O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)

• Rangeoctave and a whole step
• Notes61, 8 different
• ScaleMajor, no accidentals
• Time3/4
• Length hereabout 28 s
• Source editionD major

About O Christmas Tree

A German folk melody with roots in the 16th century, sung as “O Tannenbaum” since the Leipzig organist Ernst Anschütz wrote the words used today in 1824. The same tune carries several unrelated songs, among them the British labour anthem “The Red Flag” and the state song of Iowa.

It is in three time with a dotted lilt, and it is in the shape A–A–B–A: the opening strain twice, a middle strain that sits higher, and the opening again.

Play O Christmas Tree on your instrument

24 of the 27 playable instruments here have every note it needs. 23 play it where the library writes it; the rest move it to another key or octave, and each page says which. Every page has the instrument itself, with the song loaded, above the notes.

• Kalimba tabsas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Piano letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Mbira tabsas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Oud notesas written · G3–A4 · octave and a whole step
• Violin notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Cello notesas written · G3–A4 · octave and a whole step
• Erhu notesmoved · D4–E5 · octave and a whole step · in G key, an octave lower
• Dulcimer tabas written · A4–B5 · octave and a whole step
• Xylophone letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Marimba letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Glockenspiel letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Steel Drum letter notesas written · C5–D6 · octave and a whole step
• Harmonica tabsas written · G5–A6 · octave and a whole step
• Trumpet notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Clarinet notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Saxophone notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Flute notesas written · D5–E6 · octave and a whole step
• Recorder notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Tuba notesas written · F2–G3 · octave and a whole step
• Euphonium notesas written · F3–G4 · octave and a whole step
• Trombone notesas written · F3–G4 · octave and a whole step
• Accordion letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Harp letter notesas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step
• Lyre tabsas written · G4–A5 · octave and a whole step

Instruments that cannot play it

• Guzheng — it would need C♯5, G5, which it does not have in any size or key here.
• Handpan — it would need G3, B3, which it does not have in any size or key here.
• Ocarina — it would need G3, which it does not have in any size or key here.

O Christmas Tree letter notes

Written in C major, from G4 to A5, with each note’s number in the scale under it — the form that transfers to any instrument. A dash holds a note another beat, an underline is half a beat, and each line is one phrase.

Where these notes come from

German traditional melody, sung as “O Tannenbaum” since 1824. Public domain.

The melody was not written down from memory. It is derived from a published transcription and compared, note for note, with independent ones:

• Followed: Paul Hardy’s Xmas Tunebook, 2019 (2024)
• Checked against: Wikipedia, “O Tannenbaum” (engraved score) — the same notes throughout

More christmas songs & carols

• Jingle BellsJames Lord Pierpont, 1857
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas19th century or earlier
• Silent NightFranz Xaver Gruber, 1818
• Deck the Halls16th century (tune)
• Joy to the WorldLowell Mason, 1836
• Hark! The Herald Angels SingFelix Mendelssohn, 1840
• O Come, All Ye FaithfulJohn Francis Wade, c. 1743
• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen18th century or earlier
• Away in a MangerJames R. Murray, 1887
• The First Noel1823 (in print)
• Good King Wenceslas1582 (tune)
• Up on the HousetopBenjamin Hanby, 1864
• Jolly Old Saint Nicholas1874 (music in print)
• O Holy NightAdolphe Adam, 1847
• Auld Lang Syne18th century
• Carol of the BellsMykola Leontovych, 1916