Easy to play Christmas Songs for Guitar - Christmas Songs

Welcome to the Christmas Songs for Guitar Course. In this course you will learn basic chord progressions to standard Christmas songs.

For some reason udemy is not formatting this correctly.  When we enter the chords they are over the correct word, but when it saves the chords move, so you will need to listen to the video for the chord changes, but this will give you a general idea of where the chords are supposed to be.
Merry Christmas!

Frosty the Snowman
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of G

G                                          C                G
Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul
           C                              G          Em
With a corn-cob pipe and a button nose
               D                         G
and two eyes made out of coal.
G                                       C                   G
Frosty the Snowman, is a fairy tale they say
              C                                            G
he was made of snow but the children know
             C          D          G
how he came to life one day.
          C                                  Bm                Am7                  G
There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,
      D                            Am7                   A                         D
For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around
      G                                         C                       G
Oh, Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be,
              C                               G               Em
And the children say he could laugh and play
             C           D7         G
just the same as you and me.


G                                                C                         G
Frosty the Snowman, knew the sun was hot that day,
          C                                     G                Em
So he said, "Let's run and we'll have some fun
            C      D      G
now before I melt away."
G                                        C                         G
Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,
              C                             G              Em
Running here and there all around the square,
            C               D      G
saying "Catch me if you can."
     C                            Bm                           Am7            G
He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop,
            D                     Am7                     Em                       D
And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler, "Stop!"
G                                          C                  G
Frosty the Snowman had to hurry on his way,
            C                                      G              Em
But he waved good-bye, saying, "Don't you cry;
         C         D7           G
I'll be back again someday."

G
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump,
                        D7
Look at Frosty go.
D7
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump,
                         G
over the hills of snow.

Wikipedia Definition

"Frosty the Snowman" (or "Frosty the Snow Man") is a popular song written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950.^[1] It was written after the success of Autry's recording of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the previous year; Rollins and Nelson shipped the new song to Autry, who recorded "Frosty" in search of another seasonal hit. Like "Rudolph", "Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special Frosty the Snowman.

The song recounts the fictional tale of a snowman that is magically brought to life through a silk hat that a group of children find and place on his head. Although Frosty enjoys roaming throughout town with the children who constructed him, he runs afoul of a traffic cop and leaves town, promising he will be back again someday.

Although it is generally regarded as a Christmas song, the lyrics make no mention of the holiday. The song supposedly takes place in White Plains, New York, or Armonk, New York; Armonk has a parade dedicated to Frosty annually.^[2][3] The melody is very similar to Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee (1942).

Away in a Manger

Words by Martin Luther

Music by Jonathan Spillman

Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Lesson Pros

   G                               C             G

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

      D                              G

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

      G                                   D                     G

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,

      C              G         D                 G

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

       G                                 C        G

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

     D                              G

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

  G                                         D                      G

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky

       C               G            D               G

And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

     G                                    C                 G

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay

          D                           G

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

         G                                 D              G

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

      C              G               D                     G

And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

For some reason udemy is not formatting this correctly.  When we enter the chords they are over the correct word, but when it saves the chords move, so you will need to listen to the video for the chord changes, but this will give you a general idea of where the chords are supposed to be.
Merry Christmas!

Away in a Manger|
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of A

    G                                C          G              
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
       D                              G
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
        G                                 C                      G  
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
        C             G         D                 G
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

        G                                  C         G       
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
      D                              G
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
  G                         D               G  
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
        C                 G            D               G
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

      G                                    C                G  
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
            D                           G
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
           G                                   D              G  
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
        C               G                D                     G
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Wikipedia Definition

The first two verses of the lyrics were published in the May 1884 issue of The Myrtle, a periodical of the Universalist Publishing House in Boston, Massachusetts.[2] The article claims, under the heading "Luther's Cradle Song", that

Martin Luther, the great German reformer, who was born four hundred years ago the 10th of next November, composed the following hymn for his children; and it is still sung by many German mothers to their little ones.[2]

(This text would already have been out-of-date in May 1884, since the four hundredth anniversary of Luther's birth occurred in November 1883.)

