The Night Before Christmas

by Steven Curtis Chapman
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

It was the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed and (Bm7)all through (A)the (D)world

ev ’ry (Bm7)thing looked like (F#m)bus’ ness as (G)u su al.

Shep herds (Bm7)sat on (A)a (D)hill side

look ing (Bm7)up at (A)the stars

the while the (Bm7)world fell a sleep,

while un a (Bm7)ware just (Bm7)how deep

was the (Em9)dark ness the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed to (Bm7)be just (A)a (D)night,

but the (Bm7)wind blew like (F#m)some thing was (G)com ing.

al.

And like (Bm7)chil dren (A)with (D)se crets

that they’re (Bm7)burst ing (A)to tell,

the ce dars (Bm7)danced in the breeze,

while all of (Bm7)na ture, (Bm7)it seemed,

held its (Em9)breath on the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the

And (Bm)hope,

(E)hope long a wait ed,

the (D)hope of

the (C)a

(G)ges

would (Em7)break with the dawn.

And the (Bm)song

that (E)all of cre a tion

was (D)an tic i (C)pat

(G)ing

would (Gm)start

with a ba by’s first (A)cry.

And on the (CN.C.)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas,

Mar y (Bm7)laid down to (D)rest,

while (Bm7)Jo seph, he (F#m)paced the floor (G)pray ing.

And in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day (D)sta ble

in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day town,

in the (Bm7)ho urs to come

God would (Bm7)wrap Him (Bm7)self (Gmaj7)up

and (Bm7)come down from (F#m)heav en, and the (Gmaj7)world would for (D)ev er be (Em9)changed

(Gsus2)af ter

the night be fore Christ mas.

The Night Before Christmas — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

1 person has learned this song

Learn "The Night Before Christmas" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of D, 96 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “The Night Before Christmas”

Can I play "The Night Before Christmas" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "The Night Before Christmas" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "The Night Before Christmas" by Steven Curtis Chapman played in?
The Night Before Christmas is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Night Before Christmas"?
The arrangement plays at 96 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Night Before Christmas" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "The Night Before Christmas"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Night Before Christmas"?
"The Night Before Christmas" was originally performed by Steven Curtis Chapman. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The Night Before Christmas"?
This arrangement uses 15 chords: A, Bm, Bm7, C, D, Dmaj7, E, Em7, +7 more.
What other songs by Steven Curtis Chapman can I play here?
Try "MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION", "HOW DO I LOVE HER", "I'M GONNA BE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "The Night Before Christmas"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "The Night Before Christmas" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "The Night Before Christmas"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "The Night Before Christmas" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.