With the Christmas season just around the corner, it’s only sensible to start learning Christmas songs to entertain and impress your family and friends!
Whether you have been playing for months or years, anyone can learn these 24 easy Christmas guitar songs – We have provided a video lesson for each song to help you out!
1. Silent Night
Silent Night is often hailed as one of the best Christmas carols ever written, talking about how Jesus was born in a stable while the people were silent and calm.
The strumming pattern used in Silent Night has an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern with eight beats per measure using the chord progression I – IV (G) – V7(A) – I (C) – iii (Em), you can derive each chord from the key of C major.
The tempo used in Silent Night is slow, requiring you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstrokes pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge section where you sing “All is calm, all is bright”.
2. Let it, Snow
This song was written in 1945 by Sammy Cahn and Julee Steyn, but it did not become popular until the version that Vaughn Monroe sang in 1950. Although this is an upbeat song, it has a very soothing sound for guitar players.
The chords being used are G, C, F, Dm. There are two versions of the song. The first version only uses four chords, whereas the second version uses seven chords.
This is an excellent choice for new guitar players because it repeats the same chord progressions throughout the whole song. This will allow you to learn very easily and quickly on your guitar.
The lyrics of this song are straightforward to follow. It is a good choice for beginners and experienced guitar players because of its lovely melody line.
3. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by U2
This song was initially released in 1987 and re-released again in 1993 on A Very Special Christmas. The music is elementary to play on guitar.
The chords used in this song are E, A, Bm, G, and D. The strumming pattern consists of just down-strums throughout the whole song.
This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who want to practice their rhythm skills while learning new songs.
The lyrics of this song are straightforward to follow, and it’s an excellent choice for beginner guitarists. This is also a perfect option for more advanced guitar players who want to learn new chord progressions.
4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland
This song was originally recorded by Carrie Underwood in 1944. You can play this beautiful version on the guitar.
The chords being used are Bbm, Ab, Eb, Gm7b5, Am7, D7#9.
To play this song, you need to use the fingerpicking or cross-picking technique because there are many fast-changing notes when played at average speed.
The lyrics of this song are easy to follow, and it’s an ideal choice for beginner guitarists. It can also be an excellent option for more advanced guitar players who want to learn new chord progressions.
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5. Away in a Manger (Lullaby)
James R. Murray wrote this song in the late 19th century. It’s a beautiful arrangement on acoustic guitar with an easy-to-follow chord pattern.
The chords being used are C, F, G7 and Am7 (I). You can use fingerstyle or pick a style to play this arrangement on your guitar. The lyrics of this song are straightforward to follow, and the guitarists’ beginners can learn quickly to play this song.
6. I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Christina Perri
This song was originally performed by Bing Crosby in 1943, but it has been recorded many times since then, including this arrangement by Christina Perri.
The chords being used are G, Em, C7 and F (I). You can use fingerstyle playing to play this arrangement on your guitar. The lyrics of this song are straightforward to follow, and it’s an excellent choice for beginner guitarists.
This is also a choice for more advanced guitar players who want to learn new chord progressions or test their skills.
7. Winter Wonderland by Colbie Caillat
This is a beautiful version of this song that is very easy to play on the guitar. It has a great melody line throughout the song, making it perfect for beginners or more advanced guitar players alike.
The chords being used are G, C, D7 and Em. You can use pick style playing to play this arrangement on your guitar.
8. It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Andy Williams
This song was initially performed in 1963 by Andy Williams, but Many have covered it since then. This very well-known Christmas song makes a good choice for guitar players to learn and play.
The chords are D, Bm, Em and A7. You can use fingerstyle or pick style playing to play this arrangement on your guitar. The lyrics of this song are straightforward to follow, and it’s an excellent choice for beginner guitarists. This is also a perfect option for more advanced guitar players who would like to learn the new chord progression
9. Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens
This song was originally written and performed by Chris Eaton in 1973, but it has been covered many times. Shakin’ Stevens recorded this version in 1985 and made it into a hit.
