13 Christmas carols for sax, from easiest to hardest
The 13 Christmas carols on FingerNola, ordered by range, octave-key notes and short notes into five steps, with how to practise them.
Here are the 13 Christmas carols on FingerNola, ordered from easiest to hardest. The order comes from counting, for each piece, its range (lowest and highest note), how many notes need the octave key, and whether it has short notes. Aim to play at least one all the way through this December.
Step 1 · no octave key
These stay between low C and middle C, so you never touch the octave key. The basic left- and right-hand fingerings take you to the end.
The First Noel →From Heaven Above (Vom Himmel hoch) →
Step 2 · a little octave key
Only a few notes need the octave key, so they are good practice for moving just your left thumb when the tune goes up.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear →Good King Wenceslas →Silent Night →
Step 3 · octave key often
The tune moves in and out of the upper register a lot. The rhythms are simple, so you can focus on when to press and release the octave key.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel →O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) →In the Bleak Midwinter →O Little Town of Bethlehem →Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming →
Step 4 · short notes
Short notes such as sixteenths appear. Drop to 60% speed and loop just the bars with short notes first.
Joy to the World →O Holy Night →
Step 5 · challenge
A long piece taken from a Bach organ work. It climbs to high C and has many bars. Learn it one line at a time.
How to practise
- For a carol you do not know, listen first in step ① Melody on the practice screen.
- Start at 60–70% speed. Once you can play to the end without stopping, raise it with "Speed up each round".
- Tap a bar number twice to loop just the bars that trip you up.
- Finally, play along with the backing in step ③ Backing.
On the last night of the year
On 31 December, try "Auld Lang Syne", the Scottish song sung to welcome the new year.
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-27