‘The Christmas standard many of us know and love is Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The soundtrack to this 1965 Charlie Brown special is, in fact, one of the bestselling jazz albums in music history. The sweetly melancholy “Christmas Time is Here” uses several techniques that create a smooth jazz sound fused with Guaraldi’s gift for melody.
One of the techniques Guaraldi used was incorporating altered chords, in which a tone of the chord (usually the 5th or 9th) has been raised or lowered a half step. In addition, he used extended chords in which the interval between the root and the top chord tone extends beyond the 7th and into a 9th, 11th, or 13th. These chords create a rich, colorful sound that adds harmonious tension that moves the chord progression forward.
Guaraldi also used a type of chord substitution known as tritone substitution. This is where chords are a tritone, or 3 whole steps, apart. For instance, Am7 to E♭7, has a tritone interval between the A and E♭ (three whole steps, or six half steps, apart). This progression works because the chords share tones in common, making the transition more seamless. In this case, both chords contain a G, as well as a C♯ and D♭, which are enharmonically the same note.
This piece also uses a type of jazz voicing called upper structure chords, in which the right hand plays a triad (usually major or minor) above left hand chord tones (often a dominant chord), creating a rich, extended harmony. This is a simple, efficient way to create extended chords while maintaining melodic integrity and clarity.
I’ve created a simplified piano arrangement of “Christmas Time is Here” that keeps the same lush, smooth jazz elements of Guaraldi’s masterpiece, yet is approachable for an intermediate player. The sheet music (which is free!) can be found here: https://www.marisamusicstudio.com/free-sheet-music/ I hope you enjoy!