If your friends or family gather to sing Christmas carols and hymns this season, impress them by playing "Away in a Manger" on the piano. For beginner pianists, "Away in a Manger" is a short and relatively simple tune that requires only three basic chords on the bass line. There are two versions of the song's melody; those in the United States usually sing the "Mueller" and those in the United Kingdom sing the "Cradle Song."http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/holiday-songs/away-in-a-manger,-the-song-and-the-story.html

The origin of "Away in a Manger" is a subject of debate. After the song was printed in a Lutheran Sunday School book with the title "Luther's Cradle Hymn" in 1885, many people attributed Martin Luther as the song's author.http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/holiday-songs/away-in-a-manger,-the-song-and-the-story.html Most scholars now say that an anonymous source wrote the first two stanzas. In 1887, John McFarland, an American pastor, added a third verse. The words were set to music composed by James Murray in a book entitled Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3012854.ece

For the bass line, you will use three basic chords: C major (C, E, G), the G7 chord (B, F, G) and F major (C, F, A). C major is played with your fifth finger (left pinky) on C, third finger (middle) on E and first finger (thumb) on G. The G7 chord is played with your fifth finger on B, second finger on F and first finger on G. F major is played with your fifth finger on C, second finger on F and first finger on A.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjuMFAajBM

Your left hand will often be playing the melody of the song, so the chord progression for the bass line is rather simple. The order in which you play these chords for "Away in a Manger" is as follows:

1. C major
2. C major
3. G7
4. F major

Practice the finger placement of these chords until you are comfortable.

If you are already familiar with the lyrics to "Away in a Manger," it may help to know how the notes match up to the words. The first verse is played as follows:

G G F E E D (Away in a manger)

C C B A G (No crib for a bed)

G G A G G D (The little Lord Jesus)

B A G C E (Laid down his sweet head)

G G F E E D (The stars in the sky)

C C B A G (Look down where he lay)

G F E D E D (The little Lord Jesus)

C D A B C (Asleep on the hay)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjuMFAajBMhttp://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/holiday-songs/away-in-a-manger,-the-song-and-the-story.html

The melody line for this song requires the use of both your right and left hands at different parts, beginning with the right hand. Start with your fifth finger (right pinky) on G. The first line of the song descends down the C major scale between both G notes, so you must switch to your left thumb once you reach middle C.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjuMFAajBM The melody's notes are played as follows:

(Right hand) G G F E E D

(Left hand) C C B A G

(Left) G G A G G B (right) D

(Left) B A G (right) C E

(Right) G G F E E D

(Left) C C B A G

(Right) F E D E D C D

(Left) A B C

Practice the transition between your right and left hands until you are comfortable. The progression will become smoother over time.

Once you know how to use your left and right hands to play the melody of "Away in a Manger," you should add the bass line chords to complete the song. Whenever your left hand is not playing the melody, it will be playing the C major, G7 and F major chords in the order in which you learned them.

The C major chord will be played as you sing the "-way" of "Away..." in the first line of the song. This occurs when your right hand plays a G note. Hold this chord until your left hand switches to play the melody.

Play the C major chord again as you sing "stars" of "The stars..." Your right hand will be playing a G note. Release it to play the melody.

Play the G7 chord as you sing "lit-" of "...little..." on the last line. This occurs when your right hand is playing an F.

Play the F major chord as you sing "-sleep" of "...asleep..." Your right hand will be playing a D.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjuMFAajBM