Once in Royal David's City Violin Notes with Letters
Letters, strings and finger numbers for violin, with the words under each note. Starts G B C C C B C D.
The notes and words
Key: C major.
GD 3OnceBA 1inCA L2roy-CA L2alCA L2Da-BA 1CA L2vid'sDA 3DA 3ci-CA L2tyCA L2StoodEE 0aGE L2low-EE 0lyEE 0cat-DA 3CA L2tleBA 1CA L2shed,
GD 3WhereBA 1aCA L2Mo-CA L2therCA L2laidBA 1CA L2herDA 3DA 3Ba-CA L2byCA L2InEE 0aGE L2man-EE 0gerEE 0forDA 3CA L2hisBA 1CA L2bed:
AE 3Ma-AE 3ryGE L2wasCA L2thatFE L1Mo-FE L1therEE 0mild,
AE 3Je-AE 3susGE L2ChristEE 0herEE 0lit-DA 3CA L2tleBA 1CA L2Child.
- GD string, 3 finger
- BA string, 1 finger
- CA string, low 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
- FE string, low 1 finger
- GE string, low 2 finger
- AE string, 3 finger
Key: G major.
DD 0OnceF♯D 2inGD 3roy-GD 3alGD 3Da-F♯D 2GD 3vid'sAA 0AA 0ci-GD 3tyGD 3StoodBA 1aDA 3low-BA 1lyBA 1cat-AA 0GD 3tleF♯D 2GD 3shed,
DD 0WhereF♯D 2aGD 3Mo-GD 3therGD 3laidF♯D 2GD 3herAA 0AA 0Ba-GD 3byGD 3InBA 1aDA 3man-BA 1gerBA 1forAA 0GD 3hisF♯D 2GD 3bed:
EE 0Ma-EE 0ryDA 3wasGD 3thatCA L2Mo-CA L2therBA 1mild,
EE 0Je-EE 0susDA 3ChristBA 1herBA 1lit-AA 0GD 3tleF♯D 2GD 3Child.
- DD string, open
- F♯D string, 2 finger
- GD string, 3 finger
- AA string, open
- BA string, 1 finger
- CA string, low 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
Violin finger chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: D major.
AA 0OnceC♯A 2inDA 3roy-DA 3alDA 3Da-C♯A 2DA 3vid'sEE 0EE 0ci-DA 3tyDA 3StoodF♯E 1aAE 3low-F♯E 1lyF♯E 1cat-EE 0DA 3tleC♯A 2DA 3shed,
AA 0WhereC♯A 2aDA 3Mo-DA 3therDA 3laidC♯A 2DA 3herEE 0EE 0Ba-DA 3byDA 3InF♯E 1aAE 3man-F♯E 1gerF♯E 1forEE 0DA 3hisC♯A 2DA 3bed:
BE 4Ma-BE 4ryAE 3wasDA 3thatGE L2Mo-GE L2therF♯E 1mild,
BE 4Je-BE 4susAE 3ChristF♯E 1herF♯E 1lit-EE 0DA 3tleC♯A 2DA 3Child.
- AA string, open
- C♯A string, 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
- F♯E string, 1 finger
- GE string, low 2 finger
- AE string, 3 finger
- BE string, 4 finger
Violin finger chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: C major.
GG 0OnceBG 2inCG 3roy-CG 3alCG 3Da-BG 2CG 3vid'sDD 0DD 0ci-CG 3tyCG 3StoodED 1aGD 3low-ED 1lyED 1cat-DD 0CG 3tleBG 2CG 3shed,
GG 0WhereBG 2aCG 3Mo-CG 3therCG 3laidBG 2CG 3herDD 0DD 0Ba-CG 3byCG 3InED 1aGD 3man-ED 1gerED 1forDD 0CG 3hisBG 2CG 3bed:
AA 0Ma-AA 0ryGD 3wasCG 3thatFD L2Mo-FD L2therED 1mild,
AA 0Je-AA 0susGD 3ChristED 1herED 1lit-DD 0CG 3tleBG 2CG 3Child.
- GG string, open
- BG string, 2 finger
- CG string, 3 finger
- DD string, open
- ED string, 1 finger
- FD string, low 2 finger
- GD string, 3 finger
- AA string, open
Violin finger chart: every note, tap to hear it
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s violin 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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