The Old Rugged Cross Alto Sax Notes
Letter notes in the written key for E♭ alto saxophone, with the words under each note. Starts E F G F♯ A G.
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♭.
EOnFaGhillF♯farAa-GwayGstoodGanAoldG♯rug-BgedAcross,
ATheABem-Ablem
GofFsuff'r-GingFandEshame;EAndFIGloveF♯thatAoldGcrossGwhereGtheAdear-G♯est
BandAbestAForAaBworldAofGlostFsin-EnersDwasCslain.BSoCI'll
Dcher-DishDtheDoldCrug-BgedCcross,
CTillBmyAtro-AphiesAatClastBIAlayGdown;
GICwillEclingEtoEtheEoldFrug-EgedAcross,
FAndFex-EchangeDitCsomeGdayBforDaCcrown.
Key: B♭ major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in D♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in D♭.
DOnE♭aFhillEfarGa-FwayFstoodFanGoldG♭rug-AgedGcross,
GTheGAem-Gblem
FofE♭suff'r-FingE♭andDshame;DAndE♭IFloveEthatGoldFcrossFwhereFtheGdear-G♭est
AandGbestGForGaAworldGofFlostE♭sin-DnersCwasB♭slain.ASoB♭I'll
Ccher-CishCtheColdB♭rug-AgedB♭cross,
B♭TillAmyGtro-GphiesGatB♭lastAIGlayFdown;
FIB♭willDclingDtoDtheDoldE♭rug-DgedGcross,
E♭AndE♭ex-DchangeCitB♭someFdayAforCaB♭crown.
Key: D major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in F major, so it plays along with a piano in F.
F♯OnGaAhillG♯farBa-AwayAstoodAanBoldA♯rug-C♯gedBcross,
BTheBC♯em-Bblem
AofGsuff'r-AingGandF♯shame;F♯AndGIAloveG♯thatBoldAcrossAwhereAtheBdear-A♯est
C♯andBbestBForBaC♯worldBofAlostGsin-F♯nersEwasDslain.C♯SoDI'll
Echer-EishEtheEoldDrug-C♯gedDcross,
DTillC♯myBtro-BphiesBatDlastC♯IBlayAdown;
AIDwillF♯clingF♯toF♯theF♯oldGrug-F♯gedBcross,
GAndGex-F♯changeEitDsomeAdayC♯forEaDcrown.
Key: B major for E♭ alto saxophone (written pitch). It sounds in D major, so it plays along with a piano in D.
D♯OnEaF♯hillFfarG♯a-F♯wayF♯stoodF♯anG♯oldGrug-A♯gedG♯cross,
G♯TheG♯A♯em-G♯blem
F♯ofEsuff'r-F♯ingEandD♯shame;D♯AndEIF♯loveFthatG♯oldF♯crossF♯whereF♯theG♯dear-Gest
A♯andG♯bestG♯ForG♯aA♯worldG♯ofF♯lostEsin-D♯nersC♯wasBslain.A♯SoBI'll
C♯cher-C♯ishC♯theC♯oldBrug-A♯gedBcross,
BTillA♯myG♯tro-G♯phiesG♯atBlastA♯IG♯layF♯down;
F♯IBwillD♯clingD♯toD♯theD♯oldErug-D♯gedG♯cross,
EAndEex-D♯changeC♯itBsomeF♯dayA♯forC♯aBcrown.
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 THE OLD RUGGED CROSS, George Bennard, 1913
- Words
- George Bennard (1873–1958), 1913 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1913, words 1913: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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