The chords used are Bbm, F, G and C. You can use fingerstyle or pick style playing to play this arrangement on your guitar. The lyrics of this song are very easy to follow, and it’s a great choice for beginner guitarists.
10. The First Noel by Jason Roberts
This song is an arrangement of the classic original version, performed for centuries since it was first written. This is a great choice for beginner guitar players to learn and play on their guitars.
The chords being used are Bm, A, Em7 and D5. You can use fingerstyle or pick style playing to play this arrangement on your guitar. The lyrics of this song are very easy to follow. This can be a great option for more advanced guitar players who want to learn new chord progressions.
11. Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano
Feliz Navidad is a Spanish Christmas song often played in the holiday season. The song talks about celebrating Christmas and also thanksgiving for all the blessings we have been provided.
The strumming pattern used in Feliz Navidad is a steady eight beats per measure or four beats per chord played with alternating down and upstrokes that reflect how to play rhythm guitars. You need to keep your fingering light so you don’t hurt yourself from playing too much and make it fluid to allow smooth guitar changes.
The cord arrangement in Feliz Navidad is D -G -A -Bm, where the lowest note in each chord is played first before strumming. This song has a medium tempo that’s easy enough for beginners to practice on.
12. You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft
You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch is often heard during the holiday season because of its association with Christmas TV specials. It talks about how horrible the main character, the grinch, actually is.
The strumming pattern used in this song requires you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern which you can adjust to your speed and comfort level. The chord progression is G – D – C – F, all barre chords.
You’re A Mean One by Mr. Grinch is a medium-tempo song that sounds good when played on acoustic guitars because it reflects this classic holiday song’s happy and jolly mood.
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13. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Vignola
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas talks about reminiscing on all the previous years of sorrow and sadness. Still, we eventually found ourselves in happiness with those we love around us during Christmas day.
The strumming pattern used in this song needs you to keep your fingering light and use an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern to allow for fluid guitar changes. The chord progression is C – G7 – F – C.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is a slow tempo song that requires you to keep your strumming steady and robust for this classic song, especially when it goes into the bridge section where Frank sings, “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough”.
14. Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas is often heard around Christmas time because of its association with Snow and ice in holiday movies such as Miracle on 34th Street (1947). It talks about how the main character gave alms during Christmas day and eventually got help from a stranger while he needed assistance.
The strumming pattern used in this song has an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern that allows for fluid guitar changes. The chord progression is C – G – D7 – C.
Good King Wenceslas is a slow tempo song that’s relatively easy and simple to play on acoustic guitars and requires you to keep the steady rhythm. It sounds good with Frank Sinatra’s vocals during the bridge part of the song.
15. Do You Hear What I Hear by Gloria Shayne Baker and Noel Regney
Do You Hear What I Hear is often heard during Christmas due to its catchy tune and festive mood? It talks about how people worldwide are asking God to provide them with what they need and be relieved from pain and suffering.
The strumming pattern used in Do You Hear What I Hear is a steady eight beats per measure/4 beats per chord played with alternating down and upstrokes that reflects the way you play rhythm guitars. The chord progression is A – D – E – A – D – E; you derive each chord from the key of F major.
Do You Hear What I Hear has the slowest tempo that requires you to keep your fingering light and use an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern that you can adjust depending on your guitar speed and comfort level.
16. Happy Xmas War Is Over by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Happy Xmas War is Over was written as a plea to end the war between nations around the world, including those who had differences during the Vietnam War. It stresses how we should live our lives peacefully and joyfully with different people despite our backgrounds and cultures.
The strumming pattern used for Happy Xmas War Is Over has an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern and requires you to keep your fingering light so it flows smoothly with the chord changes – which can be easy if you practice it slowly at first before building up speed. The chord progression is G – Em7 – C – D (this last one is open).
Happy Xmas War Over has a fast tempo that requires you to keep your strumming solid and steady. It is pretty simple to play on acoustic guitars, but it needs some time getting used to the chord changes, especially when you get into the bridge section where John Lennon sings, “War is over if you want it”.
