Silent Night

Key: C Major
Tempo: Very slow and peaceful (~60 BPM)

Franz Gruber wrote the tune in 1818 for words by Joseph Mohr. The English verse below is the translation by John Freeman Young, and all of it is in the public domain. The tab stays in holes 4 to 9 with no bends.

Verse 1

6   -6 6 5
Si- lent night,

6   -6 6 5
Ho- ly   night,

-8  -8 -7
All is calm,

7   7  6
All is bright,

-6    -6  7    -7  -6    6 -6 6   5
Round yon vir- gin moth- er   and child,

-6  -6 7   -7   -6 6    -6  6   5
Ho- ly in- fant so ten- der and mild,

-8    -8 -9    -8  -7 7 8
Sleep in heav- en- ly peace,

7     6  5     6 -5 -4 4
Sleep in heav- en-  ly peace.

Playing Tips

• Play extremely gently. This song is all about atmosphere.
• The song is in 6/8 time. Each “Si-lent” and “Ho-ly” is a long note, a short one, then a long one.
• The last line walks down from 7 to 4. Breathe before it so you can hold the final 4.

← Back to Home ← Back to Christmas