Jolly Old Saint Nicholas Alto Sax Notes
Letter notes in the written key for E♭ alto saxophone, with the words under each note. Starts E E E E D D.
The notes and words
Key: C major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in E♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in E♭.
EJol-ElyEoldESaintDNich-Do-Dlas,
CLeanCyourCearCthisEway!GDon'tGyouGtellGaGsin-GgleCsoulGWhatCI'mDgoingEtoDsay;
EChrist-EmasEEveEisDcom-DingDsoon;
CNow,CyouCdearColdEman,GWhis-GperGwhatGyou'llEbringEtoCme;
DTellCmeDifEyouCcan.
Key: B♭ major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in D♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in D♭.
DJol-DlyDoldDSaintCNich-Co-Clas,
B♭LeanB♭yourB♭earB♭thisDway!FDon'tFyouFtellFaFsin-FgleB♭soulFWhatB♭I'mCgoingDtoCsay;
DChrist-DmasDEveDisCcom-CingCsoon;
B♭Now,B♭youB♭dearB♭oldDman,FWhis-FperFwhatFyou'llDbringDtoB♭me;
CTellB♭meCifDyouB♭can.
Key: D major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in F major, so it plays along with a piano in F.
F♯Jol-F♯lyF♯oldF♯SaintENich-Eo-Elas,
DLeanDyourDearDthisF♯way!ADon'tAyouAtellAaAsin-AgleDsoulAWhatDI'mEgoingF♯toEsay;
F♯Christ-F♯masF♯EveF♯isEcom-EingEsoon;
DNow,DyouDdearDoldF♯man,AWhis-AperAwhatAyou'llF♯bringF♯toDme;
ETellDmeEifF♯youDcan.
Key: B major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in D major, so it plays along with a piano in D.
D♯Jol-D♯lyD♯oldD♯SaintC♯Nich-C♯o-C♯las,
BLeanByourBearBthisD♯way!F♯Don'tF♯youF♯tellF♯aF♯sin-F♯gleBsoulF♯WhatBI'mC♯goingD♯toC♯say;
D♯Christ-D♯masD♯EveD♯isC♯com-C♯ingC♯soon;
BNow,ByouBdearBoldD♯man,F♯Whis-F♯perF♯whatF♯you'llD♯bringD♯toBme;
C♯TellBmeC♯ifD♯youBcan.
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s alto sax sound, at concert pitch. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes
About this song
- Melody
- Traditional, 1881
- Words
- Traditional, 1881 (first verse shown)
- Public domain
- Melody 1881, words 1881: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Franklin Square Song Collection (Harper & Brothers, 1881), p. 80, from “School Chimes” (1881)
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