I Saw Three Ships: All Piano Arrangements and Lead Sheets

Intermediate piano arrangements

• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 1
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 2

Lead sheets in 7 keys

Choose a key — 7 available

• A major
• B♭ major
• C major
• D major
• E♭ major
• F major
• G major

Hymnal setting

This is a traditional hymnal setting, listed separately from the piano arrangements.

• I Saw Three Ships — Hymnal

An English carol tradition

I Saw Three Ships belongs to the English Christmas carol tradition. William Sandys included it in Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern in 1833. Its repeated Christmas-morning refrain and vivid sailing imagery give the song an identity quite different from the quieter manger carols. Hymnary’s record of the carol.

Choosing a version to play

Start with the difficulty group that matches your current playing, then open a score and compare its texture, hand positions, and length with music you already play comfortably. Arrangement numbers identify versions; they do not rank the pieces from easiest to hardest.

For a melody with your own accompaniment, choose a lead sheet in a comfortable key. Try a simple chord pattern first, then adjust the accompaniment to suit a solo performance or a singer.

More Christmas sheet music on RTV

Explore Christmas Lead Sheets in Different Keys or browse Christmas Hymns from the Hymnal.