Jingle Bells Guitar Tabs

Jingle Bells guitar tabs, two versions to download and print for beginner guitar students.

Please scroll down the page for the free PDF links.

What's different about the 2 arrangements?

One arrangement uses four chords (see farther down the page), and the easy version above has just two chords. The melody is in both standard notation and guitar tabs.

The easy version - why just 2 chords?

It is true that the most satisfying arrangements of this Christmas song will have 3 or more chords (the I, IV, and V chords, and perhaps the V of V), not just 2 as I have in this version.

However, for a VERY new beginner, 2 chords to worry about is enough! 

My newest students use the "small C" and "small G7" (see my Big Guitar Chords page) in Jingle Bells, and the song sounds just fine.

Plus, the guitar tabs melody has lots of open string notes, making this song very easy to pick for a beginner, once they understand how tablature works.

Uh-oh... they have to change strings!

Well I didn't say that the melody will be easy for a new flat-picker! Changing strings as it does, a beginner will probably struggle with it at first. 

What struggles will a student encounter with this melody?

 They will have to find

• the correct string for the left hand... 
• then the correct fret... 
• then the correct left hand finger... 
• and last of all the right hand must pluck the correct string! 
• All at the same time. No wonder beginning guitar players frequently feel a disconnect between what they intend, and the sounds that actually come out of the guitar!

Which is why familiar songs are so useful for beginner guitar players...

But at least there are lots of repeated notes, and the main note is an open string. And phew! -- almost all kids know this song, so it makes it much easier to learn!

The fancier version

Okay, here's the fancier version with 4 chords:

Your younger students won't be pleased about the F chord, in all likelihood, but they need to start working on it sometime!  

For newbies, I always start with a "little" F chord - 1 string, or 2 strings, or 3 strings.

How lyrics help students count

Use the familiarity of this Christmas song to practice counting.

I recommend encouraging your student to sing the words as they play Jingle Bells guitar tabs - singing lyrics as they play will help keep them on the beat.

When they get to the half and whole notes, that turns line 2, for example, into "Jingle all the way -2 -3 -4!  O what fun it is to ride (in-a) one horse o-pen sleigh -2 -eigh - 4!"

Learning more about chord relationships

Now... music theory time!

When your guitar player knows the timing of the chord changes, have them change to a different key with you.

Talk about the I and V chords (1 and 5 chords), and hold up your fingers to count from C up to G.  "C, D, E, F, G..." Okay; C is the first chord, and G is the fifth chord in that lineup. 

That is the strongest "family" relationship of chords that there is!

Even if they are a little familiar with the concept of "I" and "V" chords going together, it is good to review every lesson.

What about playing in a higher or lower key?

Can they change keys without using music?

What happens if we change to the key of G? Help them think their way through it: The I chord would be G, of course, but then what would the V chord be? 

Hold up the hand, point to finger 1, and say, "G... A... B... C... " and stop to let them say "D!" Then play Jingle Bells with those two chords.

Really learning the musical alphabet

Saying the alphabet is easy, right?  But what about BACKWARDS?

If your student has trouble remembering the musical alphabet, then you need to put it on their lesson sheet for a few weeks, until they can say VERY QUICKLY "A-B-C-D-E-F-G; G-F-E-D-C-B-A!"

Believe me, saying the alphabet backwards fast is a lot of FUN.  Make it a race!

The links for the guitar tabs:

Free print out sheet music Jingle Bells guitar tabs with 2 chords

Download Jingle Bells for guitar with extra chords

Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!

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Becky:
A thousand thanks for your beginning piano and guitar songs.

I've already printed several for my children, including the Pretty Little Horses TAB and Carol of the Bells for piano. What a wonderful resource!

Christine:
Thank you so much for this site! I have just started teaching some really keen Y6 boys who want to play Scarborough Fair, and your version is perfect. I will now go and look at what other goodies you have!

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About the Author

Dana Thynes

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.