God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is an English Christmas carol (a.k.a. “Tidings of Comfort and Joy”). Its origin is uncertain, but official records of the song go back to the 18th century. If want to listen to the song, there are many versions available, this one is sung by a choir owns its traditional trademark.
The music transcriptions of the song with tabs and notes are available for download as PDFs. It's free for personal use only.
Melody & full accompaniment
Free tabs and notes plus sound.
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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen guitar tab and notes (pdf)
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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen instrumental guitar (mp3)
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (full accompaniment)
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" for guitar with full accompaniment is found in Christmas songs arranged for guitar e-book.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (only melody)
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" tablature notation for guitar. (Versions with accompaniment can be downloaded as pdf).
Tips on how to learn this song
The melody is mainly played in open position (open strings and the first three frets), with the only exception for bars 10 and 17. Also, only the three highest strings are involved during the whole song. Concerning the last two bars, only one note is played (the note in the bar 19 should ring out into the next bar).
Lyrics and chords
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen chords in the key of Am
Verse 1:
God (Am)rest ye, (E7)merry (Am)gentlemen(E7),
Let (F)nothing you dis(E7)may,
Re(Am)member (E7)Christ (Am)our savior(E7)
Was (F)born upon this (E7)day
To (Dm)save us all from (C)Satan's power,
When (Am)we were gone ast(G)ray.
Chorus:
Oh (C)tidings of com(G)fort and (Am)joy,
Comfort and (G)joy,
Oh (C)tidings of (G)comfort and (Am)joy.(E7)
Verse: 2
From (Am)God our (E7)heavenly (Am)father(E7)
This (F)blessed angel (E7)came
And (Am)unto (E7)certain (Am)shephe(E7)rds,
Brought (F)tidings of the (E7)same;
How (Dm)that in Bethle(C)hem was born
The (Am)son of God by (G)name.
Chorus:
Oh (C)tidings of com(G)fort and (Am)joy,
Comfort and (G)joy,
Oh (C)tidings of (G)comfort and (Am)joy.
Poetic and archaic words:
ye = you
thy = your
Download this song in pdf with chord charts, included in 60 Traditional songs e-book.
Other variations exist concerning the lyrics. For example, the line "Remember Christ our Saviour" is in newer versions replaced with "For Jesus Christ our Saviour". The lyrics presented here don't include all verses and choruses in the song.
There are possibilities to change to key by using a capo. These are the keys that the song would transpose in depending on which fret the capo is put:
- Capo 1: A# / Bb minor
- Capo 2: B minor
- Capo 3: C minor
- Capo 4: C# / Db minor
- Capo 5: D minor
Key, time, tuning and tempo
Information about "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.
Key
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is played in the key of Am.
Time signature
The song is played in 4/4 tempo (counted one, two, three, four for each measure).
Tuning
The song is normally played in standard tuning (EADGBE).
Tempo (BPM)
The tempo in beats per minute is 120 for the presented version.