Christmas songs

Silent Night chords for guitar

Silent Night needs 3 chords in G: G, D7 and C. Here it is bar by bar: press any chord to hear it, Play to go through the whole carol, and the Key menu to move it to suit your voice.

Tempo90

p · ↓′ · ↓′ · · Three beats to the bar: a bass note, then two strums.

Colours

homethe pullthe door

What each chord does in its key. Press a chord to hear it and read more.

Silent Night

3/4, three beats a bar · 24 bars

Chord chart The chords of G major ›

Silent Night, 24 bars. Press a chord to hear it; Play goes through the whole carol.

The chords

Press a chord to hear it, or its name for every way to play it.

G

FamousStandard

I

R3RGBDGBG

D7

Standard

V7

5♭73DACF♯

C

Standard

IV

R3RCEGCE

How to play it

  • The strum. It is a waltz, three beats to the bar: strum down on 1, then down-up on 2 and 3, or play the bass note then two strums (Play uses the waltz pattern). Start slow, around 68 beats a minute, and change chord on the first beat of the bar.
  • Too low or too high to sing? Change the key above. Or keep these shapes and put a capo on: two frets up raises the song a whole step (the capo chart works it out).
  • A new chord? Press its card for every way to play it, or start from the beginner chords.

About the carol

Tune by Franz Xaver Gruber, words by Joseph Mohr; first sung at Christmas 1818 in Oberndorf near Salzburg, Austria, originally with guitar. The usual English translation is by John Freeman Young (1859). (source)

Questions

What chords are in Silent Night?

In G: G, D7 and C, three of the first chords anyone learns.

What key is Silent Night in?

It is sung in many keys. On guitar G is the easiest, with open chords; use the Key menu for any other.

What strumming pattern does Silent Night use?

It is a waltz, three beats to the bar: strum down on 1, then down-up on 2 and 3, or play the bass note then two strums (Play uses the waltz pattern).

Sources

The chords were checked against these, bar by bar; where they differ, this page gives the version most beginner sheets agree on.

More Christmas songs

Jingle BellsWe Wish You a Merry ChristmasDeck the HallsO Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)Away in a MangerJoy to the WorldHark! The Herald Angels SingO Come, All Ye FaithfulThe First NoelGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenGood King WenceslasWe Three KingsO Little Town of BethlehemJolly Old Saint NicholasUp on the HousetopAngels We Have Heard on HighAuld Lang SyneAll Christmas songs