I have a gig in about 10 days and since it is during the festive season, I've been asked to play some Christmas songs.

I wonder if any of you kind folks could advise me of the correct (Copy) keys for the following songs?
I don't use 'The Dots' so don't have any sheet music.
Normally, it wouldn't matter too much which key they were played in, but the audience are liable to join in singing
and it would be best if I played them in the correct key..........

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all you Guys and Gals a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Thanks and Cheers!

Here's the list :
1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting...etc)
2. Silent Night
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Away in a Manger
5. White Christmas
6. Jingle Bells
7. Deck The Halls
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. Good King Wenceslass
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Sleigh Ride
12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Hi Bill , just seen your request .
I have the sheet music for all these tunes .
I'll scan and send to you tomorrow ....
I'm about to go on a gig !!

Regards ....giovanni

Hi Giovanni,
I don't need the sheet music - it's no good to me since I don't read
Just need the correct Keys.....

Hope your gig went well.

Hi Bill.
1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting...etc)F
2. Silent Night C
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer C
4. Away in a Manger F
5. White Christmas C
6. Jingle Bells F
7. Deck The Halls F
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen G
9. Good King Wenceslass G
10. Winter Wonderland E FLAT
11. Sleigh Ride G
12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas C

I have checked the keys in several books that I have in my collection and the above appears to be the popular keys that they are played.

All the best for christmas
Peter B

Bill, I have seen many keys used for most of the songs. The exception is The Christmas Song which seems to always be in Eb. Several Christmas songs are almost always in the key of D but none of those you listed. This is the list as I use it:

Christmas Song – Eb
Silent Night – C
Rudolph – C
Away In Manger – G
White Christmas – C
Jingle Bells – G
Deck The Halls – F
God Rest Ye – G
Good King W – G
Winter Wonderland – F
Sleigh Ride – G
Have Yourself A Merry - C

Thanks Peter and Bob
Interesting that there are different keys for some of these numbers... Since there are a few which are not really far apart - only a couple of semitones - maybe I'll choose the key between the two..... LOL

Your help is truly appreciated.

Cheers

Bill

Hi Bill , just about to e mail you the keys for the Carols.

I would have sent you the keys that Peter B suggested !!

As they are the keys that i have played them in for years .


With the the only difference being Silent night in B flat !!

regards ........giovanni

Hi Bill

Agree with Peter's list, with one exception. Deck the Halls i have in C, which gives the top note of C octave as opposed to F octave - which might require tight trousers....

Thanks Giovanni and John - Your comments appreciated

John, I was trying to avoid the 'Tight Trousers' and singing in their Boots............

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both.

Cheers!

Hi Bill,

One of my friends is a jazz singer and years ago, I asked her "which is the best key to use for singing" her reply was:-

"Generally B flat or the key of F is used for group singing, but for soloists it would be the singer's choice" (her choice was B Flat).

I also recall attending an Organ Concert where Peter Hayward was playing and in the interval he gave a demonstration of what he called "magic notes" that 'ear-players' like to use. They were all black notes and he said the majority of audiences also like the black notes because they seem to suit everyone's voice tone "neither very high or very low" I think he does have a point.

Also, don't forget the Transpose key! This can be very useful when you think the tune is too high or too low for your 'live' audience.

If you have any of John North's KN7 Christmas Party sets, most of them work just fine with any audience because they are designated tunes.

Hope this helps and a Merry Christmas to you and yours Bill and also to all our other friends on this Forum. May we all have a healthy and peaceful New Year.

Audrey