It Came Upon a Midnight Clear chords
KutlessSong Key: G# Minor
Time Signature: 6/8
Tempo: 152 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Beginner 🟢
Guitar Chords in E Minor: Em, Emadd2 (EmaddF#), Cmaj7, B7, D, G, Am
Capo: 4th fret (to play along with the video in G#m)
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts
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Speed: x0.1
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The Relative Major Key of Em is highlighted - Transpose to any other key. Em Emadd2 Em Emadd2
Intro: 6/8 ‖ | | | ‖
Em Cmaj7 Em B7
1. It came up-on the mid-night clear That glor-i-ous song of old
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
From an-gels bend-ing near the earth To touch their harps of gold
B7 Em G Cmaj7 Am D
Peace on the earth good-will to men From heav-ens all grac-ious King
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
The world in sol-emn still-ness lay To hear the an-gels (sing)
Em Emadd2 Em Emadd2
‖ Ah...Ah | Ah... | Ah...Ah | Ah... ‖
(sing)
Em Cmaj7 Em B7
2. Still through the clo-ven skies they come With peace-ful wings un-furled
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
And still their heav-en-ly music floats O'er all the wear-y world
B7 Em G Cmaj7 Am D
A-bove its sad and low-ly plains They bend on hov-er-ing wing
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
And ev-er o-ver its Ba-bel sounds The bles-sed an-gels sing
Em Cmaj7 Em B7 Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
Instr: | | | | | | | - | |
B7 Em G Cmaj7 Am D Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
| | – | - | | | | – | | % | % |
Em Cmaj7 Em B7
3. O ye be-neath life's crush-ing load Whose forms are bend-ing low
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
Who toil a-long the climb-ing way With pain-ful steps and slow
B7 Em G Cmaj7 Am D
Look now for glad and gold-en hours Come swift-ly on the wing
Em Cmaj7 Em D Em
Oh rest be-side the wear-y road And hear the an-gels sing
Em Emadd2 Em Emadd2
‖: (sing) | | | :‖ ... repeat to fade
- Reading the Song Charts - a closer look at reading the song charts on this site
- Chord Transposer - a better understanding of how it works
- Christmas Song Page - Easy traditional version in the key of C Major
Arrangement Details:
- Key Signature: G# Minor -relative to B Major - 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
- Chords in G#m: G#m, G#madd2 (G#maddA#), Emaj7, D#7, F#, B, C#m
- Time Signature: 6/8 — Six eighth-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderate rock beat
- Metronome: ♪ = 152
- Voice Range: D#4 - D#5
- Key Signature: This version of the song is a variation of the original tune, and is played in a minor key of G#m instead of B Major (relative major). Although it sounds slightly different, it adds a different dimension to the song, while still retaining its timeless tradition. It's interesting to note that 'Sixpence None The Richer' did a similar version in the key of Am.
- We have used a capo on the 4th fret and play in the key of Em. The Emadd2 (Em with an added 2nd) / Em(addF#) simply means you play an Em open chord and add your pinkie on string 4, fret 4 (F#)... see charts above.
- Wherever you see a bar with a hyphen, e.g., | - | means the chords above the bar e.g., E - G share half the bar count equally. In this case where the time signature is 6/8, each chord is equal in time to 3 eighth notes.
Song Details:
- Composer: Richard Storrs Willis (1850)
- Lyricist: Edmund Hamilton Sears (1849)
- Lyrics Begin: It came upon the midnight clear,t hat glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold;
- Genre: Sacred Hymn, Traditional Carol, Christmas Music
- Featured Artists: Kutless (American Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon)
- Album: This Is Christmas
Released: 4 October, 2011
