Other arrangements of The Hanging Tree
Pick a learning view.
Are (CN.C.)you, are you
com ing to the tree?
They strung up a man they say who mur dered three.
Strange things did hap pen here, no strang er would it be if we (A5)met at mid night in the hang ing tree.
Are you, are you com ing to the tree?
Where dead man called out (Am)for his love to flee.
Strange things did (Asus)hap pen here, no strang er would it be if we (F)met at mid night in the hang ing tree.
Are you, are you com ing to the tree?
Where I told you to run so we’d both be free.
(A5)Strange things did (F)hap pen here, no (A5)strang er would it (Asus)be if we (Am)met at (Asus2)mid night (A5)in the hang ing tree.
Are (A7)you, are (Asus)you (Am)com ing to the (E5)tree?
Wear a (Am)neck lace of (D5)hope
(G5)side by side with (A5)me.
(A7)Strange things did (F)hap pen here, no (A5)strang er would it (D)be if we (A5)met at (D5)mid night (E5)in the hang ing (A5)tree.
Are you, are (D5)you
(A5)com ing to the (E)tree?
Where I (Am)told you to (Dm)run so (G)we’d both be (Am)free.
Strange things did (F)hap pen here, no (Am)strang er would it (D)be if we (Am)met at (Dm)mid night (E5)in the hang ing (A5)tree.
Are (Am)you, are (Dm)you
(Am)com ing to the (E)tree?
Where they (Am)strung up a (Dm)man they (G)say who mur dered (Am)three.
Strange things did (F)hap pen here, no (Am)strang er would it (D)be if we (Am)met at (Dm)mid night (E5)in the hang ing (Am)tree.
Are you, are (Dm)you
(Am)com ing to the (E)tree?
(Am)Dead man (Dm)called out (G)for his love to (Am)flee.
Strange things did (F)hap pen here, no (Am)strang er would it (D)be if we (Am)met at (Dm)mid night (E5)in the hang ing (Am)tree.
Ah.
(Am)Ah.
(Am)Ah.
(G)Ah.
Ah.
(Am)Ah.
Ah.
(Am)Ah.
Ah.
(Am)Ah.
Ah.
(G)Ah.
The Hanging Tree — Piano Lead Sheet
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"The Hanging Tree" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of C, 100 BPM.
This arrangement sits in C but leans heavily on minor and suspended chords—Am, Dm, Asus2, Asus4, Esus4—so your right hand needs to get comfortable shifting between natural and suspended shapes without hesitating.
At 100 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the dramatic mood depends on you keeping steady time, so start hands-separate and slower (around 70 BPM) until the chord changes feel automatic.
Your left hand follows a pedal bass pattern, which means you'll often hold or repeat a single low note while your right hand moves through several chords above it; the challenge is resisting the urge to lift your left hand every time your right hand shifts.
Watch the transitions into A7 and E7 especially—those dominant-seventh voicings pop up briefly and can trip you up if you haven't isolated them a few times.
Loop the sections where power chords (Apow, Dpow, Gpow) build intensity, because nailing that dynamic lift is what makes the piece feel cinematic.
This is a fantastic song for training your ear to hear how suspended chords resolve, a skill that will serve you in dozens of pieces ahead.
Try other practice modes:
About “The Hanging Tree”
- Where are the chord symbols for "The Hanging Tree" displayed?
- Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "The Hanging Tree" is in C.
- What key is "The Hanging Tree" by James Newton Howard played in?
- The Hanging Tree is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Hanging Tree"?
- The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "The Hanging Tree" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "The Hanging Tree"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "The Hanging Tree"?
- "The Hanging Tree" was originally performed by James Newton Howard. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "The Hanging Tree"?
- This arrangement uses 17 chords: A7, Am, Apow, Asus2, Asus4, C, D, Dm, +9 more.
- What other songs by James Newton Howard can I play here?
- Try "It's Deserted". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Does "The Hanging Tree" have chords and lyrics?
- Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "The Hanging Tree" is in the key of C at 100 BPM.
- What chords are in "The Hanging Tree"?
- Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of C, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.
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