The First Noel Notes
The First Noel starts E D, C D E F G: two pickup notes, then a slow climb up the scale from middle C. It moves in three beats to the measure, and the same tune comes round for every line.
Listen and play along
Hear the tune with a steady beat. Turn the tune off to play it yourself on any instrument, with the beat to keep you in time.
- E½E, eighth noteD½D, eighth note
- C1½C, dotted quarter noteD½D, eighth noteE½E, eighth noteF½F, eighth note
- G2G, half noteA½A, eighth noteB½B, eighth note
- CC high, quarter noteBB, quarter noteAA, quarter note
- G2G, half noteA½A, eighth noteB½B, eighth note
- CC high, quarter noteBB, quarter noteAA, quarter note
- GG, quarter noteAA, quarter noteBB, quarter note
- CC high, quarter noteGG, quarter noteFF, quarter note
- E2E, half noteE½E, eighth noteD½D, eighth note
- C1½C, dotted quarter noteD½D, eighth noteE½E, eighth noteF½F, eighth note
- G2G, half noteA½A, eighth noteB½B, eighth note
- CC high, quarter noteBB, quarter noteAA, quarter note
- G2G, half noteA½A, eighth noteB½B, eighth note
- CC high, quarter noteBB, quarter noteAA, quarter note
- GG, quarter noteAA, quarter noteBB, quarter note
- CC high, quarter noteGG, quarter noteFF, quarter note
- E2E, half noteE½E, eighth noteD½D, eighth note
- C1½C, dotted quarter noteD½D, eighth noteE½E, eighth noteF½F, eighth note
- G2G, half noteC½C high, eighth noteB½B, eighth note
- A2A, half noteAA, quarter note
- G3G, dotted half note
- CC high, quarter noteBB, quarter noteAA, quarter note
- GG, quarter noteAA, quarter noteBB, quarter note
- CC high, quarter noteGG, quarter noteFF, quarter note
- E3E, dotted half note
24 measures of 3/4 after a pickup · 72 notes
Name the notes in the game → Read the tune one note at a time; each right answer plays the note.
Change the notes in Compose → Move notes, change their lengths and hear your own version.
Each box is one measure of three beats. The tune starts on a pickup: the last beat of the first box. A wider note lasts longer. C' is the high C (a ' marks the octave above middle C).
The notes with the words
| Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| The first Noel, the angels did say | E D C D E F G A B C' B A G |
| was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay | A B C' B A G A B C' G F E |
| In fields where they lay keeping their sheep | E D C D E F G A B C' B A G |
| on a cold winter’s night that was so deep | A B C' B A G A B C' G F E |
| Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel | E D C D E F G C' B A A G |
| born is the King of Israel | C' B A G A B C' G F E |
C’ (with a ’) is the C in the third space, the octave above middle C.
Almost the whole carol is one tune, sung four times: up the scale from middle C to C’, then gently back down. The chorus, “Noel, Noel”, starts the same way and turns at the top.
On the staff
In 3/4 time: three beats to a measure. “The first” is a pickup of two eighth notes, so “No-” falls on the strong beat.
Free printable sheet music
The sheet has the melody one phrase per line, with the letter name under every note and the words under each line, on one page of US Letter or A4. It suits beginners on piano, keyboard or recorder, and works well for a December class. It’s free to print and copy.
The notes it uses
The First Noel uses the C major scale and nothing else: eight notes, middle C to C’. That makes it a good carol for practicing the scale.
Tips for reading it
- Climb the scale. C D E F G: one step each, from middle C on its ledger line.
- Hold the dotted notes. “No-” is a dotted quarter, then three quick eighths, D E F.
- Learn one line, read four. Every verse line follows the same shape, so once you can read the first, the rest follow.
About the carol
The First Noel is a traditional English carol, probably from Cornwall. It was first printed in the 1820s and 1830s by collectors of old carols, Davies Gilbert and William Sandys. “Noel” comes from the French “Noël”, Christmas. Words and tune are public domain.
Play it
Press Name the notes in the game at the top of this page to read the carol one note at a time in Trebly’s Songs mode. More carols: Christmas songs with letter notes.