What Child Is This — Free Lead Sheet PDF (Eb, Bb, Concert)

Traditional (Greensleeves, 16th century) · 16th century (tune); 1865 (words) · Traditional Christmas carol · Melody & chords only

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About What Child Is This

Dix's Words, Set to Greensleeves

The words to What Child Is This were written by the English insurance salesman and hymnwriter William Chatterton Dix in 1865, reportedly while he was recovering from a serious illness and a period of depression, during which he also wrote several other hymns still sung today.

Dix set his words to “Greensleeves,” an English folk melody dating back to at least the sixteenth century, famous in its own right long before Dix borrowed it for a Christmas text.

If you are also building a Christmas set, Deck the Halls is another free carol on this site worth pairing it with.

The Tune & Chords

Greensleeves — Jazz's Favourite Folk Melody

Greensleeves is one of the most harmonically rich folk melodies in the English tradition, and its natural minor-key colour and flowing melodic line have made it a genuine favourite for jazz reharmonisation for decades, well beyond its use in this carol — a tune that rewards exploring extended chords and substitutions more than most on this page.

One simplified concert-pitch harmonisation — traditional carols were passed down as melodies, so chord choices vary between arrangers and songbooks.

Using This Lead Sheet

A Rich Vehicle for Improvisation

Because Greensleeves already has a long history as a jazz vehicle in its own right, this is one of the better tunes on this page to open up for genuine improvisation at a jazz-club or wine-bar gig, rather than simply stating the melody and moving on.

If you would like one-to-one guidance building a Christmas set or working on your reading and improvisation more generally, saxophone lessons in person in South East London or online are available. You can also browse the full Christmas lead sheet index for more free carols, including Angels We Have Heard on High.