“Last Christmas” by Wham! is a timeless holiday classic, instantly recognizable and beloved worldwide. If you’re a guitar player looking to spread some festive cheer, learning to play “Last Christmas” chords is a perfect choice. This song is fantastic for beginner guitarists because it primarily uses a few basic and easy-to-learn chords.
In this guide, we’ll break down the simple chords you need to play “Last Christmas” on your guitar. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can learn this iconic Christmas tune and impress your friends and family this holiday season.
The Essential Chords for Last Christmas
“Last Christmas” mainly revolves around four fundamental guitar chords:
- C Major (C): A foundational chord, often one of the first chords beginners learn.
- A minor (Am): Another essential minor chord, easy to transition to from C.
- D minor (Dm): A slightly trickier minor chord for absolute beginners, but still very manageable with a little practice.
- G Major (G): A common major chord that pairs beautifully with C and Dm.
These four chords – C, Am, Dm, and G – are the backbone of “Last Christmas.” Once you have these chords under your fingers, you’re well on your way to playing the entire song.
Last Christmas Chord Progression: Verse and Chorus
The song follows a repeating chord progression throughout, making it easy to memorize and play along. Here’s how the chords align with the lyrics for the chorus and verses:
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Interlude]
[C] [Am] [Dm] [G]
[Verse]
[C] [Am]Once bitten and twice shy
[Dm]I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
[G]Tell me baby do you recognize me?
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me
[Verse]
[C]”Merry Christmas!” I wrapped it up and sent it
[Am]With a note saying: “I love you!”, I meant it
[Dm]Now I know what a fool I’ve been
[G]But if you kissed me now, I know you’d fool me again
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Interlude]
[C] [Am] [Dm] [G]
[Verse]
[C] [Am]Crowded room, friends with tired eyes
[Dm]Hiding from you and your soul of ice
[G]My God, I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
[Verse]
[C]A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
[Am] [Dm]A man undercover but you tore him apart
[G]Ooh-hoo Now I’ve found a real love, you’ll never fool me again
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Chorus]
[C]Last Christmas I gave you my heart
[Am]But the very next day you gave it away
[Dm]This year to save me from tears
[G]I’ll give it to someone special
[Verse]
[C]A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
[Am] [Dm]A man undercover but you tore him apart
[G]Maybe, next year I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
[Outro]
[C] [Am] [Dm] [G]
Special, Someone
Tips for Playing Last Christmas on Guitar
- Start Slow: When you’re first learning the chords and transitions, play slowly. Focus on clean chord changes before speeding up.
- Practice Chord Transitions: Smooth transitions between chords are key. Practice switching between C-Am, Am-Dm, Dm-G, and G-C.
- Strumming Pattern: A simple down-down-up-down-up strumming pattern in 4/4 time works well for “Last Christmas.” Feel the rhythm of the song and try to match your strumming.
- Listen to the Original Song: Play the original Wham! track frequently to get the timing and feel of the song in your ear. This will help you play with better rhythm and expression.
- Use Online Resources: Websites like guitarplayers.net offer a wealth of resources for learning guitar, including chord diagrams, strumming patterns, and more song tutorials.
Get Festive with Last Christmas Chords
Learning “Last Christmas” chords on guitar is a rewarding experience. It’s a relatively easy song to master for beginners and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser during the Christmas season. Grab your guitar, practice these chords, and start playing this holiday favorite today! You’ll be spreading Christmas cheer in no time.
