I Saw Three Ships chords

by Nat King Cole

Song Key: F Major with a key change to Gb Major

Key Signature: 1 flat (Bb)

Piano Chords: F, C7 → Gb, Db7

Time Signature: 6/8 (♩.)

Tempo: 80 bpm (Lively)

Vocal Range: C4 - C5

Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner

Guitar Chords in D Major & Eb Major: D, A7 → Eb, Bb7

Capo: 3rd fret (to play along with the video in F major)

Chart Legend

Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note

I Saw Three Ships

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key

             
     D         A7         D        A7
1. I saw three ships come sail-ing in
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
     D         A7         D        A7    
   I saw three ships come sail-ing in
     D                      A7   D
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing
                             A7   D
   (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
   
       D        A7       D         A7
2. And what was in those ships all three
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       D        A7       D         A7
   And what was in those ships all three
     D                      A7   D
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? 
                             A7   D
   (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
       D       A7        D           A7
3. The Vir gin Ma-ry and Christ were there
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       D       A7      D           A7
   The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
     D                      A7   D   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
            (Key Change)
   
       Eb      Bb7        Eb            Bb7
4. And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      Eb                 Bb7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       Eb      Bb7        Eb            Bb7
   And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      Eb                    Bb7   Eb   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
        Eb     Bb7     Eb     Bb7 
5. Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      Eb                 Bb7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
        Eb      A7     Eb     Bb7 
   Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      Eb                    Bb7   Eb   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? 
   
      Eb                    Bb7   Eb   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?

Beginners: The song is very easy to play until the key change. If you are playing with the video, the easiest thing to do is, stop the video, move the capo to the 4th fret and continue to play D and A7.

If you can play barre chords, the preferred voicings for Eb and Bb7 are both situated starting with a barre on the 6th fret (from the capo) with a simple interchanging of the 'A' shape and 'E7' shape (see charts).

Reading the Song Charts - a closer look at reading the song charts on this site
Chord Transposer - a better understanding of how it works

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning

And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
On Christmas day in the morning

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
O they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas day in the morning

And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning

And all the angels in heaven shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the angels in heaven shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning

And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning

Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas day in the morning

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I Saw Three Ships chords

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I Saw Three Ships