How to Play “Silent Night”: Violin Tutorial and Free Sheet Music

/

“Silent Night” sounds absolutely beautiful on the violin. But it can be deceptively tricky to get that “Silent Night” sound. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to avoid certain areas of the bow to get that smooth sound you want. We’ll also talk about finger patterns, stretching for those difficult fourth fingers, and how to use your bow to make the beginning and ending notes magical!

Let’s get started learning “Silent Night” on the violin! First download your free sheet music below and then watch the tutorial for all of my tips and tricks. Then play-along with me!

Download and Print Your Free Silent Night Violin Sheet Music Here

Click here to download the free sheet music for Silent Night.

Want more violin tutorials sent to your inbox?

Sign up for my newsletter below and you’ll get updates anytime I upload new song tutorials (plus get some free violin printable goodies as well!)

Now watch the tutorial here and let’s learn “Silent Night” together on the violin!

Advanced Christmas Songs for Violin-(Sheet Music)

/
Advanced Christmas Songs for Violin.jpg

Ready for some harder violin Christmas music this holiday? These intermediate and advanced Christmas songs for violin feature tricky rhythms, higher positions, slow bows, and slurs for some advanced Christmas songs that will keep you busy while it’s cold outside!

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Violin Sheet Music

Let’s start off with this intermediate violin version of this Nutcracker classic. You’ll start off playing pizzicato then quickly transition to Arco (with the bow). Watch out for the accidentals and make sure you circle those runs and practice them!

Gesù Bambino Violin Sheet Music

Gesù Bambino is another lovely, albeit challenging Christmas song for violin. While you can play Gesù Bambino completely in first position, you will need to practice counting in 12/8 time and work on some B flat scales to get comfortable with that middle portion. Need help? My Music Theory for Violinists Course will have you clapping and counting tricky rhythms in any time signature and my Creative Scales for the Experimental Violinist course will get you equally prepared for any of those tricky key signatures!

Violin Christmas Songs in Third Position

Now let’s add some higher notes! Enjoy these resources on third position if you need more help!

The First Noel Violin Third Position Sheet Music

Download the First Noel pdf for violin here.

The First Noel isn’t too difficult on the violin. To make it a more advanced Christmas song for violin, I transposed it up into the higher positions. This version of the First Noel for violin starts in 3rd position and stays in third position for the entire song to make use of those beautiful high notes!

The_First_Noel_Advanced_Free_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Joy to the World Violin Sheet Music in Third Position

Start this carol out in third position and stay there for the entire song. You’ll find Joy to the World feels very natural in third position. Remember your half steps and whole steps and you’ll be golden!

O Come All Ye Faithful Violin Sheet Music in Third Position

You can start O Come All Ye Faithful in first position and then shift up to third position in measure three.

O Holy Night Violin Sheet Music Third Position

No collection of intermediate and advanced violin Christmas carols would be complete without O Holy Night. It’s tricky for a number of reasons. #1 Long, slow bows which require a lot of bow control. #2 Tricky time signatures #3 Higher Positions

I start O Holy Night out in third position. You’ll notice in measure 19 we reach an E. You can either stretch for that E and stay in third position, play a harmonic, or follow my fingerings and shift up to 4th position. Or try all three and see which one you like!

I hope you enjoy these slightly more challenging Christmas carols for the violin. While I love writing out these carols, like all of the sheet music I produce on my website, they take a considerable amount of time to arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you would like to download any of these easy Christmas violin songs as PDFS, you can (and much more) when you sign up to my online studio. Try it out here!

Enjoy these other violin Christmas resources.

Easy Christmas Violin Duets (Violin Sheet Music)

/

The holidays are a perfect time to get together and play Christmas duets (or trios) with fellow violinists. I absolutely love transcribing these easy Christmas duets for two violins. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite carols arranged for two or three violins.

Angels We Have Heard On High Violin Trio Sheet Music

Angels We Have Heard On High is beautiful carol that is perfect for a duet or trio. In this version, those descending scales alternate between first and second violin. The third violin part features whole notes so any brand new beginner can join along!

Angels We Have Heard on High Trio for Three Violins

Angels We Have Heard on High Trio for Three Violins

Angels We Have Heard on High Violin Duet

Apparently I like transcribing this Christmas song for two violins because I found not one version, but TWO in my Sheet Music Library. I’ve transcribed hundreds of songs for violin and violin duets and trios, so I guess sometimes I can’t remember which Christmas carols I’ve already made into duets! Try both versions and see which one you like better!

The First Noel Violin Trio Sheet Music

One of my favorite Christmas carols is The First Noel. No Christmas violin duet list would be complete without it!

