O Christmas Tree is, along with Silent Night, another very popular Christmas carol, originally a German Christmas song. It has been translated into many different languages and has also gained some popularity in the English speaking world. Many children know it and love to sing it during the Christmas season. It’s also not too difficult to learn on the ukulele, so it’s a great tune to teach beginners and young children. Let’s discover some versions of O Christmas Tree on the ukulele and learn some facts about the history of the song. You can also find some free PDF printables at the end of the article, like the sheet music for your practice!
History of O Christmas Tree
O Christmas Tree, originally known as “O Tannenbaum”, is a traditional German Christmas carol, which is very old actually. It dates back to the 16th century. This same tune was also associated with the songs “Es lebe hoch der Zimmermannsgeselle” and “Lauriger Horatius.”
The familiar lyrics we sing today were written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, a Leipzig organist, teacher, and composer. Interestingly, Anschütz’s lyrics don’t directly mention Christmas or depict a decorated tree. Instead, he drew inspiration from a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck entitled “Ach Tannenbaum”. In 1819, August Zarnack wrote a melancholy love song based on this folk tune. The lyrics praise the evergreen qualities of the fir tree, which served as a metaphor for the enduring hope and resilience of life during the cold winter months.
As the tradition of decorating Christmas trees became more widespread in the 19th century, “O Tannenbaum” gradually evolved into the Christmas carol we know today. The song gained widespread popularity outside of Germany after it was translated into English and became a beloved Christmas carol around the world
Ukulele Tabs for O Christmas Tree
We will learn some simple versions of O Christmas Tree on the ukulele. There are basically two ways to play the melody of a song on the ukulele. Either you play the individual notes by fingerpicking the string one at a time, or you just strum the chords. First, we will learn how to fingerpick the melody using the Ukulele Tabs. If you are a beginner or if you are teaching young beginners, then start slowly and just with the first part of the song.
Here are the ukulele tabs for playing the nursery rhyme on the first three strings:
We have recorded this ukulele version for you on the ukulele so that you can check your playing or play along while practicing. You can also slow down the recording.
Ukulele Chords for O Christmas Tree
Fingerpicking is a very good way to learn how to play the melody of a Christmas carol. But if you want to sing and play at the same time the song, you will see that most people prefer to strum a song with chords. And you can play a song in different keys. We will play the song in the key of F.
To play the song we need three chords! The chords that you need for O Christmas Tree in the key of F are the basic chords F, C7 and Bb. The Bb chord might a bit challenging for beginners since you have to press down the first two strings with the index finger.
Here are the chord diagrams for the required chords:
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
If you’re already comfortable with these ukulele chords and can change between them easily, then you’re ready to dive into the song! If not, take some time to practice the F, C7, and Bb chords separately. Once you know how to play them without any difficulties, move on playing the F-C7-Bb sequence over and over using easy downstrokes until it feels effortless and natural. This will help you become familiar with the chord progression required for the song.
For beginners, especially young ones, it’s important to start new songs at a slower tempo. Concentrate on performing a simple down strum with each chord change. This approach gives you plenty of time to transition between chords without the added stress of complex strumming patterns. Also, it’s much easier to sing along when you only strum once per chord change. As you gain confidence, feel free to experiment with more complex strumming patterns.
Ukulele Sheet Music for O christmas Tree
If you’re comfortable reading sheet music, you’re in a good position – sheet music provides a complete layout of a song, showing you all the notes, rhythms, and chords in detail. However, if you’re just starting out, it can be overwhelming because it requires some understanding of music theory and practice reading notes. That’s why many beginners, especially kids, find ukulele tabs or lyrics with chords much more accessible, making the learning experience easier and less intimidating.
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Here is the sheet music for O Christmas Tree:
Free Ukulele Printables for O Christmas Tree
Feel free to download the chords, tabs, and sheet music as a free PDF for your practice sessions or ukulele lessons!
Interested in instruments other than the ukulele? You can also find a free lesson on how to play O Christmas Tree on the guitar and piano.
