| In this lesson you will learn to play the melody to a | | | | an F-major chord? |
| popular Christmas song without the use of sheet | | | | There are many ways to play an F chord but here is |
| music. You will also learn to play three easy chords | | | | an easy example for your left hand: |
| together with the melody. Let us start! | | | | F: C3 F3 A3 |
| O Christmas Tree is a Christmas carol of German | | | | C3 means that you play a C in the octave to the left |
| origin. O Tannenbaum is its original name in German. | | | | of the C4. Play the three notes in the chord together |
| A Tannenbaum is German for a fir tree or Christmas | | | | as you play the following right hand note. |
| tree. The melody to this Christmas song is an old folk | | | | Time for the next line: |
| tune and the best known lyrics comes from a Leipzig | | | | Your (C7)branches green de(F)light us |
| organist and teacher named Ernst Anschutz in 1824. | | | | A4 (C7)G4 A4 Bb4 E4 (C)G4 F4 |
| Here is the first verse in the English version: | | | | The note Bb is the black key immediately to the left of |
| O Christmas Tree O, Christmas Tree | | | | B. |
| Your branches green delight us! | | | | As you can see it is time for a new chord, C7. Here is |
| O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree | | | | a suggestion for that piano chord: |
| Your branches green delight us! | | | | C7: C3 E3 Bb3 |
| They're green when summer days are bright | | | | Now you have to repeat the previous lines before we |
| They're green when winter snow is white | | | | proceed with the next part: |
| O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree | | | | They're (F)green when summer (C7)days are bright |
| Your branches green delight us! | | | | C5 (F)C5 A4 D5 C5 (C7)C5 Bb4 Bb4 |
| The first thing we will do is to locate the middle C on | | | | C5 is the C in the octave to the right of C4. |
| your keyboard. On an ordinary piano keyboard it is | | | | Time for the next line: |
| located in the middle of the keyboard sometimes near | | | | They're (C7)green when winter (F)snow is white |
| the keyhole if there is one. | | | | Bb4 (C7)Bb4 G4 C5 Bb4 (F)Bb4 A4 A4 |
| On a common piano keyboard you will find that the | | | | Now we only have to repeat the first two lines and |
| notes C-B are repeated along the keys. One such row | | | | we are done! |
| of notes are called an octave and since the middle C | | | | O (F)Christmas Tree O, Christmas Tree |
| is located in the fourth octave on an piano it is | | | | C4 (F)F4 F4 F4 G4 G4 G4 G4 |
| sometimes called C4. | | | | Your (C7)branches green de(F)light us |
| Even if your keyboard is smaller with less octaves | | | | A4 (C7)G4 A4 Bb4 E4 (C)G4 F4 |
| middle C is still called C4. | | | | I suggest that you learn this little song by heart one line |
| We will now take a look at the melody to O Christmas | | | | at a time. Practice every line first with your right hand |
| Tree and the chords you can play with your left hand. | | | | melody until you master it. Then it is time to add your |
| We will begin with the melody together with the lyrics: | | | | left hand chords. When you know a line by heart with |
| O (F)Christmas Tree O, Christmas Tree | | | | melody and chords it is time to proceed with the next |
| C4 (F)F4 F4 F4 G4 G4 G4 G4 | | | | line. |
| The (F) in the lyrics and melody indicate that you shall | | | | Before you know it you have completed the song and |
| play an F-major chord with your left hand together | | | | can contribute to the Christmas spirit in a new setting! |
| with the note after the chord. How then do you play | | | | |