The First Noel Trio for Three Violins

The First Noel Trio for Three Violins

Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella Violin Duet

I love this beautiful French Christmas carol for violin. It’s even better for two violins!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Violin Duet

I love minor Christmas carols. This one is perfect for two violins!

Carol of the Bells Violin Christmas Duet

What collection of Christmas duets for violin would be complete without Carol of the Bells? What are those slashes through the stems in the violin duet part you ask? Tremolo! Quickly “tremble” your bow at the tip for the right sound. I explain it all in my Music Theory for Violinists Course.

Christmas Play-Along Violin Duets

If you would like to play some Christmas duets with me, I’ve created a playlist of myself playing the melody and harmony to favorite Christmas songs for violin.

Purchase A Fiddling Christmas to play along then visit the playlist here.

Christmas Play-Along Duets Playlist

Enjoy playing these holiday favorites as a Christmas violin duet this season! If you would like more Christmas violin duets, try some of these great books.

Christmas Music Arranged for Violin Duet

Christmas Duets Volume 1

Christmas Favorites for Violin Duet

Check out these other links for the holidays.

Helpful Holiday Resources

Happy Practicing and Merry Christmas!

P.S. While I love writing out these duets, like all of the sheet music I produce on my website, they take a considerable amount of time to transcribe, edit, and upload. If you would like to download any of these easy Christmas violin duets, you can (and much more) when you sign up for my online studio. Try it out here!

Easy Christmas Violin Songs with Piano Accompaniment Tracks--Free Sheet Music!

/

Enjoy playing these Christmas carols on the violin with piano accompaniment. I’ve arranged these violin Christmas songs to match the piano accompaniment videos after the free sheet music. Often times, the piano will play an introduction before the main melody starts. This is show by a few measures of rests. Make sure you count!

Have fun playing your favorite violin Christmas songs with piano backing tracks!

While I love writing out these easy violin Christmas carols, like all of the sheet music I produce on my website, they take a considerable amount of time to arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you would like to download any of these easy Christmas violin songs, you can (and much more) when you sign up to my online studio. Try it out here!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas Violin Sheet Music

This easy Christmas song can be played with the piano accompaniment video below the music. Just make sure you count those rests!

Silent Night Violin Sheet Music

This classic Christmas violin carol sounds even better with a little piano accompaniment.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Violin Sheet Music

This has to be one of my favorite Christmas songs for violin to play along with the piano. There’s a lot of rests in the middle so make sure you count. Otherwise you’ll be getting a lump of coal this Christmas!

Easy Violin Christmas Songs with TAB-No Note Reading!

/
Easy Violin Christmas Tab.jpg

If you are just starting to play violin, or maybe you don’t want to worry about reading notes, here’s some easy Christmas songs for the violin that any beginner can play!

How Does This Tab for Violin Work?

Musical tablature indicates fingerings, not notes. So the numbers in this Christmas tablature indicate the finger number. The letters indicate which string to play on. For instance: A: 10 D: 312321 means you would play 1st finger then open string all on the A string, then play all the other finger numbers on the D string.

All numbers are using the “normal” finger pattern in which the 2nd finger is next to three. If the finger needs to be lower or higher it will be indicated with an “L” for lower and an “H” for higher. Low 2s will be right next to 1st finger. High 3s will be right above where 3rd finger normally is.

How Does the Rhythm Work in Violin Tab?

Well…it doesn’t. That’s the one drawback to this Christmas violin tab. There’s really no way to indicate rhythm. It’s best if you know the song and can sing along. I’ve tried to space out numbers that are longer notes. Some numbers have a dash afterward to indicate a longer note. Other than that, listen to these Christmas songs to know how slow or fast to play the notes on violin!

Helpful Holiday Resources

 

Jingle Bells Violin Christmas Tab

*Play this easy Christmas song on any string. However, if you don’t want to play those 4th fingers, just play the next highest open string.

 Any string:222-  222-  24012-   3333  3222  21121-   4

                    222-  222-  24012-   3333  3222  4431     0



Jolly Old St. Nicholas Violin Tab

A: 2222 111  0000 2    D: 2222  11   A: 0 1012 1

A: 2222 111  0000 2    D: 2222  11   A: 0 1012 0



O Christmas Tree Violin Tab

D: 0- 333         A: 0- 111  101 L2         D: 2      A: 0      D: 3

D: 0- 333         A: 0- 111  101 L2         D: 2      A: 0      D: 3

A: 33 1 4- 33 L2 L2      L2 L2 0 3 L2 L2 11

D: 0- 333         A: 0- 111  101 L2         D: 2      A: 0      D: 3


We Three Kings Violin Christmas Tab

A: 10    D: 312321        A: 10    D: 312321  33  A: 0011  3 L2 1 010     D: 321 2

D: 3330 313     3330 313 33    A: 01 L2 1 0 1  D: 3330  313



We Wish You A Merry Christmas Violin Tab

D: 03 3432 111           A: 0 010          D: 3200           A: 1 1 L2 10    D: 31 0014 23

D: 0 3 3 3 2 23210      A: 010             D: 3     A: 3     D: 0  00 1423

D: 03 3432 111           A: 0 010          D: 3200           A: 1 1 L2 10    D: 31 0014 23


Merry Christmas and Happy Practicing!

