Verse 1: Em D What child is this, who, laid to rest, Em B7 on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Em D Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, Em B7 Em while shepherds watch are keeping? Chorus: G D This, this is Christ the King, Em B7 whom shepherds guard and angels sing; G D haste, haste to bring him laud, Em B7 Em the babe, the son of Mary. Verse 2: Em D Why lies he in such mean estate Em B7 where ox and ass are feeding? Em D Good Christian, fear: for sinners here Em B7 Em the silent Word is pleading. Chorus: G D This, this is Christ the King, Em B7 whom shepherds guard and angels sing; G D haste, haste to bring him laud, Em B7 Em the babe, the son of Mary. Verse 3: Em D So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; Em B7 come, peasant, king, to own him. Em D The King of kings salvation brings; Em B7 Em let loving hearts enthrone him. Chorus: G D This, this is Christ the King, Em B7 whom shepherds guard and angels sing; G D haste, haste to bring him laud, Em B7 Em the babe, the son of Mary. A|----|-----0--|-2---3---2--|-0------|------------|--------|------------|--------|-2------| E|-0--|--------|------------|-----2--|-----0---2--|-----0--|-0-------0--|-2------|-----0--| C|----|--------|------------|--------|-2----------|--------|-----3------|-----3--|--------| g|----|-0------|------------|--------|------------|-0------|------------|--------|--------| A|-----0--|-2---3---2--|-0------|------------|------------|------------|----| E|--------|------------|-----2--|-----0---2--|-----2---0--|------------|-0--| C|--------|------------|--------|-2----------|------------|-3---1---3--|----| g|-0------|------------|--------|------------|-0----------|------------|----| A|-5--|-5---4---2--|-0------|------------|--------|------------|--------|-2--| E|----|------------|-----2--|-----0---2--|-----0--|-0-------0--|-2------|----| C|----|------------|--------|-2----------|--------|-----3------|-----3--|----| g|----|------------|--------|------------|-0------|------------|--------|----| A|-5--|-5---4---2--|-0------|------------|--------|------------|----| E|----|------------|-----2--|-----0---2--|-----0--|------------|-0--| C|----|------------|--------|-2----------|--------|-3---1---3--|----| g|----|------------|--------|------------|-0------|------------|----| This arrangement is its contributor’s own interpretation, shared for private study, education and non-commercial use. The underlying song, lyrics and music remain the property of their copyright owners. To request removal, see Legal & Copyright.
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How to play What Child Is This on ukulele
On ukulele, What Child Is This comes down to the busy waltz: d – d u d u. The groove sits around 90 bpm, a medium pace. I posted this one in its original key of E minor. Chord-wise this is an easy one: everything sits at the rookie level. lilting and dark · 100 bpm
4 ukulele chords used in "What Child Is This" by Misc Traditional: B7, D, Em and G
What Child Is This is on page 66 of Jingle Strums, a printed songbook of 44 carols and songs with chords, melody and tab, every included verse in full. See the book
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i think that where it is Am-Em-Am it should be an E instead of Em
This is how I play it.
Am C G
What Child is this who, laid to rest
Am F E7
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Am C G
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
Am E7 Am
While shepherds watch are keeping?
C G
This, this is Christ the King,
Am F E7
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
C G
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
Am E7 Am
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Am C G
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Am F E7
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Am C G
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
Am E7 Am
The silent Word is pleading.
C G
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
Am F E7
The cross be borne for me, for you.
C G
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
Am E7 Am
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Am C G
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Am F E7
Come peasant, king to own Him;
Am C G
The King of kings salvation brings,
Am E7 Am
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
C G
Raise, raise a song on high,
Am F E7
The virgin sings her lullaby.
C G
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
Am E7 Am
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
in ‘the babe the son of Mary’ i changed the Em to an E but it sounds beautiful either way!
You can substitute E7 for the dreaded E chord with this chord progression and I think it sounds just fine.
-5 is the easiest for me. Love this song, thanks for the tab.
Chord correction: The chord, for the word “Son” (as in “The Son of Mary”) is incorrect. It should actually be an Em7
I like +7
+5
I like to use d, d, d,d, etc. for slow songs.☺
Do you know if you could post the picking pattern, as well?
Whoa this is amazing I am self taught and quite new and i love this arrangement +5 is the easiest and smoothest i found!