About and sources

HymnKeys is a free collection of classic hymns to use: play the melody in any key and at any speed, show the words on a screen, or print them in large type. It is made for pianists and organists in small churches, for pastors and leaders choosing hymns, for families planning a service, and for anyone who loves the old hymns.

Only public-domain hymns

Every hymn here has words, a tune and (where there is one) a translation that were each first published before 1931, so they are in the public domain in the United States. The site checks those years every time it is built and will not publish a hymn that is missing one.

Where the music and words come from

Melodies and words come from the Open Hymnal Project, using only the files it marks “public domain”. We show the melody line only; harmonizations and arrangements are left out. Scripture is the King James Version.

What we don’t do

We don’t write stories or explanations of hymns. A hymn’s story appears only when a public-domain source tells it, and we cite that source on the page. The practice player is a simple synthesizer for rehearsal, not a recording.

Who runs it

HymnKeys is operated by JY Concepts, based in New York, USA. Spotted a mistake in a word or note? Please tell us.