I Saw Three Ships Alto Sax Notes with Letters + Fingerings
Letter notes in the written key for E♭ alto saxophone, with the words under each note. Starts A D D E D F♯ G A.
The notes and words
Key: D major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in F major, so it plays along with a piano in F.
AIDsawDthreeEDshipsF♯comeGAsail-AingAin,
BOnC♯DChrist-AmasADay,BAonGF♯Christ-DmasDDay;AI
DsawDthreeEDshipsF♯comeGAsail-AingAin,
BOnC♯DChrist-AmasADayBAinGtheF♯morn-DDing.DAnd
BwhatBwasBinAthoseGF♯ships,
AallAthree,BOnC♯DChrist-AmasADay,
BAonGF♯Christ-DmasDDay,DAnd
BwhatBwasBinAthoseGF♯ships,
EF♯allGAthree,BOnC♯DChrist-AmasADayBAinGtheF♯morn-DDing?
Key: F major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in A♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in A♭.
CIFsawFthreeGFshipsAcomeB♭Csail-CingCin,
DOnEFChrist-CmasCDay,DConB♭AChrist-FmasFDay;CI
FsawFthreeGFshipsAcomeB♭Csail-CingCin,
DOnEFChrist-CmasCDayDCinB♭theAmorn-FFing.FAnd
DwhatDwasDinCthoseB♭Aships,
CallCthree,DOnEFChrist-CmasCDay,
DConB♭AChrist-FmasFDay,FAnd
DwhatDwasDinCthoseB♭Aships,
GAallB♭Cthree,DOnEFChrist-CmasCDayDCinB♭theAmorn-FFing?
Alto sax fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: E♭ major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in F♯ major, so it plays along with a piano in F♯.
B♭IE♭sawE♭threeFE♭shipsGcomeA♭B♭sail-B♭ingB♭in,
COnDE♭Christ-B♭masB♭Day,CB♭onA♭GChrist-E♭masE♭Day;B♭I
E♭sawE♭threeFE♭shipsGcomeA♭B♭sail-B♭ingB♭in,
COnDE♭Christ-B♭masB♭DayCB♭inA♭theGmorn-E♭E♭ing.E♭And
CwhatCwasCinB♭thoseA♭Gships,
B♭allB♭three,COnDE♭Christ-B♭masB♭Day,
CB♭onA♭GChrist-E♭masE♭Day,E♭And
CwhatCwasCinB♭thoseA♭Gships,
FGallA♭B♭three,COnDE♭Christ-B♭masB♭DayCB♭inA♭theGmorn-E♭E♭ing?
Alto sax fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: G major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in B♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in B♭.
DIGsawGthreeAGshipsBcomeCDsail-DingDin,
EOnF♯GChrist-DmasDDay,EDonCBChrist-GmasGDay;DI
GsawGthreeAGshipsBcomeCDsail-DingDin,
EOnF♯GChrist-DmasDDayEDinCtheBmorn-GGing.GAnd
EwhatEwasEinDthoseCBships,
DallDthree,EOnF♯GChrist-DmasDDay,
EDonCBChrist-GmasGDay,GAnd
EwhatEwasEinDthoseCBships,
ABallCDthree,EOnF♯GChrist-DmasDDayEDinCtheBmorn-GGing?
Alto sax fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
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
- Tune I SAW THREE SHIPS, Traditional English (Cornwall), 1833
- Words
- Traditional English carol, 1833 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1833, words 1833: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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