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How to Play Silent Night on the Guitar

"Silent Night" began as a poem written by Joseph Mohr in 1816. Two years later, Mohr gave the poem to Franz Gruber, who composed a tune to go with the words. Gruber wrote the piece specifically for the guitar, and the simple melody is one of the most beautiful and recognizable Christmas carols ever written. It takes some experience and practice to pick out the melody on the guitar. Playing only the chords is a simpler way to learn the song.

Things You'll Need

  • Guitar
  • Chord Chart
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Instructions

  1. Learning Silent Night

    • 1

      Look at a guitar chart for the fingerings for G, C and D. Play the G chord for the words "Silent night, holy night." Next, play the D chord for "All is calm," then back to G for "all is bright."

    • 2

      On "Round yon virgin" play C, then return to G for "mother and child." Repeat the C to G pattern for "Holy infant, so tender and mild."

    • 3

      Play D for the beginning of "Sleep in heavenly peace," switching to G on peace. For the repeat of that phrase start on G, switch to D on "heavenly" and return to G on "peace."

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