The first two verses generally agree with the currently accepted text: the only major difference is "Watching my lullaby" instead of "Til morning is nigh" for the last line of verse two. No music accompanies the words, but the melody of Home! Sweet Home! is suggested.[2]

The song was later published with two verses in an Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection, Little Children's Book for Schools and Families (1885), where it simply bore the title "Away in a Manger" and was set to a tune called "St. Kilda," credited to J.E. Clark.[3]

The third stanza, "Be near me, Lord Jesus" was first printed in Gabriel's Vineyard Songs (1892), where it appeared with a tune by Charles H. Gabriel (simply marked "C"), thus these words are probably by Gabriel. Gabriel credited the entire text to Luther and gave it the title "Cradle Song." This verse is sometimes attributed to Dr. John McFarland, but since the popular story dates his contribution to 1904 (postdating the 1892 printing by 12 years), his contribution is highly questionable.[4]

I will break down the strumming pattern usedon Away in a Manger

For some reason udemy is not formatting this correctly.  When we enter the chords they are over the correct word, but when it saves the chords move, so you will need to listen to the video for the chord changes, but this will give you a general idea of where the chords are supposed to be.
Merry Christmas!

A Holly Jolly Christmas
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of G

            G                                                                     D
Have a holly, jolly Christmas, it's the best time of the year,
                                                                               G
I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer.
            G                                                                                D
Have a holly, jolly Christmas, and when you walk down the street,
                                                                              G
Say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet.
C                  Bm           C                               G
Hey, ho, the mistletoe, hung where you can see,
Am7             Em                 A7                       D
Somebody's waiting there, kiss her once for me.
            G                                                                    D
Have a holly, jolly Christmas and in case you didn't hear,
                                G              A7          D      G
Oh, by golly, have a holly, jolly Christmas this year.

Wikipedia Definition

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas is a Christmas album by American folk singer Burl Ives, first released by Decca Records in October 1965.

Ives had recorded two of the songs ("A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer") the previous year on the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soundtrack. In both cases for this album, Ives re-recorded the tracks (he used a significantly different and slower arrangement for "A Holly Jolly Christmas;" of the two versions Ives recorded, the version on this album is the version more commonly heard on radio in modern times).

For some reason udemy is not formatting this correctly.  When we enter the chords they are over the correct word, but when it saves the chords move, so you will need to listen to the video for the chord but this will give you a general idea of where the chords are supposed to be.
Merry Christmas!

Joy to the World
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of G

Verse I

G                              C         G
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
      C         D              G
Let earth receive her King;
     G
Let every heart prepare Him room,
      G
And Heaven and nature sing,
      D
And Heaven and Heaven nature sing,
             G              C                  G    D   G
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Verse II
G                              C        G
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
      C                D             G
Let men their songs employ;
          G
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
    G
Repeat the sounding joy,
     D
Repeat the sounding joy,
G               C             G       D   G
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

Verse III
G                                  C           G
He rules the world with truth and grace,
       C                  D          G
And makes the nations prove
       G
The glories of His righteousness,
       G
And wonders of His love,
       D
And wonders of His love,
          G          C             G  D   G
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Wikipedia Definition

"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas song.^[1]

Joy to the World

Joy to the World, a cappella performance by Kim Butler and others.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on the second half of Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words of "Joy to the World" as a hymn glorifying Christ's triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating his first coming.^[2] The nations are called to celebrate because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world.^[3]

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel, not least because the theme of the refrain (And heaven and nature sing...) appears in the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the recitative Comfort ye from Handel's Messiah, and the first four notes match the beginning of the choruses Lift up your heads and Glory to God from the same oratorio. However, Handel did not compose the entire tune.^[4] The name "Antioch" is generally used for the tune.

As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.^[1]

I will break down the strumming pattern used on Joy to the World

In this video you will learn a melody line to Joy to the World

For some reason udemy is not formatting this correctly.  When we enter the chords they are over the correct word, but when it saves the chords move, so you will need to listen to the video for the chord but this will give you a general idea of where the chords are supposed to be.
Merry Christmas!

