“Silent Night” is a timeless Christmas carol, beloved for its simple melody and peaceful message. For guitarists, it’s also a fantastic song to learn, especially if you’re exploring the world of fingerstyle guitar. This lesson provides an elegant and accessible arrangement of “Silent Night” for solo guitar, perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. Using just a few basic chords – G, C, and D – you’ll be able to create a beautiful rendition of this classic tune. We’ll break down the song measure by measure, focusing on fingerstyle techniques that will bring out the melody, bass, and harmony, creating a rich and full sound on your guitar.
Silent Night Chord Sheet
Understanding Fingerstyle Guitar for “Silent Night”
Playing fingerstyle guitar involves creating music by plucking the strings directly with your fingers or fingernails, rather than using a pick. For solo guitar arrangements like “Silent Night”, we aim to create the illusion of multiple instruments playing at once. This is achieved by focusing on three key elements:
- Melody: This is the recognizable tune of “Silent Night”. In our arrangement, the melody notes will primarily be played on the higher strings (1st and 2nd). It’s crucial to make the melody clear and prominent so listeners can easily recognize the song.
- Bass: The bass line provides the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the song. We’ll use the lower strings (4th, 5th, and 6th) to create a simple but effective bass line that supports the melody.
- Accompaniment: This fills out the harmonic texture and adds depth to the arrangement. We’ll use chord arpeggios – playing the notes of a chord individually – to create a gentle and flowing accompaniment that complements the melody and bass.
This “Silent Night” guitar arrangement is designed to be approachable. The bass line is relatively static, and the arpeggios are derived directly from the chords, making it easier to learn and play. The goal is to create something that sounds both simple and elegant, enjoyable for players of different skill levels.
“Silent Night” Guitar Tablature: Measure by Measure Breakdown
Let’s dive into the tablature and break down “Silent Night” line by line. We’ll be playing in the key of G major, which is well-suited for guitar and allows for comfortable fingerings.
Silent Night line 1
Line 1 (Measures 1-2): The song begins with a G6 chord (320030). Start by fretting this chord. In measure two, simply lift your finger from the B string (2nd string) to allow it to ring open. The picking pattern emphasizes the melody notes on the higher strings while incorporating the chord tones.
Measure 1
Picking Tip: Focus on letting the melody notes ring clearly. Since the melody is on the first two strings, the G6 chord allows the initial notes to flow smoothly over the arpeggios. Play the bass note with a bit more emphasis to ensure it sustains throughout the measure, while playing the rest of the chord with a lighter touch, similar to the delicate sound of a piano or harp.
Silent Night line 2
Line 2 (Measures 3-4): This line starts with a D chord played higher up the neck, followed by a standard open position D chord. The higher voicing of the D chord creates a nice variation in tone.
Measure 5 and 6 – example 1
Chord Variation: In measure six, you can use a standard D chord. For a slightly richer sound, you can experiment with a D7 chord (example 2). For a more adventurous approach, try moving from D to Dmaj7 to D7 (example 3), adding a touch of harmonic complexity.
Measure 5 and 6 – example 2
Measure 5 and 6 – example 3
Silent Night line 3
Line 3 (Measures 5-8): We transition back to a G chord in measure 7 (“…all is bright…”).
Measure 7
Chord Efficiency Tip: Notice that in this arrangement, the A string is not played when using the G chord. This allows you to avoid fretting the A string, simplifying finger movements and giving you more time to position your fingers for upcoming chords. This is particularly helpful as we move into measure eight, which utilizes a picking pattern reminiscent of songs like “Blackbird” or “Scarborough Fair.”
Measure 8
Silent Night line 4
Line 4 (Measures 9-12): Measures 9-12 make up the third line of the song. Measure nine starts with a C chord.
Measure 9
In measure ten, add your pinky finger to the 3rd fret of the 1st string to create a G note, then slide it down to the 2nd fret for an F#, before removing it entirely to let the open E string ring out. By the end of measure ten, you won’t be fretting any strings! Measure eleven mirrors measure one, and measure twelve is similar to measure eight, with the slight difference of starting on the open B string.
Silent Night line 5
Line 5 (Measures 13-16): The fourth line (“…holy infant so tender and mild…”) repeats measures nine through eleven and concludes with an arpeggiated G chord.
Silent Night line 6
Partial Chord Concept: Again, since the melody is on the open B string and we’re not playing the A string with the G chord, you can simplify the G chord to a “partial chord” by only fretting the G note on the 3rd fret of the low E (6th) string.
Silent Night line 7
Line 7 (Measures 17-20): Now for the grand finale! Measure seventeen brings back the D chord from measure five.
Finish
Finger Placement Tip: Play the D chord with your index finger on the 5th fret of the E string, ring finger on the 7th fret of the B string, and middle finger on the 7th fret of the G string. This finger positioning makes the upcoming melody jump from the A note (5th fret, 1st string) to the C at the 8th fret in the next measure much smoother. Using your pinky for this melody note can be awkward, so this alternative fingering is highly recommended.
Silent Night line 8
In measure nineteen, use your ring finger for the melody’s G note (3rd fret, 1st string). Start with a G chord (remember, no need to fret the A string!). On the third beat, change the bass note from G to F# (2nd fret, 6th string). The tricky part is on the last half of the third beat: hit the open G (3rd) string while simultaneously sliding your ring finger up to the 7th fret of the E string. On the first beat of measure twenty, also strike the open low E (6th) string and arpeggiate the open D, G, and B strings – creating an Em7 chord.
Finish continued
Line 8 (Measures 21-24): Measures twenty-one to twenty-four conclude the song. Measure twenty-one (“…sleep in heavenly peace.”) is a G chord again, played with a different bass note on each beat. These bass notes are punctuated with the open D string on beats two and three, alternating with the open G string as a pedal point on the offbeats.
Finish continued
For measure twenty-two, form a D7 chord (you can leave the high E string open). Add your pinky to the 3rd fret of the B string. Removing your pinky creates the C note in the melody, followed by the open B string for the B note.
Finish continued
Wrap up the song with a slow arpeggio of a full G chord in measure twenty-three (now you can include the A string!). For a final flourish, consider adding harmonics at the 12th fret on the D, G, and D strings.
Tips for Mastering “Silent Night” on Guitar
- Listen to the MP3: Use the provided MP3 download as a guide to hear how the arrangement should sound. Pay attention to the tempo and dynamics.
- Practice Slowly: Start practicing each measure slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
- Focus on Clarity: Ensure the melody notes are clear and distinct from the bass and accompaniment.
- Experiment with Dynamics: Try varying the volume of different parts to add expression to your playing.
- Smooth Transitions: Practice smooth transitions between chords and measures.
- Relax and Enjoy: “Silent Night” is a peaceful song. Relax, take your time, and enjoy the process of learning and playing this beautiful arrangement.
Download MP3
We hope you find this “Silent Night” guitar lesson helpful and enjoyable. With a little practice, you’ll be able to play this beautiful Christmas carol for yourself, friends, and family. Happy playing and happy holidays from guitarplayers.net!
