Jingle Bells was originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh, but was later published under the title Jingle Bells, or the One Horse Open Sleigh. Later the original part was dropped and just Jingle Bells remained, probably because of the prominence of that line in the chorus of the song. The bells referred to in the lyrics are bells attached to horses that were used to make some sounds in order to avoid collisions due to the fact that a horse-drawn sleigh is nearly silent. The chorus of the song has been changed over time and has a simplified melody and harmony. This version of Jingle Bells uses the original harmony, which is a bit more complex than the version we hear almost exclusively today. The newer, more familiar melody is used so that people can enjoy playing the song the way that they know it now.
Jingle Bells
for viola
beginner
Learn how to play the notes of "Jingle Bells Viola" on viola for free using our animated scrolling tablature including sheet music and tab options for the easiest way to quickly learn the music. Enjoy playing along with 3 backing tracks which you can control with the track display. Use this tutorial with our tab to learn the song without having to read notes in sheet music.
Composed by: James Lord Pierpont
Uploaded November 28, 2018