Easy Christmas Songs for Violin--Free Sheet Musi

/

This collection of violin Christmas sheet music will keep you busy this holiday season! Christmas is a great time to sit around the fire, have a cup of hot chocolate and play violin Christmas songs with friends and family. I’ve complied a list of my favorite easy Christmas violin songs and carols that are great for brand new beginners or seasoned violin players looking for a good selection of sheet music for Christmas.

While I love writing out these easy violin Christmas carols, like all of the sheet music I produce on my website, they take a considerable amount of time to arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you would like to download any of these easy Christmas violin songs, you can (and much more) when you sign up to my online studio.Try it out here!

Enjoy playing these easy Christmas violin songs this holiday season!

Helpful Holiday Resources

Angels We Have Heard On High Violin Sheet Music

This popular Christmas hymn can be relatively simple to play on violin since most of it is like a descending G major scales. Watch out for those low 2s on the A string!

Angels_We_Have_Heard_On_High_Free_Violin_Christmas_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Away in a Manger Violin Sheet Music

Away_in_a_Manger_VIolin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Carol of the Bells Violin Sheet Music

Carol of the Bells is a classic easy Christmas song that sounds great on the violin. Add in those slurs when you are ready. I’ve added some optional fingerings for that tricky ascending scale part. Use low 1st finger for the D sharps.

Carol_of_the_Bells_Free_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Deck The Halls Violin Sheet Music

More low 2s on the A string and E string here for Deck the Halls on the violin.

Deck_the_halls_Violin_Free_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

The First Noel Violin Sheet Music

This is another one of my favorite easy Christmas songs for the violin. The First Noel for violin is in good ole’ D major, so normal or “high” 2nd fingers for the F sharps and C sharps.

The_First_Noel_Free_Violin_Christmas_Sheet_Music-1.jpg


Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Violin Sheet Music

Hark%21_the_Herald_Angels_Sing_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Jolly Old St. Nicolas Free Violin Sheet Music

Jolly Old St. Nicholas is a great, easy Christmas song to play on the violin if you are just starting out.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas Violin Sheet Music

Jolly Old St. Nicholas Violin Sheet Music

Joy To The World Violin Sheet Music

Joy to the World is an easy Christmas violin song since it starts out like a descending D major scale. Use lots of bow for that grand, magnificent sound!

Joy to the world violin sheet music

Joy to the world violin sheet music

O Come All Ye Faithful Violin Sheet Music

O Come All Ye Faithful is one of my favorite Christmas songs to play on the violin. This version is in G major so high F#s for the D string and low C naturals for the A string.

o come all ye faithful/ adeste fideles violin sheet music

o come all ye faithful/ adeste fideles violin sheet music

O Come Emmanuel Violin Sheet Music

o come emmanuel violin sheet music

o come emmanuel violin sheet music

O Little Town of Bethlehem Violin Sheet Music

O_Little_Town_of_Bethlehem_Free_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

Silent Night Violin Sheet Music

Silent night violin sheet music


We Wish You A Merry Christmas Sheet Music

We_Wish_You_a_Merry_Christmas_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

What Child Is This (Greensleeves) Violin Sheet Music

If you are ready for a little more of a challenge, try this violin sheet music for What Child Is This or Greensleeves. It has one flat: B flat which means 1st fingers on the A string will be low (right next to the nut!) But sometimes the B is natural so it will be where it always is. Those C#s on the G string mean high 3rd fingers. Have fun with this easy-ish Christmas song for the violin!

What_Child_Is_This_Free_Violin_Sheet_Music-1.jpg

I hope you enjoy these Christmas carols for the violin. While I love writing out these carols, like all of the sheet music I produce on my website, they take a considerable amount of time to notate, arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you would like to download any of these easy Christmas violin songs as PDFs, you can (and much more) when you sign up to my online studio. Try it out here!

If you are looking for some Christmas violin books, check out these favorites.

A Fiddling Christmas-full of classic favorites and some great fiddling Christmas jigs and reels. Every song also has harmony accompaniment so a fellow violinist can join along.

Christmas Melodies for Violin Solo-a great collection of traditional Christmas songs for violin. Many of these songs will be manageable for beginners but it also features some passages for intermediate players as well.

Enjoy these Christmas tunes for violin this holiday season. What other easy violin Christmas songs would you like sheet music for? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Practicing!