top of page

Get Free Piano Sheet Music for Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Original and Cover Versions

  • virroundtadirag
  • Aug 2, 2023
  • 11 min read


Step 2: Add some basic rhythm and harmony to make it sound more interesting Step 3: Practice along with a backing track or a metronome H3: Intermediate Level Step 1: Learn a more advanced arrangement that uses jazz chords and voicings Step 2: Add some embellishments and variations to the melody and harmony Step 3: Experiment with different tempos and dynamics H3: Advanced Level Step 1: Learn a virtuosic arrangement that uses complex techniques and patterns Step 2: Incorporate some improvisation and modulation to the song Step 3: Perform with expression and flair H2: Where to Find Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Piano Sheet Music Free Download Resources: provide some links and sources where readers can find free piano sheet music for this song, such as Musicnotes, Musescore, and Piano Tutorial Easy H2: Conclusion Summary: recap the main points of the article and encourage readers to try playing this song on piano H2: FAQs Questions: answer some common or possible questions that readers might have about this topic Here is an example of the article table: Content --- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Piano Sheet Music Free Download


Have you ever wanted to play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on piano? This beautiful and nostalgic song is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, and it is perfect for creating a festive mood. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, you can learn how to play this song on piano with some practice and guidance. In this article, you will find out more about the history of this song, how to play it on piano in different levels and styles, and where to find free piano sheet music for this song. Let's get started!




have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music free download

The History of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas


"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the musical film Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland. The song was sung by Garland in a scene where she tries to cheer up her younger sister, who is sad about moving away from their home in St. Louis. The original lyrics were quite depressing, reflecting the uncertainty and hardship of World War II. However, Garland and the film director asked Martin to change some of the lyrics to make them more hopeful and optimistic. For example, the line "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow" was changed to "hang a shining star upon the highest bough". The song became an instant hit and a Christmas classic, especially among the soldiers who were away from their families during the war. Garland's version was also released as a single by Decca Records in 1944. Since then, many other artists have recorded or performed their own versions of the song, such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, Sam Smith, and Lady Antebellum. The song has also been featured in many movies, TV shows, and commercials over the years. The Original Version by Judy Garland


The original version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland is considered to be one of the most authentic and emotional renditions of the song. Garland's voice conveys a mix of sadness and hope, as she sings to her sister and tries to make the best of their situation. The song is in the key of C major, and it has a slow tempo and a simple melody. The piano accompaniment is also minimal and gentle, creating a contrast with the powerful vocals. Garland's version is ideal for beginners who want to learn how to play this song on piano, as it does not require much technical skill or complexity. The Revised Version by Frank Sinatra


The revised version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra is one of the most popular and widely played versions of the song. Sinatra recorded this version in 1957 for his album A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra. He asked Hugh Martin to change some of the lyrics again, to make them more cheerful and upbeat. For example, the line "next year all our troubles will be miles away" was changed to "from now on our troubles will be out of sight". The song is in the key of A major, and it has a faster tempo and a more lively melody. The piano accompaniment is also more elaborate and jazzy, creating a festive atmosphere. Sinatra's version is suitable for intermediate players who want to learn how to play this song on piano, as it requires some more advanced chords and voicings. Other Famous Covers and Versions


  • There are many other famous covers and versions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by different artists and genres. Some of them are: Michael Bublé: His version is from his 2011 album Christmas, and it features Shania Twain as a duet partner. It is in the key of G major, and it has a swing rhythm and a big band arrangement. It is fun and energetic, and it showcases Bublé's smooth vocals and Twain's country style.

  • Sam Smith: His version is from his 2014 album In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition), and it is a solo performance. It is in the key of F major, and it has a slow tempo and a sparse piano accompaniment. It is soulful and melancholic, and it highlights Smith's powerful voice and emotional delivery.

  • Lady Antebellum: Their version is from their 2012 album On This Winter's Night, and it is a group performance. It is in the key of E major, and it has a medium tempo and a rich piano accompaniment. It is harmonious and warm, and it features Lady Antebellum's signature country-pop sound and vocal blend.

How to Play Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on Piano


If you want to play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on piano, you can choose from different levels of difficulty and styles. Here are some tips and steps on how to play this song on piano for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced players. Beginner Level


If you are a beginner player, you can start with a simple lead sheet that shows the melody and chords of the song. A lead sheet is a type of musical notation that gives you the basic information you need to play a song. You can find free lead sheets for this song online, such as this one from Musicnotes. Here are some steps on how to play this song on piano using a lead sheet:


have yourself a merry little christmas piano solo pdf


have yourself a merry little christmas piano accompaniment sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano vocal score


have yourself a merry little christmas piano easy version


have yourself a merry little christmas piano jazz arrangement


have yourself a merry little christmas piano chords and lyrics


have yourself a merry little christmas piano tutorial video


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music musescore


have yourself a merry little christmas piano duet sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano cover mp3 download


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music advanced


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music beginner


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music intermediate


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music michael buble


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music frank sinatra


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music judy garland


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music sam smith


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music john legend


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music pentatonix


have yourself a merry little christmas piano sheet music kelly clarkson


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and violin sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and cello sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and guitar sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and flute sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and saxophone sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and trumpet sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and clarinet sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano and voice sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano quartet sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas piano trio sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas string quartet and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas brass quintet and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas woodwind quintet and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas jazz band and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas choir and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas orchestra and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas solo voice and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas soprano alto tenor bass and piano sheet music


have yourself a merry little christmas lead sheet for piano


  • print free pdf of have yourself a merry little christmas for piano Step 1: Start with the melody. The melody is written on the treble clef staff with notes and rhythms. You can play the melody with your right hand on the piano keyboard. Try to follow the notes and rhythms as accurately as possible, and use your ears to help you with the pitch and timing.

