Deck the Halls (First Line) — Kids Christmas Piano Sheet Music, Free to Print

Where your hand goes

Find middle C: the white key just to the left of the two black keys nearest the middle of the piano. Put your right thumb on it and rest one finger on each white key going up, so your fingers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sit on C, D, E, F and G.

This piece uses 5 notes: C, D, E, F, G. In the music, the number above each note tells you the finger and the letter under it tells you the key. Your hand never has to move.

About this arrangement

The first line of Deck the Halls walks straight down the five-finger position: G, F, E, D, C, played by fingers 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, then back up to E and home to C. Count four in every bar. “Deck” is a dotted minim (a hollow note with a dot), held for three counts, and “the” takes the fourth. All the other notes are minims, two counts each. This is only the first line: the “fa la la” that comes next dips below middle C, out of this hand position.

Practice tip: Before you play, put all five fingers on their keys, one finger per key, and leave them there. Then the whole line is just “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1”. Say the finger numbers out loud as you play.

The words

Deck the halls with boughs of holly!

A short history

The tune is Welsh. It comes from “Nos Galan”, a song for New Year’s Eve, and it was known in Wales long before the English words were written.

The English words are by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant. They were first printed in 1862, in a collection of Welsh Melodies by the harpist John Thomas. Oliphant wrote “Deck the hall”, just one hall; it became “halls” later. His first verse also talks about filling the mead cup and draining the barrel, lines most families no longer sing.

The “fa la la” lines are a nonsense refrain, there just for the joy of singing, and they are a big part of why children love it.

Quick facts

Tune: Welsh traditional (Nos Galan)
Words: Thomas Oliphant, 1862
Level: Kids (a handful of notes, right hand only)
Key: C position (right thumb on middle C)
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 4 bars
Tempo: Merrily, minim = 66
Hands: Right hand only: thumb on middle C, one finger for each key; the finger number is above every note and the letter name under it
Copyright: Public domain tune and words; arrangement by Digital Greenhouse, free for personal, church and classroom use

Questions and answers

What level is this arrangement of Deck the Halls (First Line)?

Kids. Very first Christmas tunes for children: just a handful of notes, all under the five fingers of the right hand, with the finger number above every note and the letter name underneath. Put your thumb on middle C and you can play them, even if you have never had a lesson. It is in C position, no sharps or flats, 4/4 time, 4 bars.

Is Deck the Halls (First Line) out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is by Welsh traditional (Nos Galan) and the words sung here are by Thomas Oliphant, 1862, so both are in the public domain in Australia. Our piano arrangement is new and free for personal, church and classroom use.

Any tips for a first go?

Before you play, put all five fingers on their keys, one finger per key, and leave them there. Then the whole line is just “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1”. Say the finger numbers out loud as you play.

Can I print it?

Yes. Press Print above the music to put this piece on its own pages, or choose Save as PDF as the printer for a file. It prints on A4 paper; if yours is US Letter, choose US Letter in the box beside Print.

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