17. Sleigh Ride by Mitchell Parish, Leroy Anderson & Arthur Fiedler
Sleigh Ride talks about taking a sleigh ride through snow-covered fields with friends during Christmas day while enjoying the sounds of bells jingling from their horses’ harnesses. The lyrics also talk about how there are sleigh rides in most places worldwide during Christmas time.
Sleigh Ride has a steady strumming pattern that’s relatively easy to follow without too many chord changes so that you can play smoothly on any acoustic guitar. The chords used are I – V7/V – IV (G) – I, where each chord is derived from the key of A major.
The tempo used in Sleigh Ride is slow, requiring you to keep your fingering light with alternating downstroke/upstrokes while keeping the rhythm steady during the bridge section where you’re asked, “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way”.
18. We Three Kings by John Henry Hopkins, Jr
We Three Kings is often heard around Christmas time due to its festive mood, making you feel like celebrating the birth of Jesus with people around. The lyrics talk about how God sent his Son to be born in a manger to save Israelites.
The chord progression used in We Three Kings is I – IV – iv (F) – I, where each chord is derived from the key of Bb major.
We, Three Kings, has a slow tempo that requires you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstrokes pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge section where you sing “We three kings of Orient are…”. 19.
19. Pat-a-Pan by Louis Hardin
I couldn’t find a video for this, so instead here is a link to the ultimate-guitar.com with the sheet music and chords.
Pat-a-Pan is a French carol that tells three shepherds told by an angel about Jesus’ birth, prompting them to go to Bethlehem to see the baby, Jesus.
The strumming pattern used in Pat-a-Pan has an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern with eight beats per measure using the chord progression I – V (G) – I (C) – V (G), where each chord is derived from the key of G major.
Pat-a-Pan has a slow tempo that requires you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge section where you sing “Hodie Christus Natusest”.
20. Angel from Montgomery by John Prine
Angel from Montgomery talks about a woman putting up with her husband’s cheating and not finding happiness in life until she meets the “Angel from Montgomery”, making it a perfect song for spreading peace and love.
The strumming pattern used in Angel from Montgomery has a steady downstroke/upstroke pattern using the chord progression C – Dm7 (G) – G – Am7 (D) – D7, where each chord is derived from the key of D major.
Angel from Montgomery has a slow tempo that requires you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstrokes pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge.
21. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
This is a straightforward and basic beginner song. You can play it in any tuning, but standard tuning sounds the best. This song only requires three chords A, D and E, making it perfect for beginners who are just starting to learn chords.
It’s also easy because you don’t have to change between chords when playing. All you do is play each chord once for three beats and then move on to the next chord.
22. The First Noel by John Stafford Smith
The First Noel talks about the first Christmas that people experienced as it tells of shepherds watching their flocks at night who an angel then told to go to Bethlehem where they would see the baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph.
The strumming pattern used in The First Noel has a steady downstroke/upstroke pattern using the chord progression G – C – F – Am – G, where you can derive each chord from the key of G major.
The tempo used in The First Noel requiring you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstrokes pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge section where you sing “The First Noel, the angel did say”.
23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Charles Wesley
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing talks about how Jesus was born and humbled mortals to celebrate his birth with joy.
The strumming pattern used in Hark! The Herald Angels Sing has an alternating downstroke/upstroke pattern with eight beats per measure using the chord progression I – IV (G) – IIm7(b5, D ) – V7(Bb) – I (C), where each chord is derived from the key of C major.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing has a slow tempo that requires you to keep your fingering light with an alternating downstroke/upstrokes pattern while maintaining the rhythm during the bridge section where you sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.
24. O Come, All Ye Faithful by Frederick Oakley Henry
O Come, All Ye Faithful talks about how Jesus was born to save mortals from their sins and celebrates his birth as it asks all people to come and adore him.
The strumming pattern used in O Come, All Ye Faithful has a steady downstroke/upstroke pattern using the chord progression G – Am – Em – D7 – G/D, where you derive each chord from the key of G major.
