Listen, everyone loves Christmas, and I’m no exception. But if there’s one thing that I don’t look forward to every year as the holiday season rolls around, it’s Christmas songs.
I’m not against holiday songs, per se, but I am against hearing the same boring songs year after year. I don’t think I’m the first to think of it, but I’ll be the first to say it – we need better holiday songs.
To do my part in making the season that much more merry, I’ve put together this list of the best holiday songs for guitar.
Granted, some of these holiday songs are actually albums, so make sure to check out each one — I guarantee you’ll find at least one that you absolutely love.
It’s also worth pointing out that some of these songs will be beyond the reach of beginner guitar players, so I’ve included both the video that you can use for inspiration (and aspiration) and some simple chords that will allow you to play the song at any level.
If you’re looking for beginner-friendly guitar songs, here is my list of the top easy songs to play on guitar.
Little Drummer Boy
A veritable Christmas classic, “The Little Drummer Boy” tells the story of a poor boy playing his drum for baby Jesus in lieu of being able to present a gift.
This beautiful guitar rendition of this song is performed by Doyle Dykes.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
The Last Noël
You’ve no doubt heard of “The First Noël”, an English Christmas carol that originated in South West England. The Last Noël by Dan Crary is an ode to that famous song, performed on a beautiful 12-string Taylor.
Unfortunately, there’s no tab for this exact rendition. But you can find the guitar chords for “The First Noël” here.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a traditional English Christmas Carol that’s also known as “Tidings of Comfort and Joy”. This epic guitar rendition is performed by David Grisman, who touches it with his own sonic fingerprint and turns it into something unique and magical.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
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Yes, I Want the FREE Download!Deck the Halls
There’s hardly a person in the Christmas-celebrating world who doesn’t know “Deck the Halls” (or the slightly more lewd school-kid alternatives.) Laurence Juber performs a spellbinding fingerstyle rendition that is absolutely beautiful to listen to.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Doug Young performs a very short but touching version of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. The carol was based on an 1868 text written by Phillips Brooks and is popular in many western countries.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Go Tell It on the Mountain
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a gospel and soul song composed by John Wesley Work Jr. that dates back to at least 1865. The version I want to show you is executed by Mark Hanson in drop-D tuning.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Sleigh Ride
Is there a more quintessential Christmas song than “Sleigh Ride?” This version is arranged and performed flawlessly by Doug Smith.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” was written by Felix Bernard and Richard Smith in 1934 and has been covered countless times since by the likes of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Michael Bublé. The guitar version I want to share with you is performed by Stephen Bennet, and it’s just as good as any other!
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
The Christmas Song
“The Christmas Song” is as classic a Christmas tune as there is. Originally written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé, the song has been performed by countless articles since, including the Nat King Cole Trio. Pete Huttlinger’s rendition is cute, cozy and just a delight to listen to.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Old Toy Trains
Written by Roger Miller in 1967, “Old Toy Trains” was a hit not only in the English-speaking world but also in France, where it was recorded in French and released under the title “Petit Garçon” (meaning “little boy”). Molly Tuttle opted to perform an English rendition, and she absolutely nails it.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
One Christmas Night
One of the more recent songs on this list, “One Christmas Night” was written and performed exceptionally well by Tommy Emmanuel in 2011.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Christmas Time Is Here
“Christmas Time Is Here” needs no introduction. It was written by Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson for the 1965 television special A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love Jerry Douglas’s slow jazz rendition, performed with a slide guitar while his band backs him up.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Auld Lang Syne
We’ll end this list with one of the most popular holiday songs in the English-speaking world – “Auld Lang Syne.” Written in Scots by famous poet Robert Burns in 1788, this song is traditionally sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to see out the old year and welcome in the new. John Fahey demonstrates how to play “Auld Lang Syne” in open-C tuning.
You can find the guitar chords for this song here.
Practicing During the Holidays and Beyond
Hopefully, I’ve shown you that Christmas songs don’t have to be uninspiring and that you’ve learned to play a few along the way!
If you want to move beyond Christmas songs and basic chords, then I highly recommend that you check out my guitar workshop – Tony’s Acoustic Challenge.
It uses this really unique playing method I developed that will teach you everything you need to know about chords, playing techniques, scales, how to solo, and much more.
Watch this FREE guitar class for three secrets to learn guitar faster in just 10 minutes a day.