  • Step 2: Add some basic rhythm and harmony. The rhythm and harmony are indicated by the chords above the staff. You can play the chords with your left hand on the piano keyboard. A chord is a group of notes that sound good together, usually three or four notes. You can play the chords in different ways, such as playing them all at once or breaking them up into arpeggios (playing one note at a time). Try to match the chords with the melody, and use your are an intermediate player, you can learn a more advanced arrangement that uses jazz chords and voicings. Jazz chords and voicings are ways of playing chords that make them sound more colorful and sophisticated. You can find free jazz arrangements for this song online, such as this one from Musescore. Here are some steps on how to play this song on piano using a jazz arrangement: Step 1: Learn the jazz chords and voicings. The jazz chords and voicings are written on the grand staff with notes and symbols. You can play the chords and voicings with both hands on the piano keyboard. Try to understand the structure and function of each chord and voicing, and use your ears to help you with the sound and quality.

  • Step 2: Add some embellishments and variations to the melody and harmony. The embellishments and variations are ways of changing or adding notes to the melody and harmony to make them sound more interesting and expressive. You can use techniques such as passing tones, grace notes, trills, slides, and syncopation. Try to be creative and tasteful with your embellishments and variations, and use your ears to help you with the balance and flow.

  • Step 3: Experiment with different tempos and dynamics. The tempo is the speed of the music, and the dynamics are the loudness or softness of the music. You can play the song in different tempos and dynamics to create different moods and effects. For example, you can play the song in a slow tempo and a soft dynamic to make it sound more romantic and intimate, or you can play the song in a fast tempo and a loud dynamic to make it sound more festive and cheerful. Try to be flexible and expressive with your tempos and dynamics, and use your ears to help you with the timing and intensity.

Advanced Level


  • If you are an advanced player, you can learn a virtuosic arrangement that uses complex techniques and patterns. A virtuosic arrangement is a type of musical arrangement that showcases your skill and talent as a pianist. You can find free virtuosic arrangements for this song online, such as this one from Piano Solo HD. Here are some steps on how to play this song on piano using a virtuosic arrangement: Step 1: Learn the complex techniques and patterns. The complex techniques and patterns are written on the grand staff with notes and symbols. You can play the techniques and patterns with both hands on the piano keyboard. Try to master the technical aspects of each technique and pattern, such as fingerings, articulations, movements, and positions.

  • Step 2: Incorporate some improvisation and modulation to the song. The improvisation is the act of creating or playing music spontaneously without following a fixed or written plan. The modulation is the act of changing or shifting from one key or tonality to another within a piece of music. You can improvise or modulate some parts of the song to make it sound more personal and original. Try to follow some basic rules or guidelines of improvisation and modulation, such as scales, modes, chord progressions, motifs, and transitions.

  • Step 3: Perform with expression and flair. The expression is the act of conveying or communicating emotion or feeling through music. The flair is the act of displaying or demonstrating style or elegance through music. You can perform the song with expression and flair by using various musical elements, such as phrasing, rubato, accents, pedaling, tone color, and gestures. Try to be confident and passionate with your performance, and use your ears to help you with the interpretation and communication.

Where to Find Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Piano Sheet Music Free Download


  • If you are looking for free piano sheet music for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", you can find many sources online that offer different versions and formats of this song. Some of them are: : This is a website that provides free piano tutorials and sheet music for popular songs. You can find easy and intermediate arrangements of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" for piano solo, with or without lyrics. You can also watch, listen, and learn the sheet music online.

Conclusion


"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a wonderful song that you can play on piano for yourself or for others. It is a song that has a rich history and a timeless appeal, and it can be played in different levels and styles. In this article, you have learned more about the origin, composer, lyrics, and popularity of this song, how to play it on piano in different levels and styles, and where to find free piano sheet music for this song. We hope you have enjoyed this article and found it useful. Now, go ahead and have yourself a merry little Christmas! FAQs


  • Here are some frequently asked questions about "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" piano sheet music free download: What key is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in?The original version by Judy Garland is in the key of C major, the revised version by Frank Sinatra is in the key of A major, and some other versions are in different keys, such as G major, F major, or E major. You can choose the key that suits your voice or preference.

  • What chords are used in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?The chords used in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are mostly diatonic chords (chords that belong to the key), such as I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and vii. However, there are also some non-diatonic chords (chords that do not belong to the key), such as secondary dominants (chords that act as the dominant of another chord), borrowed chords (chords that are borrowed from another mode or key), and altered chords (chords that have some notes changed or added).

  • How do I transpose "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to another key?You can transpose "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to another key by using a transposition chart or a transposition tool. A transposition chart is a table that shows you how to change each note or chord to another note or chord in another key. A transposition tool is an online application that allows you to enter the original key and the desired key, and it will automatically transpose the sheet music for you.

  • How do I play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by ear?You can play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by ear by using your musical memory and your musical ear. Your musical memory is your ability to recall the melody and harmony of a song that you have heard before. Your musical ear is your ability to recognize and reproduce the pitch and rhythm of a song that you hear. To play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by ear, you need to listen to the song carefully and repeatedly, try to sing or hum along with it, try to identify the key and the chords of the song, try to find the notes and chords on the piano keyboard, and try to play along with the song.

  • How do I make "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sound more interesting on piano?You can make "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sound more interesting on piano by using some techniques such as: adding some embellishments and variations to the melody and harmony; changing some rhythms and syncopations; using some jazz chords and voicings; incorporating some improvisation and modulation; experimenting with different tempos and dynamics; performing with expression and flair.

44f88ac181


 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


© 2023 by The Grid. Proudly created with Wix.com

Thanks for submitting!

Join our mailing list an never miss an update!

  • White Instagram Icon
  • White Facebook Icon
  • White Twitter Icon
bottom of page