How to play Fairytale of New York on the Piano.

Irish Music at its finest? Or is the dark angel of Christmas Songs.

Hi, Brian Hughes here from the London Contemporary School of Piano! In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through the intricacies of playing Fairytale of New York on the piano, breaking down everything from the chords and scales to advanced techniques like ornamentation. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, by the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to bring this timeless song to life.

This song holds a special place in my heart. The first time I performed it in public was during a duet at my school when I was about 17. I’ve been playing it every year since. Another memorable time I played it was in my hometown church in Dungarvan, Ireland. I was asked by some choir members to play this piece as an instrumental, and it sounded surprisingly beautiful on the organ. It’s a piece that brings warmth and nostalgia, and I hope to share that feeling with you today!

Fairytale of New York on Piano: YouTube tutorial video

The Key of the Song: D Major

The entire piece is in the key of D major, which is a friendly key for pianists, particularly for those comfortable with basic chord shapes and scales.

D Major Scale Breakdown

The D major scale is composed of the following notes:

• D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D

This scale has two sharps: F♯ and C♯. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the scale because the song is diatonic, meaning it uses only the notes of the D major scale throughout. Before beginning, practice playing the scale both hands together for muscle memory and fingering coordination.

Core Chords of “Fairytale of New York on the Piano”

This is essentially a four-chord song. The primary chords used are I, IV, V, and vi in the D major key. These correspond to:

• I (D Major): D – F♯ – A
• IV (G Major): G – B – D
• V (A Major): A – C♯ – E
• vi (B Minor): B – D – F♯

Chord Progression Patterns

The song makes use of these four chords in various progressions, particularly in the verses and chorus. Knowing these chords and their relationships within the key of D major will be crucial to mastering the song.

Playing the Piano Introduction

The introduction of “Fairytale of New York” is iconic, and the combination of melody and harmony in this section requires a good grasp of chord voicing and hand independence.

Right Hand Melody

The right-hand melody is delicate but sometimes involves playing two or three notes together to create a harmonic effect. Here are a few key points:

• Double Notes: For example, you’ll often play A and B together. This adds a harmonic layer to the melody.
• Triple Notes: On certain phrases, you’ll hit three notes at once, providing a fuller, richer sound.

Left-Hand Accompaniment: Intervals and Patterns

The left hand is less melodic and more intervallic. You will primarily be playing fifths and sixths:

• G Fifth: Play G and D together.
• D Fifth: Move to D and A.
• Sixth on B minor: B and G.
• Fourth on A major: A and E.

Hands Together

Once you’re comfortable with each hand separately, combine them. Remember to use the sustain pedal to smooth the transitions and create a flowing, legato sound. Pedaling is crucial to this introduction as it holds the harmony together, adding richness and depth.

The Verses: Slow and Fast Sections

Fairytale of New York has two main verse types: slow and fast. Let’s break down each in terms of rhythm, melody, and chordal accompaniment.

The Slow Verses

These are the more melancholic and lyrically rich sections, starting with “It was Christmas Eve…”. These sections require sensitivity in both melody and dynamics.

Right Hand: Melody and Rhythm

In the slow verses, the right-hand carries the melody. It’s a good idea to have the lyrics beside you as a guide to help with rhythm and phrasing. Follow the flow of the words closely when playing the melody.

Left Hand: Chords and Bassline

The left hand in the slow verses mostly supports with simple triads, but one distinctive part is the **bass walk-up** that sets the mood:

• Start with a **seventh** (A and G)
• Walk up the bass: A – G – F♯ – E, landing on a D chord.

The Fast Verses

The fast verses bring a lively shift, so adapt your playing accordingly.

Right Hand: Melody

Move the melody **one octave higher** to give the left-hand room for the chords. This ensures clarity and creates a dynamic contrast between the sections.

Left Hand: Chord Progression

Here’s the chord progression for the fast verses:

• D – A – Bm – G – D – A – D
• Bm – D – G – D – A – D

Practice these slowly, building speed gradually to match the pace of the song. You’ll need to keep a steady hand as you switch between these chords quickly.

The Instrumental Jig: Ornamentation and Irish Influence

This section introduces an **Irish jig**, a lively instrumental part that requires both precision and embellishment. Ornamentation adds color and texture, giving the piece a distinctly Irish feel.

Types of Ornamentation

• Cuts: These are quick grace notes that you can insert between main melody notes, giving the melody a lively bounce.
• Rolls: These are fast alternations between two notes, creating a trilling effect.

When playing Fairytale of New York on the Piano, rather than a traditional Irish instrument it’s great fun to use these techniques on the piano.

Left Hand: Accompanying Chords

The left-hand accompaniment for the jig mirrors the chord patterns from earlier, but with more rhythmic intensity to match the fast-paced dance feel. Use **fifths** and **octaves** to provide depth and richness.

The Chorus: Power and Harmonic Density

The chorus is one of the most powerful parts of the song, bringing a dramatic shift in dynamics and harmonic density. Here’s how to capture that energy.

Left Hand Octaves

In the chorus, use **octaves** in the left hand to add power:

• G Octave
• A Octave
• Bm Octave
• D Octave

Right Hand: Chordal Support for Melody

In the right hand, use **three-note chords** to support the melody, making sure the melody stays on top while the chords add harmonic strength underneath.

The Final Instrumental: The “Slow Instrumental” Outro

As the song comes to an end, it reverts to the slower instrumental section. This part feels more reflective, and it provides a perfect contrast to the faster, energetic sections.

Left-Hand Rhythmic Pulses

To give this section a sense of buildup, try mimicking a snare drum roll in the left hand by repeating rhythmic pulses. This will create tension and anticipation for the final phrases.

Conclusion: Bringing It All Together

Now that we’ve covered each section of Fairytale of New York on Piano you can begin combining everything. Start slowly and work on building speed and consistency, particularly in the fast sections. Focus on making the transitions between verses, jigs, and choruses as seamless as possible.

For those of you who are interested, you can download the lead sheet and song structure at contemporaryschoolofpiano.com, where you’ll also find more resources.

If you’re curious, here’s a video of me performing Fairytale of New York on the Piano and 25 different instruments including Irish traditional instruments! This video took me a very long time to produce, so if you do enjoy it, please share it with your family and friends, and we can all play Fairytale of New York on the piano this Christmas!

If you’d like to visit our YouTube channel for more exciting walkthroughs and video masterclasses you can visit our YouTube page here.