Since it’s the Christmas season, I figured it might be nice to put up some chords to Christmas music.
Here’s the first one, “Silent Night”. It uses a basic I-IV-V7 progression, so it’s great for beginners. I’ll include four of the most common keys of C, G, F, and D so readers can play in the key that suits their purposes.
“Silent Night” was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber in Austria. It’s one of the most popular Christmas carols.
For more ukulele Christmas songs, check out Christmas Ukulele Chords & Tabs.
“Silent Night” Ukulele Chords in Key of C
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
C | F | G7 |
[C]Silent night, holy night
[G7]All is calm, [C]all is bright
[F]Round yon Virgin [C]Mother and Child
[F]Holy Infant so [C]tender and mild
[G7]Sleep in heavenly [C]peace
[C]Sleep in [G7]heavenly [C]peace
[C]Silent night, holy night
[G7]Shepherds quake [C]at the sight
[F]Glories stream from [C]heaven afar
[F]Heavenly hosts sing [C]Alleluia!
[G7]Christ, the Saviour is [C]born
[C]Christ, the [G7]Saviour is [C]born
[C]Silent night, holy night
[G7]Son of God, [C]love’s pure light
[F]Radiant beams from thy [C]holy face
[F]With the dawn of [C]redeeming grace
[G7]Jesus, Lord at thy [C]birth
[C]Jesus, [G7]Lord at thy [C]birth
Second Version in C Major with Tabs
Here’s another version in the key of C with tabs.
Chords Used (GCEA Ukulele Tuning):
| C | G | F | G7 |
Here are the chord shapes for the above sheet for baritone ukulele.
“Silent Night” Ukulele Chords Used in Baritone Tuning (DGBE):
C | G | F | G7 |
“Silent Night” Ukulele Chords in Key of G
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | C | D7 |
[G]Silent night, holy night
[D7]All is calm, [G]all is bright
[C]Round yon Virgin [G]Mother and Child
[C]Holy Infant so [G]tender and mild
[D7]Sleep in heavenly [G]peace
[G]Sleep in [D7]heavenly [G]peace
[G]Silent night, holy night
[D7]Shepherds quake [G]at the sight
[C]Glories stream from [G]heaven afar
[C]Heavenly hosts sing [G]Alleluia!
[D7]Christ, the Saviour is [G]born
[G]Christ, the [D7]Saviour is [G]born
[G]Silent night, holy night
[D7]Son of God, [G]love’s pure light
[C]Radiant beams from thy [G]holy face
[C]With the dawn of [G]redeeming grace
[D7]Jesus, Lord at thy [G]birth
[G]Jesus, [D7]Lord at thy [G]birth
“Silent Night” Ukulele Chords in Key of F
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| F | Bb | C7 |
[F]Silent night, holy night
[C7]All is calm, [F]all is bright
[Bb]Round yon Virgin [F]Mother and Child
[Bb]Holy Infant so [F]tender and mild
[C7]Sleep in heavenly [F]peace
[F]Sleep in [C7]heavenly [F]peace
[F]Silent night, holy night
[C7]Shepherds quake [F]at the sight
[Bb]Glories stream from [F]heaven afar
[Bb]Heavenly hosts sing [F]Alleluia!
[C7]Christ, the Saviour is [F]born
[F]Christ, the [C7]Saviour is [F]born
[F]Silent night, holy night
[C7]Son of God, [F]love’s pure light
[Bb]Radiant beams from thy [F]holy face
[Bb]With the dawn of [F]redeeming grace
[C7]Jesus, Lord at thy [F]birth
[F]Jesus, [C7]Lord at thy [F]birth
“Silent Night” Ukulele Chords in Key of D
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
D | G | A7 |
[D]Silent night, holy night
[A7]All is calm, [D]all is bright
[G]Round yon Virgin [D]Mother and Child
[G]Holy Infant so [D]tender and mild
[A7]Sleep in heavenly [D]peace
[D]Sleep in [A7]heavenly [D]peace
[D]Silent night, holy night
[A7]Shepherds quake [D]at the sight
[G]Glories stream from [D]heaven afar
[G]Heavenly hosts sing [D]Alleluia!
[A7]Christ, the Saviour is [D]born
[D]Christ, the [A7]Saviour is [D]born
[D]Silent night, holy night
[A7]Son of God, [D]love’s pure light
[G]Radiant beams from thy [D]holy face
[G]With the dawn of [D]redeeming grace
[A7]Jesus, Lord at thy [D]birth
[D]Jesus, [A7]Lord at thy [D]birth
“Silent Night” Song History
“Silent Night” is a popular Christmas carol that has been sung around the world for over 200 years.
The song was originally written in German, with the title “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht,” by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
According to legend, the lyrics and melody for “Silent Night” were created in 1818 when Father Joseph Mohr, a young priest, was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf.
Mohr was inspired to write a new Christmas carol for the church’s upcoming Christmas Eve service after the church’s organ was damaged and could not be used.
He approached Franz Xaver Gruber, a local schoolteacher and musician, to compose a simple melody for his lyrics. Gruber came up with a simple, yet beautiful melody that perfectly matched Mohr’s words.
On Christmas Eve in 1818, “Silent Night” was performed for the first time at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf. Mohr sang the lyrics, accompanied by Gruber on the guitar.
The song was an instant hit, and it soon spread throughout Austria and other parts of Europe.
The song was translated into English in 1859 by John Freeman Young, an Episcopal priest.
The English version of the song has since become one of the most popular Christmas carols in the world, with countless recordings and performances by artists of all genres.
Today, “Silent Night” is regarded as a timeless classic, and its message of peace and goodwill continues to resonate with people all over the world.
