Jolly Old Saint Nicholas Clarinet Notes
Letter notes in the written key for B♭ clarinet, with the words under each note. Starts E E E E D D.
The notes and words
Key: C major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in B♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in B♭.
EJol-ElyEoldESaintDNich-Do-Dlas,
CLeanCyourCearCthisEway!GDon'tGyouGtellGaGsin-GgleCsoulGWhatCI'mDgoingEtoDsay;
EChrist-EmasEEveEisDcom-DingDsoon;
CNow,CyouCdearColdEman,GWhis-GperGwhatGyou'llEbringEtoCme;
DTellCmeDifEyouCcan.
Key: F major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in E♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in E♭.
AJol-AlyAoldASaintGNich-Go-Glas,
FLeanFyourFearFthisAway!CDon'tCyouCtellCaCsin-CgleFsoulCWhatFI'mGgoingAtoGsay;
AChrist-AmasAEveAisGcom-GingGsoon;
FNow,FyouFdearFoldAman,CWhis-CperCwhatCyou'llAbringAtoFme;
GTellFmeGifAyouFcan.
Key: G major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in F major, so it plays along with a piano in F.
B↑Jol-B↑lyB↑oldB↑SaintANich-Ao-Alas,
GLeanGyourGearGthisB↑way!DDon'tDyouDtellDaDsin-DgleGsoulDWhatGI'mAgoingB↑toAsay;
B↑Christ-B↑masB↑EveB↑isAcom-AingAsoon;
GNow,GyouGdearGoldB↑man,DWhis-DperDwhatDyou'llBbringBtoGme;
ATellGmeAifB↑youGcan.
Notes marked ↑ are above B♭4 and cross the break (use the register key).
Key: D major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in C major, so it plays along with a piano in C.
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.
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s clarinet 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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