Jingle Bells
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of G

Verse I
G                                                                          C
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
                            D                             G
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
                                                          C
Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright,
                         D                                                  G       D
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight. Oh!

Chorus
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
C                     G
O what fun it is to ride
       A7                     D7
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
   C               G
O what fun it is to ride
      D7                      G
In a one-horse open sleigh

Verse II
   G                                                      C
A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride
                                    D                                      G
And soon Miss Fanny Bright was seated by my side
                                                                                    C
The horse was lean and lank, Misfortune seemed his lot
              D                                                 G     D
We ran into a drifted bank and there we got upsot. Oh!

Chorus
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
C                     G
O what fun it is to ride
       A7                      D7
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
   C               G
O what fun it is to ride
      D7                      G
In a one-horse open sleigh

Verse III
   G                                                   C
A day or two ago, the story I must tell
                            D                                   G
I went out on the snow and on my back I fell
                                                                   C
A gent was riding by in a one-horse open sleigh
                                 D                                              G      D   
He laughed at me as I there lay but quickly drove away.  Oh!

Chorus
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
C                     G
O what fun it is to ride
       A7                      D7
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
   C               G
O what fun it is to ride
      D7                      G
In a one-horse open sleigh

Verse IV
             G                                                    C
Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
                         D                                    G
Take the girls along and sing this sleighing song
                                                                   C
Just bet a bob-tailed bay, Two forty as his speed
                         D                                                          G       D
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! You'll take the lead. Oh!

Chorus
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
C                     G
O what fun it is to ride
       A7                      D7
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
G
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way!
   C               G
O what fun it is to ride
      D7                      G
In a one-horse open sleigh

Wikipedia

"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known^[1] and commonly sung^[2] American Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857. Even though it is now associated with the Christmas and holiday season, it was actually originally written for American Thanksgiving.^[3][4] It has been claimed that it was originally written to be sung by a Sunday school choir; however, historians dispute this, stating that it was much too "racy" to be sung by a children's church choir in the days it was written.^[5]

I will break down the strumming pattern used on Jingle Bells

Merry Christmas!

Silent Night
Arranged and simplified by Lesson Pros for teaching purposes
Key of G

Verse I
G                                   Dsus2                 G 
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright
C                    G
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
C              G
Holy Infant so tender and mild
D                          G
Sleep in heavenly peace
          Dsus2     G
Sleep in heavenly peace

Verse II
G                                    Dsus2                   G
Silent night, holy night!, Shepherds quake at the sight
C                             G
Heavenly hosts from heaven above
C                           G
Guardian Angels sing Alleluia!
D                                G
Christ, our Savior is born
                 Dsus2      G
Christ, our Savior is born

Verse III
G                                   Dsus2          G
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light
C                              G
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
C                          G
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
D                          G
Jesus Lord at thy birth,
           Dsus2      G
Jesus Lord at thy birth.

Wikipedia Definition

"Silent Night" (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011.^[1] The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. The version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all-time.

The song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in the Austrian Empire on the Salzach river in present-day Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come to Oberndorf the year before. He had already written the lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" in 1816 at Mariapfarr, the hometown of his father in the Salzburg Lungau region, where Joseph had worked as a coadjutor.

The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service.^[2] Both performed the carol during the mass on the night of December 24.

The original manuscript has been lost. However, a manuscript was discovered in 1995 in Mohr's handwriting and dated by researchers at ca. 1820. It shows that Mohr wrote the words in 1816 when he was assigned to a pilgrim church in Mariapfarr, Austria, and shows that the music was composed by Gruber in 1818. This is the earliest manuscript that exists and the only one in Mohr's handwriting.

The story of the composing of the song was the subject of the fanciful television special Silent Mouse (1988) narrated by Lynn Redgrave.^[3] Later films to tell the story include Christian Vuissa's film Stille Nacht (de) (2012) ^[4] and the documentary The First Silent Night (2014), narrated by Simon Callow.^[5]