Christmas songs

Up on the Housetop chords for guitar

Up on the Housetop needs 4 chords in G: G, C, D7 and G7. 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.

Tempo110

↓ · ↓ ↑ · ↑ ↓ ↑ · Down, down-up, up-down-up: the campfire strum, also called the calypso strum.

Colours

homethe pullthe door

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

Up on the Housetop

4/4, four beats a bar · 16 bars

Verse

Chorus

Chord chart The chords of G major ›

Up on the Housetop, 16 bars: verse and chorus. 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

C

Standard

IV

R3RCEGCE

D7

Standard

V7

5♭73DACF♯

G7

Standard

I7

R3♭7GBDGBF

How to play it

  • The strum. Four beats to the bar: four down strums is enough to start; then the folk strum (down, down-up, up-down-up). On guitar a bass note then a strum sounds fuller. Start slow, around 80 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

Words and music by Benjamin Hanby of Ohio, USA, written in 1864; it is one of the earliest Christmas songs about Santa Claus arriving on the roof. (source)

Questions

What chords are in Up on the Housetop?

In G: G, C, D7 and G7.

What key is Up on the Housetop 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 Up on the Housetop use?

Four beats to the bar: four down strums is enough to start; then the folk strum (down, down-up, up-down-up). On guitar a bass note then a strum sounds fuller.

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

Silent NightJingle 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 NicholasAngels We Have Heard on HighAuld Lang SyneAll Christmas songs