O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Hi everyone,
I'll be at the intermediate jam this coming Wednesday (Dec. 14) to lead it
The song of the month is 'O Little Town Of Bethlehem', played as an instrumental in cut common time (2/2) in the key of G.


Recordings 
Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of G
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 12_16_19 - YouTube

Mandolin - key of G 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAy-O9P7DCw

Banjo - key of G 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDdwlj42qF4


Jam Video
Here is a youtube jam video I made for O Little Town Of Bethlehem.
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression
The first half and the last quarter of the chord progression I use for O Little Town Of Bethlehem is the same as the progression used for playing Nine Pound Hammer.

1   1   4   4
1   5   1   1
1   1   4   4
1   5   1   1
6m6m3   3
6m6m3   3
1   1   4   4
1   5   1   1

In the key of G, 6m = Em, and 3 = B. On guitar, it is common to substitute a B7 chord in place of the B chord. This works because the B chord functions here as the 5 of the 6m, just as it does in the B-Part of Blackberry Blossom:

6m 6m 6m 3
6m 6m 4/1 5/1

Em Em Em B(7)
Em Em C/G D/G


Melody
A distinctive part of the melody of O Little Town Of Bethlehem is found in the first two measures of lines 1 and 7, where the melody starts on the 3rd of the 1 chord (a B note in the key of G) then dips down a half step to (an A# note in the key of G), and then returns to the 3rd. Notice that in the second of the three mandolin breaks on the recording (an improvised break that is only loosely informed by the melody), I preserve this part of the melody intact, while freely toying with or deviating from the melody in most other spots.

The similarities and differences among lines 1, 3, and 7 of the melody are such that in order to avoid confusing them with each other, you may find it helpful to think of lines 3 and 7 in terms of where the high E note occurs in place of a lower melody note found in line 1.

Happy Pickin',
Jason

O Little Town Of Bethlehem - banjo tab
Download File

O Little Town Of Bethlehem - guitar tab
Download File

O Little Town Of Bethlehem - mandolin tab
Download File

O Little Town Of Bethlehem - melody in G
Download File
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