Christmas is calling, and so are the bustling clubs and small music venues that rely on musicians to bring some holiday cheer.
While it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase some original material, it’s never a bad idea to know a handful of Christmas songs on the guitar. You never know when a last-minute event might come up, and people love a festive tune in December.
We’ve rounded up some of the best Christmas songs on the guitar, so you have plenty in your arsenal for any upcoming gigs this season.
1. Last Christmas
Artist: Wham!
Key: C
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
There’s no better way to kick off Christmas than with this 1984 classic. It’s usually the first song you hear on the radio towards the end of November if Mariah Carey hasn’t already shown up.
Last Christmas is one of the best Christmas guitar songs to learn for any December gigs you’ve got lined up—it’s upbeat and one that everyone can sing along to. That first chord is instantly recognisable, and even the biggest scrooges can’t resist a bit of Wham!
Tutorial:
2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Artist: Bruce Springsteen (our favourite live version)
Key: C
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Bruce Springsteen’s arrangement is perfect for you if you’re an intermediate player and want to show off with a lesser-known version of this song.
It’s one of the best Christmas guitar songs to perform as a band or even with a custom backing track if you’re playing solo.
Tutorial:
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3. All I Want For Christmas Is You
Artist: Mariah Carey
Key: G
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Exactly ten years after Last Christmas became a seasonal hit, Mariah Carey released the only song to rival it.
From featuring in Love Actually to returning to the charts each Christmas, ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ is undeniably one of the best Christmas guitar songs to get an audience going. Just make sure you don’t forget to recreate that iconic bell chime intro.
Tutorial:
4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Key: D
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
One of the easier Christmas songs for the guitar, this one requires zero effort to learn but is a real crowd-pleaser—it’s impossible not to know all the words.
If you can capture the rhythm and charm of Frank Sinatra’s version, you’ll have the room singing along with you in no time.
Tutorial:
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5. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Artist: Brenda Lee
Key: C
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Since 13-year-old Brenda Lee recorded this song in 1958, we’ve enjoyed a bit of rockabilly each Christmas. It even served as the backing music to Kevin McCallister’s escapades in Home Alone.
It was penned by Johnny Marks, the genius behind ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and our next song. There’s no wonder it’s stuck around through the years.
Tutorial:
6. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Artist: Burl Ives
Key: C
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Whether you’re a Burl Ives fan or prefer the more modern version by Michael Bublé, this song is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas songs for the guitar.
It was written by the same person who wrote ‘Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’, so it’s no wonder it’s such a catchy one!
It’s a versatile song, as you can either play it as background music or as one to get the crowd going after you’ve warmed them up. You could even perform a rock version with power chords if you feel like it.
Tutorial:
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7. Winter Wonderland
Artist: Dean Martin
Key: C
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Get your audience in the festive mood with this whimsical tune. It’s perfect for painting the picture-perfect Christmas with talk of snowmen, sleigh bells, and dreaming by the fire.
It’s one of the easier Christmas guitar songs, consisting of the same three chords in each verse and only changes slightly for the chorus. You can gently strum through the chord progressions, too—no need for any fancy strumming patterns here.
Tutorial:
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Key: C Major
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Many artists have made their mark in Christmas Hit history with this song—Frank Sinatra, Kelly Clarkson, and Coldplay, to name a few. There are plenty of renditions to choose from, depending on your personal taste and style.
It’s one of the gentler Christmas songs for the guitar, making it ideal for lowkey settings or a wholesome sing-along at the end of your set.
We’ve included a fingerstyle tutorial for those who want to perform a stripped-back version, but there are plenty of other tutorials available on YouTube if this doesn’t suit you.
Tutorial:
Related: The 10 best covers of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’
9. Fairytale of New York
Artist: The Pogues
Key: D Major
Tuning: Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Finally, we saved one of the best until last. No festive gig is complete without this much-loved 1988 classic.
Fairytale of New York tells a tale of dashed dreams rather than sleigh bells and flying reindeer—perhaps it’s this authenticity that stands it apart from other Christmas songs.
It’s perfect if you’re part of a band and can perform it as a duet, but you shouldn’t have much trouble getting the audience to sing along with you if not. There aren’t many people who don’t know all the words to this one.
Tutorial:
Specialist musician insurance with Insure4Music
Before you step out onstage this Christmas, you may want to protect yourself and your equipment through specialist musician insurance.
At Insure4Music, the Personal Accident cover protects you if you sustain a serious injury during a performance and cannot work or earn money for a long period.
You can also protect your guitar from theft, loss, or damage through the option of bespoke instrument insurance.
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Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.