Jingle Bells

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet (RMA/HA)

Published: 20 Nov 2023 Updated: 17 Nov 2023Visits: 1Code: ULHA-YB-305

Category: Harmonic-AnalysisInstrument: Any Subjects: Theory • Progressions • Harmony • Christmas • Analysis • RMA

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Jingle Bells


Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Jingle Bells.

Jingle Bells

Published: September 16, 1857, by Oliver Ditson & Co., Boston

Jingle Bells is one of the best-known[1] and most commonly sung[2] American songs in the world. It was written in 1850 by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) at Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts. It was published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in September 1857. It has been claimed that it was originally written to be sung by a Sunday school choir for Thanksgiving, or as a drinking song. Although it has no original connection to Christmas, it became associated with winter and Christmas music in the 1860s and 1870s, and it was featured in a variety of parlor song and college anthologies in the 1880s. It was first recorded in 1889 on an Edison cylinder; this recording, believed to be the first Christmas record, is lost, but an 1898 recording also from Edison Records survives. (wikiwand) ·

Jingle Bells is in the The Daily Ukulele 365 Songs for Better Living book.

Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

Chords

G C Am D7 G7 A7

Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.

C Tuning Chords

Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval

  • Start on P5 &aarr; M6.
  • INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;

    Harmonic Analysis (HA)

    A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.

    A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a leadsheet and minimal roadmap information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book..

    Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …

    The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous or verse or section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different section, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.

    If turnbacks chord are not indication for the these 1st, 2nd Ending will indicate recommended chord(s) in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section.

    Reference Key

    This is the key of the source leadsheet.

    • Jingle Bells is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of G .

    Harmonic Principles Used:

    Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

    Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

    G
    G
    C
    Am
    D7
    D7
    G
    I
    IV
    VI
    V
    I
    G
    G
    C
    Am
    G
    D7
    G
    D7
    I
    IV
    VI
    I
    V
    I
    V
    Chorus
    G
    G
    (G7)*
    C
    G
    A7
    D7
    I

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    IV
    I

    II7
    ( V of V)

    V

    G Mix

    A Mix

    (*) When playing the melody the (G7) , I (Curt) view as optional, just doesn't sound right, a little fancy for such a basic song.

    G
    G
    (G7)
    C
    G
    D7
    G
    I

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    IV
    I
    V
    I

    G Mix

    Nashville Number System (NNS)

    Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.

    Scale Selection

    Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.

    Scale Abbreviation Legend

    Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
    Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues,
    Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian

    Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.

    RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover

    Performance Notes

    Here's a simple intro vamp you can try. Simple holiday song. Break out the tambourine and bells and just have fun with it.

    Intro

    With the interval of a Perfect having a Bell like quality, this Intro is a nice vamp to get this song going. Standard Music Notation shows a log G. Hoever, this works equally well with high G.

    Links & Resources

    Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

    Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

    Related Lessons

    Related Lessons for Jingle Bells.

    MLRMAe

    Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series

    Updated: 06 Jan 2020

    Harmonic Analysis ( HA ) is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and has a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's root to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality. Once a chord's function is identified, scale selections along with chord and scale substitutions can be made. This process is called Root Movement Analysis ( RMA ). This series of lessons are extracted from my book for use with individual private and on-line students. Each lesson directly corresponds the chapters in my book Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution by Curt Sheller (me).

    ULHA-YB-index

    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book Song Index

    Updated: 12 Apr 2023

    Index of the songs in The Daily Ukulele book. 365 Songs for a Better Living.

    Related Lesson Series

    Related Lessons Series for Jingle Bells.

    Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection

    Updated: 09 Jun 2023

    Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.

    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book

    Updated: 17 May 2023

    Individual Harmonic Analysis worksheets for the songs of The Daily Ukulele book.

    Related Songs

    Related Songs for Jingle Bells.

    UL589

    Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

    Updated: 08 Dec 2020

    Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca. Despite her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded this song when she was only thirteen years old. The song's declaration of a rock and roll sound notwithstanding, its instrumentation also fits the country music genre, which Brenda Lee more fully embraced as her career evolved. The recording features Grady Martin's ringing guitar and Boots Randolph's swinging solo sax break. The song is written in the key of A-flat major.

    Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets

    Related Assets for Jingle Bells.

    WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

    Harmonic Analysis Major and Minor Chord Charts

    Updated: 31 Dec 2016

    All 15 full diatonic major and minor key with chord charts. For use when performing a harmonic analysis on a song or chord pregression.

    WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

    "Maui Hawaiian Suppa Man", Performed By Troy Fernandez

    Updated: 31 Dec 2016

    "Maui Hawaiian Suppa Man" performed by Troy Fernandez. 'Ukulele master and legendary member of the Ka'au Crater Boys visited The Pono Hawaiian Grill in Santa Cruz California. This video was shot on 01/10/14.

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