Away in a Manger: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of G · 120 BPM · 3/4 time · Hymn · Starter
Chords used in this arrangement: G, E, Am, D, Em, A7, D7.
For more than a century, "Away in a Manger" was confidently sold as "Luther's Cradle Hymn," with an 1887 hymn collection flatly declaring that Martin Luther composed it for his children and that German mothers had been singing it to their little ones ever since. Turns out that's almost certainly a myth: no German text for the carol has ever been found from before 1934, and scholars now believe the whole thing is an American invention, probably from Pennsylvania Lutherans in the 1880s. Nobody actually knows who wrote it. The tune you're playing in G sits in a gentle lullaby groove, so lean into that — keep your pick hand relaxed and let the melody breathe a little at 120 BPM rather than pushing it. It's simpler than it looks, and that warmth in the melody is the whole point.
Enjoy this mandolin tab version of Away in a Manger!
This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the Away in a Manger PDF.
Away in a Manger: questions and answers
What key is Away in a Manger in?
Away in a Manger is in G major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in Away in a Manger?
The chords in this arrangement are G, E, Am, D, Em, A7, D7. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Away in a Manger played?
This recording is at 120 BPM in 3/4 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is Away in a Manger a good tune for beginners?
Yes. Away in a Manger is rated starter, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.
Can I download Away in a Manger as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/away-in-a-manger.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
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