Skip to content
 Play Music, Express Yourself, Be Happy! 

SAX TEACHER UK

Jingle Bells — Free Lead Sheet PDF (Eb, Bb, Concert)

By SaxTeacher UK on 5 min read
SaxTeacher UK — author photo

Download the Jingle Bells lead sheet free below as a PDF — in Eb for alto sax, Bb for tenor sax, or Concert pitch for piano, guitar and other instruments. Jingle Bells is pierpont's 1857 Sleigh Song, and this chart is free to keep, permanently.

The Jingle Bells lead sheet on this page shows the melody and chord changes — melody and chords only, with no lyrics. Below the downloads you will find the story behind the tune, notes on its musical character, and tips on using it at a gig, whether you are sight-reading it for a carol service or building it into a jazz Christmas set.

Three Free Downloads

Jingle Bells lead sheet PDF in Eb (alto/baritone sax), Bb (tenor/soprano sax, trumpet, clarinet) and Concert pitch (piano, guitar, flute, trombone, bass). Free forever.

Jump to downloads
Looking for Another Tune?

Browse the full Christmas lead sheet index for more free carols, or get in touch to request a tune.

Newsletter

Get Free Sheet Music & Tips

Tips, tutorials & new posts delivered to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

We’ll only email you new transcriptions and tutorials, and you can unsubscribe any time. See our Privacy Policy.

Jingle Bells lead sheet — free PDF download in Eb, Bb and Concert pitch for saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, piano and all instruments
Free PDF Download

Jingle Bells Lead Sheet

Pick your instrument’s key. Each PDF is free, no sign-up required — and this one is free to keep.

Eb For Alto & Baritone Sax

Alto saxophone, baritone saxophone

Download PDF Bb For Tenor Sax, Trumpet

Tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, trumpet, clarinet

Download PDF Concert For Piano, Guitar, Flute

Piano, guitar, flute, trombone, bass, vocals

Download PDF

James Lord Pierpont · 1857 · Traditional Christmas carol · Melody & chords only

Not sure which to pick? Our interactive saxophone transposition chart can help. PDFs open in a new tab — right-click (or long-press on mobile) and choose “Save as” to download.

About Jingle Bells

Pierpont's 1857 Sleigh Song

Jingle Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857 under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh.” It wasn't originally written as a Christmas song at all — it was composed for a Thanksgiving program and celebrates the general fun of a New England sleigh ride, which is why the lyrics never actually mention Christmas.

The song became a runaway hit and was popular enough in its own era to be reprinted under its now-familiar title, Jingle Bells, within a few years.

If you are also building a Christmas set, O Come, O Come Emmanuel is another free carol on this site worth pairing it with.

The Tune & Chords

A Bouncy, Instantly Recognisable Riff

The tune's tight, repetitive “jingle bells, jingle bells” hook is one of the most universally recognised melodic fragments in Western music, built on simple, easily harmonised chord changes that make it a forgiving vehicle for a swing arrangement, key changes, or a bit of playful reharmonisation without ever losing the audience.

Refrain (Concert, simplified) F – Bb – F – C7 – F

One simplified concert-pitch harmonisation — traditional carols were passed down as melodies, so chord choices vary between arrangers and songbooks.

Using This Lead Sheet

The Reliable Crowd-Pleaser

Jingle Bells is close to unkillable as a crowd-pleaser — it works as a bright swing opener, a feature for trading fours between horns given its simple form, or a fun key-change vehicle late in a corporate or background-music set where energy is the priority.

If you would like one-to-one guidance building a Christmas set or working on your reading and improvisation more generally, saxophone lessons in person in South East London or online are available. You can also browse the full Christmas lead sheet index for more free carols, including Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jingle Bells free to use, including at a gig? +

Yes. This lead sheet can be used freely at any performance, church service or jam session with no licensing concerns.

Where can I download the Jingle Bells lead sheet for free? +

You can download the Jingle Bells lead sheet free as a PDF from the downloads section at the top of this page in three transpositions: Eb for alto and baritone saxophone, Bb for tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, trumpet and clarinet, or Concert pitch for piano, guitar, flute, trombone and bass. No sign-up or email required, and this chart is free to keep, not a temporary download.

What is the history of Jingle Bells? +

James Lord Pierpont wrote and published Jingle Bells in 1857 under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was originally written for a Thanksgiving program rather than Christmas, which is why the lyrics never mention the holiday directly.

Which transposition do I need for my instrument? +

Download the Concert pitch version if you play piano, guitar, flute, trombone or bass. Choose the Bb version for tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, trumpet or clarinet. Choose the Eb version for alto saxophone or baritone saxophone.

Filed under
SaxTeacher UK — Founder SaxTeacher UK Founder

SaxTeacher UK is a woodwind and piano teacher based in South East London. With 17 years of individual and group tuition experience. Get in touch for in-person or online lessons.

All author posts
You may also like

Related posts

Book a Lesson

Your information will be forwarded to me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Sax teacher London

Give me a call

+(44)7704 762 561

We use your details only to reply to your enquiry and arrange lessons. We never sell or share them. See our Privacy Policy.

Scroll