While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Violin Notes
Letters, strings and finger numbers for violin, with the words under each note. Starts C E E D C F F E.
The notes and words
Key: C major.
CA L2WhileEE 0shep-EE 0herdsDA 3watchedCA L2theirFE L1flocksFE L1byEE 0night,
DA 3AllEE 0seat-GE L2edGE L2onF♯E 1theGE L2ground,
EE 0TheAE 3An-GE L2gelFE L1ofEE 0theDA 3LordCA L2cameBA 1down,
EE 0AndDA 3glo-CA L2ryCA L2shoneBA 1a-CA L2round.
- BA string, 1 finger
- CA string, low 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
- FE string, low 1 finger
- F♯E string, 1 finger
- GE string, low 2 finger
- AE string, 3 finger
Key: G major.
GD 3WhileBA 1shep-BA 1herdsAA 0watchedGD 3theirCA L2flocksCA L2byBA 1night,
AA 0AllBA 1seat-DA 3edDA 3onC♯A 2theDA 3ground,
BA 1TheEE 0An-DA 3gelCA L2ofBA 1theAA 0LordGD 3cameF♯D 2down,
BA 1AndAA 0glo-GD 3ryGD 3shoneF♯D 2a-GD 3round.
- F♯D string, 2 finger
- GD string, 3 finger
- AA string, open
- BA string, 1 finger
- CA string, low 2 finger
- C♯A string, 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
Violin finger chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: C major.
CG 3WhileED 1shep-ED 1herdsDD 0watchedCG 3theirFD L2flocksFD L2byED 1night,
DD 0AllED 1seat-GD 3edGD 3onF♯D 2theGD 3ground,
ED 1TheAA 0An-GD 3gelFD L2ofED 1theDD 0LordCG 3cameBG 2down,
ED 1AndDD 0glo-CG 3ryCG 3shoneBG 2a-CG 3round.
- BG string, 2 finger
- CG string, 3 finger
- DD string, open
- ED string, 1 finger
- FD string, low 2 finger
- F♯D string, 2 finger
- GD string, 3 finger
- AA string, open
Violin finger chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: D major.
DA 3WhileF♯E 1shep-F♯E 1herdsEE 0watchedDA 3theirGE L2flocksGE L2byF♯E 1night,
EE 0AllF♯E 1seat-AE 3edAE 3onG♯E 2theAE 3ground,
F♯E 1TheBE 4An-AE 3gelGE L2ofF♯E 1theEE 0LordDA 3cameC♯A 2down,
F♯E 1AndEE 0glo-DA 3ryDA 3shoneC♯A 2a-DA 3round.
- C♯A string, 2 finger
- DA string, 3 finger
- EE string, open
- F♯E string, 1 finger
- GE string, low 2 finger
- G♯E string, 2 finger
- AE string, 3 finger
- BE string, 4 finger
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 WINCHESTER OLD, Este's Psalter, 1592
- Words
- Nahum Tate (1652–1715), 1700 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1592, words 1700: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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