Christmas songs

We Wish You a Merry Christmas chords for guitar

We Wish You a Merry Christmas needs 7 chords in G: G, C, A7, D, B7, Em and D7. 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.

Tempo120

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

Colours

homethe pullthe doorthe shadowthe lift

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

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

3/4, three beats a bar · 16 bars

Verse

Refrain

Chord chart The chords of G major ›

We Wish You a Merry Christmas, 16 bars: verse and refrain. 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

A7

Standard

II7

53AEGC♯E

D

Standard

V

5R3DADF♯

B7

Standard

III7

R3♭75BD♯ABF♯

Em

Standard

vi

5REBEGBE

D7

Standard

V7

5♭73DACF♯

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 80 beats a minute, and change chord on the first beat of the bar.
  • The first note. The tune starts just before the first bar, on a pickup: count in and come in with the first chord on beat 1.
  • 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

A traditional English carol from the West Country, of uncertain date (often said to go back to the 16th century); its best-known arrangement was published by Arthur Warrell of Bristol in 1935. The chords here are the traditional tune, not that arrangement. (source)

Questions

What chords are in We Wish You a Merry Christmas?

In G: G, C, A7, D, B7, Em and D7.

What key is We Wish You a Merry Christmas 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 We Wish You a Merry Christmas 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

Silent NightJingle BellsDeck 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