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Tips for playing "The First Noel": This carol's a little tricky because of an occasional quick change to a G chord on the third beat. Keep playing your strumming pattern as if your fretting hand was oblivious of the chord change: You'll be playing your C or F chord for the first two beats (playing a bass note on the first, then a downstrum on the second), and then a final downstrum on the G chord to finish the measure. If this is too hard, or sounds choppy, you can just ignore that G chord altogether. It still sounds good, and eliminating jumpy chord changes will keep the song peaceful. No waking the baby Jesus!
The First Noel
Traditional
| Chord Guide | |||
|
134211 F: 133211 |
12
Em: 022000 |
3 4
G: 3x0003 |
32 1
C: x32010 |
Intro: / F - - / Em - - / F - G / C - - /
C G F C
The first Noel the angel did say
F Em / F - G / C
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
C G F C
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
F Em / F - G / C
On a cold winters night that was so deep
Chorus:
C Em F / C - G /
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
F Em / F - G / C
Born is the King of Israel.
C G F C
They looked up and saw a star
F Em / F - G / C
Shining in the East, beyond them far
C G F C
And to the earth it gave good light
F Em / F - G / C
And so it continued both day and night
Chorus
C G F C
This star drew nigh to the northwest
F Em / F - G / C
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
C G F C
And there it did stop and stay
F Em / F - G / C
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Chorus
C G F C
Then enter'd in there Wise Men three
F Em / F - G / C
Full rev'rently on bended knee
C G F C
And offered there in His presence
F Em / F - G / C
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
Chorus, End on last C
This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
