Learning to play Christmas songs on the guitar is a wonderful way to bring festive cheer to your holidays. Many beginners wonder whether an acoustic or electric guitar is better for tackling these tunes. The good news is, for most Christmas songs, either will work perfectly well!
While acoustic guitars are often seen as the go-to for simplicity – you can just pick one up and play – electric guitars can actually be physically easier to play due to lighter strings and potentially lower action. For Christmas songs specifically, consider this: electric guitars can be great for songs with lots of chord changes, while acoustic guitars might feel more natural for simpler songs with fewer chords. Ultimately, the choice is yours and depends on your personal preference and what you have available. Both acoustic and electric guitars are fantastic instruments for playing Christmas music.
It’s worth noting that while we present these songs in a guitar-friendly way, using chords and tabs that are easy to follow, most popular Christmas songs weren’t originally written for the guitar. Many of the classic Christmas carols you know and love were composed with the piano in mind. However, they adapt beautifully to the guitar, and have been arranged for various instruments over time. The guitar arrangements make these beloved melodies accessible and enjoyable for guitar players of all levels.
To get started playing Christmas songs on guitar, you’ll only need to learn a few essential chords. We recommend beginning with these fundamental open chords:
- G Major
- C Major
- D Major
- E minor
- A Minor
These chords are the building blocks for countless songs, and mastering them will unlock a vast repertoire of music, including a wealth of Christmas tunes. They are often the first chords taught to beginner guitarists because of their versatility and common usage in popular music. Learning these chords is your first step to playing many of your favorite Christmas songs on guitar.
In conclusion, playing Christmas songs on guitar is a rewarding and achievable goal for guitarists of all levels. Whether you choose an acoustic or electric guitar, focusing on learning basic guitar chords like G, C, D, Em, and Am will quickly have you playing your favorite holiday tunes. Explore different Christmas songs and discover how these simple chords can bring the magic of Christmas to your guitar playing. If you have any favorite easy Christmas songs or chord suggestions, please share them in the comments below! We’re always looking for new songs to add to our list and help fellow guitar players expand their Christmas song repertoire.
