Once in Royal David's City Recorder Notes with Letters
Letters and fingering pictures for soprano recorder, with the words under each note. Starts C E F F F E F G.
The notes and words
Key: F major (the original key).
COnceEinFroy-FalFDa-EFvid'sGGci-FtyFStoodAaClow-AlyAcat-GFtleEFshed,
CWhereEaFMo-FtherFlaidEFherGGBa-FbyFInAaCman-AgerAforGFhisEFbed:
DMa-DryCwasFthatB♭Mo-B♭therAmild,
DJe-DsusCChristAherAlit-GFtleEFChild.
- Ccovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Ecovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Fcovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
- Gcovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3
- Acovered: thumb, 1, 2
- B♭covered: thumb, 1, 3, 4
- Ccovered: thumb, 2
- Dcovered: 2
Key: G major.
DOnceF♯inGroy-GalGDa-F♯Gvid'sAAci-GtyGStoodBaDlow-BlyBcat-AGtleF♯Gshed,
DWhereF♯aGMo-GtherGlaidF♯GherAABa-GbyGInBaDman-BgerBforAGhisF♯Gbed:
EMa-EryDwasGthatCMo-CtherBmild,
EJe-EsusDChristBherBlit-AGtleF♯GChild.
- Dcovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- F♯covered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
- Gcovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3
- Acovered: thumb, 1, 2
- Bcovered: thumb, 1
- Ccovered: thumb, 2
- Dcovered: 2
- Ecovered: thumb (pinched), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Recorder fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: A♭ major.
E♭OnceGinA♭roy-A♭alA♭Da-GA♭vid'sB♭B♭ci-A♭tyA♭StoodCaE♭low-ClyCcat-B♭A♭tleGA♭shed,
E♭WhereGaA♭Mo-A♭therA♭laidGA♭herB♭B♭Ba-A♭byA♭InCaE♭man-CgerCforB♭A♭hisGA♭bed:
FMa-FryE♭wasA♭thatD♭Mo-D♭therCmild,
FJe-FsusE♭ChristCherClit-B♭A♭tleGA♭Child.
- E♭covered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, half 6
- Gcovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3
- A♭covered: thumb, 1, 2, 4, 5, half 6
- B♭covered: thumb, 1, 3, 4
- Ccovered: thumb, 2
- D♭covered: 1, 2
- E♭covered: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Fcovered: thumb (pinched), 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Recorder fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: A major.
EOnceG♯inAroy-AalADa-G♯Avid'sBBci-AtyAStoodC♯aElow-C♯lyC♯cat-BAtleG♯Ashed,
EWhereG♯aAMo-AtherAlaidG♯AherBBBa-AbyAInC♯aEman-C♯gerC♯forBAhisG♯Abed:
F♯Ma-F♯ryEwasAthatDMo-DtherC♯mild,
F♯Je-F♯susEChristC♯herC♯lit-BAtleG♯AChild.
- Ecovered: thumb, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- G♯covered: thumb, 1, 2, 4, 5, half 6
- Acovered: thumb, 1, 2
- Bcovered: thumb, 1
- C♯covered: 1, 2
- Dcovered: 2
- Ecovered: thumb (pinched), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- F♯covered: thumb (pinched), 1, 2, 3, 5
Recorder fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s recorder sound. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes
About this song
- Melody
- Tune IRBY, Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849
- Words
- Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895), 1848 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1849, words 1848: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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