Deck the Halls is the liveliest carol in our Christmas collection, and the interactive player below is the fastest way to learn it: hear the fa la la runs at half speed, watch the notes and keys light up, and drag the score to loop any bar. Sheet music, fingering for both hands, and a free printable PDF come next.
Learn it with the interactive player
- Slow it down: x0.5 or x0.75 while you learn the notes, back to x1 once they flow.
- Pause anywhere: the current keys stay lit so you can find them on your own piano.
- Drag the score left or right, or use the 15s buttons, to replay a phrase.
The sheet music, section by section
Section A is the first line: G4 falls through F4-E4-D4 to middle C, answers with C4-D4-E4-C4, then the fa la la runs D4-E4-F4-D4, E4-D4 and dips to B3 before the cadence on C4. Slide the hand down for the run so it is fingered 3-4-5-3, and loop measures 3-4 at x0.5.
Section B is the middle line, Don we now our gay apparel: D4-E4-F4-D4 and E4-F4-G4-D4 push upward, then the fa la la climbs E4, F sharp, G4 and A4-B4-C5 before marching down B4-A4-G4. Play the F sharp with the index at x0.75 without turning the wrist.
The full score
Hands together at 84 first, because this piece loves to run away; each fa la la cadence carries the coordination, and the left hand answers the sparkle with its own G3, F sharp, G3 in measure 12. Push toward the 126 BPM Allegro only when the runs stay even.
Note by note: keys and fingering
- Right hand: C position is home, thumb (1) on middle C and pinky (5) on G4. The hand slides down one step for each fa la la run so the middle (3) starts on D4 and the thumb waits under it for B3, and in measure 11 the index (2) takes the F sharp on the way up to C5 with the ring finger (4).
- Left hand: C position: pinky (5) on C3, middle (3) on E3, index (2) on F3 and G3, thumb (1) on A3. A patient walking bass in half notes and quarters, with the middle finger taking the F sharp neighbor in measure 12.
| Note | On the Staff | On the Keyboard | Finger |
|---|---|---|---|
| B3 | Just below the treble staff, under the middle C ledger line | White key just left of middle C | RH Thumb (1) |
| C4 | Ledger line below the treble staff (middle C) | Middle C | RH Thumb (1) |
| D4 | Just below the bottom line of the treble staff | White key between the two black keys right of middle C | RH Index (2) |
| E4 | Bottom line of treble staff | White key right of the two black keys above middle C | RH Middle (3) |
| F4 | First space of treble staff | White key left of the three black keys above middle C | RH Ring (4) |
| F#4 | First space of treble staff, with a sharp sign | Black key between F4 and G4 | RH Index (2) |
| G4 | Second line of treble staff | White key between the first two of three black keys above middle C | RH Pinky (5) |
| A4 | Second space of treble staff | White key between the last two of three black keys above middle C | RH Index (2) |
| B4 | Middle line of treble staff | White key right of the three black keys above middle C | RH Middle (3) |
| C5 | Third space of treble staff | One octave above middle C | RH Ring (4) |
| C3 | Second space of bass staff | One octave below middle C | LH Pinky (5) |
| E3 | Third space of bass staff | White key right of the two black keys below middle C | LH Middle (3) |
| F3 | Fourth line of bass staff | White key left of the three black keys below middle C | LH Index (2) |
| F#3 | Fourth line of bass staff, with a sharp sign | Black key between F3 and G3 | LH Middle (3) |
| G3 | Fourth space of bass staff | White key between the first two of three black keys below middle C | LH Index (2) |
| A3 | Top line of bass staff | White key between the last two of three black keys below middle C | LH Thumb (1) |
Prefer a video? Watch the keys light up
Same color code as the player: green marks the right hand, blue the left hand, with the score and keyboard in one vertical video.
The story behind Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls began in Wales as Nos Galan, a New Year's Eve carol already sung by the sixteenth century, and in the old tradition a harp answered each line of the singer, which is exactly where the fa la la responses come from. The English words about holly and Yuletide were written by the Scottish songwriter Thomas Oliphant in 1862. Singers loved the nonsense refrain because anyone could join in without knowing the verses. Listen for the single F sharp in measure 11: the old Welsh air really does sparkle with that one borrowed note, and it is the only black key in the whole piece.
Get the printable PDF
The printable PDF of Deck the Halls - full score, hand positions, and a step-by-step practice guide - ships inside our free Christmas pack together with fourteen other carols.
At 126 BPM a light, detached bass depends on a stable seat at the right height, and an Adjustable Piano Bench with Back Support lets you set that height once and forget it.
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FAQ
How hard is Deck the Halls on piano?
It is a Level 2 piece in our Christmas collection. The melody stays within B3 to C5 around C position, the left hand walks in single half notes and quarters, and the two skills to master are the hand slide for each fa la la run and the single F sharp in measure 11.
How long does it take to learn Deck the Halls?
Two to three weeks for most beginners. Lines 1, 2 and 4 share the same opening, so half the piece repeats; the fa la la cadences and the F sharp climb take the most repetition, especially at the 126 BPM Allegro.
What level is Deck the Halls?
Level 2 of our Christmas collection. C major, 4/4, Allegro at 126 BPM, 16 measures. The right hand ranges from B3 to C5 and the left hand from C3 to A3 in single notes, with one F sharp in each hand.
What are the notes for Deck the Halls?
The melody starts G4, F4, E4, D4, then C4, D4, E4, C4, then the fa la la D4, E4, F4, D4, E4, D4 and C4, B3, C4. The middle line runs D4, E4, F4, D4, E4, F4, G4, D4, then E4, F sharp, G4, A4, B4, C5, B4, A4, G4. The left hand opens C3, G3, A3, G3, C3; the full table is above.