A list of 10 easy-to-play Christmas songs on the xylophone, perfect for spreading festive cheer and learning simple melodies.
Playing Christmas songs on the xylophone or glockenspiel is a delightful way to spread holiday cheer, especially for beginners or young musicians. These instruments’ bright, bell-like tones capture the festive spirit, making them perfect for learning simple and familiar melodies.
In this post, we’ve curated a list of 10 classic Christmas songs that are easy to play on the xylophone or glockenspiel. Starting with tunes that require no sharp or flat notes, you’ll find these songs accessible and enjoyable, even for those new to music.
From beloved carols to modern holiday favorites, these songs will add a joyful sound to any holiday gathering. Whether you’re teaching a music class, entertaining kids at a family celebration, or just looking to expand your repertoire, this list will guide you through some of the season’s best-known melodies.
Grab your mallets, follow along, and enjoy making music with these easy-to-play Christmas classics!
Table of Contents
- Jingle Bells
- Silent Night
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Little Drummer Boy
- Deck the Halls
- Happy Xmas (War is Over)
- Carol of the Bells
- Feliz Navidad
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- White Christmas
- 10 Easy Christmas Songs on the Xylophone / glockenspiel – Video
1
Jingle Bells
“Jingle Bells” is the perfect starter song for xylophone or glockenspiel players. With its simple melody and repetitive rhythm, this song is easy to learn and doesn’t require any sharps or flats, making it ideal for beginners.
The melody of “Jingle Bells” is quite easy to play and is composed of 7 natural notes
2
Silent Night
“Silent Night” offers a gentle, flowing melody that is simple to play on the xylophone or glockenspiel. This classic carol sticks to the natural notes, providing a beautiful, peaceful tune without any challenging key changes.
Although Silent Night has some position changes due to the melodic movement, it’s in C major, a key without accidental notes, it consists of 11 natural notes, and the tempo is really slow.
3
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
With its catchy melody and joyful rhythm, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is both fun and straightforward to play. This song avoids sharp or flat notes, making it a great choice for those just starting out.
The melody of We wish you a Merry Christmas is quite easy and the range of the song is 8 notes (7 natural and 1 sharp).
4
Little Drummer Boy
“Little Drummer Boy” features a steady beat and a repetitive melody that is easy to follow on the xylophone or glockenspiel. The song’s simple structure allows beginners to play confidently, keeping pace with its familiar rhythm.
The melody of The “Little Drummer Boy” is rather easy and it consists of 7 notes (6 naturals and a flat one). Its tempo is also quite low, so it’s a good Christmas song to start with.
5
Deck the Halls
“Deck the Halls” is an upbeat carol that is perfect for beginner xylophone players. The melody is straightforward, and the repetitive sections make it easy to learn without requiring any sharps or flats.
A C major key and a time signature at 4/4 mean nothing could be easier for a beginner! However F# appears at some point and characterizes the second part of the song. The piece is in ABA’ form, meaning that the last phrase is slightly different from the first one.
6
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” is a modern Christmas favorite that has a simple, memorable melody. It’s easy to play on the xylophone, with minimal key changes, making it accessible to players of all levels.
This song is in C major and in 6/8 meter, so it’s not that difficult to learn, especially thanks to its slow pace. You will need 10 natural notes and one accidental, the B♭, to play the song on the glockenspiel or xylophone.
7
Carol of the Bells
“Carol of the Bells” has a distinctive, rhythmic motif that is slightly more challenging but still approachable for those comfortable with the basics.
The melody of Carol of the Bells is moderately difficult and it consists of 11 notes (9 natural and 2 accidental ones).
The repetitive nature of the melody makes it a fun piece to master on the glockenspiel.
8
Feliz Navidad
“Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano combines a simple, catchy melody with a festive beat. It is easy to play on the xylophone or glockenspiel, with straightforward notes that are perfect for beginners and younger players.
The melody of Feliz Navidad is quite easy to play and it consists of 9 notes (7 natural notes and 2 sharp ones), as you can see on the chart under the notes of the song.
9
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
This lively and cheerful song is ideal for xylophone players ready to expand their skills. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has a fun, rhythmic melody that is still easy enough to play with practice.
The melody of Santa Claus is coming to town is of moderate difficulty and consists of 11 notes (10 natural notes and a sharp one) as you can see on the chart following the notes of the song.
10
White Christmas
“White Christmas” offers a slightly more mellow tune that provides an excellent practice opportunity for players. While a bit more complex than some of the other songs on this list, it remains accessible, with a smooth melody that brings out the instrument’s gentle sound.
While the song is written in a major scale, it also incorporates two additional chromatic notes. We have arranged it in C major, the easiest key for playing on the glockenspiel or xylophone. As indicated in the chart below, only two notes from the upper row are needed: D# and F#.
10 Easy Christmas Songs on the Xylophone / glockenspiel – Video
Enjoy exploring these 10 Christmas songs and bringing holiday magic to life on your xylophone or glockenspiel!
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