol of the Bells” chords

Take a look at the chord charts and practice playing those chords. Make sure that you’re paying attention to your hand positioning.

Step 3: Try the tune in the right hand

Try playing the melody in the right hand only initially and get accustomed to it.

Step 4: Learn the left-hand accompaniment

Now take a look at the accompaniment in the left hand and get more familiar with that part.

Step 5: Play both hands together

Once you’ve learned the song for both hands separately, you can try playing hands together. It’s helpful to start slowly and then increase tempo as you get more accustomed to playing both parts simultaneously. You can use the metronome in the Skoove app to help with this. Have a go at experimenting with adding the chords as you get more comfortable with the tune and bass line.

Continue learning with Skoove

Well done, you’ve just learned how to play one of the most magical holiday songs ever written, “Carol of the Bells”, with its hypnotic patterns, simple notes and powerful mood. Whether you’re playing it for friends, family, or just for yourself, you now have a song that sounds impressive and feels fun to play.

This is just the beginning. There’s a whole world of music waiting for you to explore, step by step, note by note. At Skoove we’re here to help you every moment of the way. Let’s get playing!

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Author of this blog post:
Susana Pérez Posada

With over seven years in piano education and a deep passion for music therapy, Susana brings a unique blend of expertise to Skoove. A graduate in Music Therapy from SRH Hochschule Heidelberg and an experienced classical pianist from Universidad EAFIT, she infuses her teaching with a holistic approach that transcends traditional piano lessons. In her writings for Skoove, Susana combines her rich musical knowledge with engaging storytelling, enriching the learning experience for pianists of all levels. Away from the piano, she loves exploring new places and immersing herself in a good book, believing these diverse experiences enhance her creative teaching style.