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Public-domain songs

Original keys and backing tracks for public-domain songs

Each song below has a verified original key, public-domain evidence, and an accompaniment MR Maker made itself in the original key and in keys two or three semitones lower or higher.

Song

SongOriginal keyMusicFirst publishedBacking-track keys
Abide with MeE♭ majorWilliam Henry Monk1861C major · D♭ major · E♭ major · F major
Amazing GraceG majorTraditional American melody (NEW BRITAIN)1779E major · F major · G major · A major
Angels We Have Heard on HighF majorTraditional French1842D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
Auld Lang SyneF majorTraditional Scottish melody1799D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
Away in a MangerF majorJames Ramsey Murray1887D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
Blessed AssuranceD majorPhoebe Palmer Knapp1873B major · C major · D major · E major
Come, Thou Fount of Every BlessingD majorAnonymous American tune (NETTLETON)1813B major · C major · D major · E major
Deck the HallsF majorTraditional Welsh (Nos Galan)1862D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
Good King WenceslasG majorTraditional (melody TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM, Piae Cantiones)1853E major · F major · G major · A major
Happy Birthday to YouG majorMildred J. Hill (melody of Good Morning to All)1893E major · F major · G major · A major
Hark! The Herald Angels SingF majorFelix Mendelssohn1840D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
It Came Upon the Midnight ClearB♭ majorRichard Storrs Willis1849G major · A♭ major · B♭ major · C major
It Is Well with My SoulC majorPhilip P. Bliss1876A major · B♭ major · C major · D major
Jingle BellsG majorJames Lord Pierpont1857E major · F major · G major · A major
Joy to the WorldD majorLowell Mason (arranger)1836B major · C major · D major · E major
Nearer, My God, to TheeG majorLowell Mason1841E major · F major · G major · A major
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)G majorTraditional German folk melody1824E major · F major · G major · A major
O Come, All Ye FaithfulG majorJohn Francis Wade (attributed)1751E major · F major · G major · A major
O Come, O Come, EmmanuelE minorTraditional (VENI EMMANUEL), adapted by Thomas Helmore1851C♯ minor · D minor · E minor · F♯ minor
O Holy NightC majorAdolphe Adam1847A major · B♭ major · C major · D major
O Little Town of BethlehemF majorLewis H. Redner1874D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
Rock of AgesB♭ majorThomas Hastings1831G major · A♭ major · B♭ major · C major
Silent NightB♭ majorFranz Xaver Gruber1833G major · A♭ major · B♭ major · C major
The First NoelD majorTraditional English1833B major · C major · D major · E major
We Three KingsE minorJohn Henry Hopkins Jr.1863C♯ minor · D minor · E minor · F♯ minor
What a Friend We Have in JesusF majorCharles Crozat Converse1865D major · E♭ major · F major · G major
What Child Is This?E minorTraditional English (GREENSLEEVES)1871C♯ minor · D minor · E minor · F♯ minor

How this list is made

  • Public domain: every named composer and lyricist died in or before 1955, the work was first published in or before 1930, and any traditional part is documented before 1900. Each credit links to its source.
  • Original key: the key signature of the cited public-domain score or hymnal entry (most often the standard hymn-tune setting). Where the composer's autograph used another key, the notes say so.
  • Audio: MR Maker transcribed melody and chords from that score and synthesised the accompaniment itself (piano, bass, soft pad and a quiet melody guide). No third-party recordings, samples, lyrics or translated lyrics are used.
  • Every file is checked automatically for duration, peak level, loudness (about -16 LUFS), silent gaps, and that the key estimated from the audio spectrum matches the stated key.

Open dataset

The same data is available as JSON for reuse and citation. Audio and data: CC BY 4.0 MR Maker.

Download pd-song-keys.json

Cite as: MR Maker, “Public-domain song keys”, mrmrmaker.com/songs.