Chat with us, powered by LiveChat
Home Songs 10 Best Christmas Songs For Ukulele

10 Best Christmas Songs For Ukulele

Learn How To Play These Easy Holiday Songs for Beginners

by Kevin Rossi

Looking for the best Christmas songs to play this Holiday season? Whether you got a new ukulele on Black Friday or dusted off the one you bought in college, look no further! Thanksgiving is over, and it’s time to get holly jolly, so we’ve put together a list of 10 easy, beginner-level Christmas songs that will have you rocking around that Christmas tree in no time!

So put down those cookies, grab your uke, don some antlers, and let’s get merry!

10 Best Christmas Songs For Ukulele

Jingle Bells

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Silent Night

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Feliz Navidad

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Mele Kalikimaka

Joy to the World

Twelve Days of Christmas

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Jingle Bells

What fun it is to uke and sing this traditional American song!

Chords: G C Am A7 D7

There are a number of variations of this one out there. For example, the version Terry plays above uses Am in the chorus, as well as an unusual strumming pattern, while I like to use an A7 or a regular A instead of the Am, and prefer this simple strumming pattern – D D U U DU. 

I also prefer this version of D7, especially over the “oh” between the verse and chorus.

VERSE

GDashing through the snow in a one-horse open Csleigh

AminO‘er the fields we D7go Laughing all the Gway

Bells on bobtails ring making spirits Cbright

What Aminfun it is to Dride and sing a D7sleighing song toGnight, oh!

REFRAIN

GJingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all Cthe Gway

COh, what fun it Gis to ride In a one-horse open D7sleigh, hey!

GJingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all Cthe Gway

COh what fun it Gis to ride in a D7one-horse open Gsleigh

VERSE

GA day or two ago I thought I’d take a Cride

And Aminsoon Miss Fanny D7Bright was seated by my Gside

GThe horse was lean and lank misfortune seemed his Clot

We Aminran into a Ddrifted bank and D7there we got Gupsot D7Oh!

 

REFRAIN

GJingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all Cthe Gway

COh, what fun it Gis to ride In a one-horse open D7sleigh, hey!

GJingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all Cthe Gway

COh what fun it Gis to ride in a D7one-horse open Gsleigh

COh what fun it Gis to ride in a D7one-horse open Gsleigh

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Join in the reindeer games with this Christmas classic!

Chords: C G7 D7 F

C

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

                            G7

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

                                     C

You would even say it glowed

C

All of the other reindeer

                                             G7

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

                                 C

Join in any reindeer games

F                        C

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

G7                    C

Santa came to say

G7

Rudolph with your nose so bright

D7                            G7

Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight

C

Then how the reindeer loved him

                                      G7

As they shouted out in glee

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

                            C

You’ll go down in history

Silent Night

Here is a super easy version of this beautiful Christmas song.

CSilent night, holy night!
G7All is calm, Call is bright.
FRound yon Virgin, CMother and Child.
FHoly infant so Ctender and mild,
GSleep in G7heavenly Cpeace,
GSleep in G7heavenly Cpeace

CSilent night, holy night!
G7Shepherds quake Cat the sight.
FGlories stream from Cheaven afar
FHeavenly hosts sing CAlleluia,
GChrist the G7Savior is Cborn!
GChrist the G7Savior is Cborn

CSilent night, holy night!
G7Son of God Clove’s pure light.
FRadiant beams from CThy holy face
FWith dawn of Credeeming grace,
GJesus Lord, G7at Thy Cbirth
GJesus Lord,G7at Thy Cbirth

C

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Perhaps one of the most ridiculous Christmas songs out there, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is a great option for any holiday sing along involving kids (or, you know, us kid at heart types).

Chords: G G7 D7 A7 C   

Terry’s version above has lots of bell and whistle chords added in to really spice it up. If you can keep up with those, more power to you! For anyone who’d like an easier version, I’ve transcribed the simple version below.

Chords in parenthesis are optional, if you want to play the easiest version, no sweat, just ignore them!

I wGant a hippoG6potamus for CGhristmasGOnly a hippoG6potamus will D7doI D7don’t want a doll, no dinky TinkertoyI A7want a hippopotamus to play with and enD7joy
VERSE
I Gwant a hippoG6potamus for ChGristmasI Gdon’t think Santa G6Claus will mind, do D7you?He D7won’t have to use our dirty chimney flueJust A7bring him through the front doorThat’s the easy thing to D7do
BRIDGE
I can G7see me now on CChristmasAminmorningDminCreeping G7down the stCairsOh, what jD7oy and what surpriseWhen I Gopen up my Emin7eyesTo find a A7hippo hero sAmin7tanding tD7here
VERSE
I Gwant a hippoG6potamus for GChristmasGOnly a hippoG6potamus will D7doD7No crocodiles, or rhinocerosesA7I oEmin7nly lA7ike hippopotaD7musesAnd A7hippopotaD7muses like me Gtoo      D7            
VERSE
I Gwant a hippoG6potamus for GChristmasGA hippoG6potamus is all I Gwant D7Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but thenThe A7teacher says a hippo is a vegetarD7ian
VERSE
I Gwant a hippoG6potamus for GChristmasThe Gkind I saw this G6summer at the D7zooThere’s D7plenty of room for him in our two-car garageI’d A7feed him there and wash him thereAnd D7give him his massage
BRIDGE
I can G7see me now on CChristmas AminmorningDminCreeping G7down the stCairsOh, what D7joy and what surpriseWhen I Gopen up my Emin7eyesAnd find a A7hippo hero Amin7standing D7there
END
I Gwant a hippoG6potamus for CGhristmasGOnly a hippoG6potamus will D7doD7No crocodiles, or rhinoceroses A7I oEmin7nly lA7ike hippopotaD7musesAnd A7hippoD7potaGmuses like me tGoGb        G 

Feliz Navidad

This 1970 Spanish song has become a Christmas classic, and is one of the most requested Christmas songs for uke. Luckily it’s also pretty easy to play!

Chords: G A D Bm

The chord changes happen in between the lyrics a lot in this song which makes it a little more complicated to transpose the lyrics and the chords. I recommend watching the above video or listening to the original song to help with the timing if you are having trouble with the lyrics and chords below.

Intro

D       G        A   

D      Feliz NavidGad, A    feliz NavidDad
Feliz NavidGad, próspero Aaño
Y felicidDad

D      Feliz NavidGad, A    feliz NavidDad
Feliz NavidGad, próspero Aaño
Y felicidDad

I wanna wish you a mGerry Christmas
A    I wanna wish you a Dmerry Christmas
Bmin    I wanna wish you a meGrry Christmas

From the Abottom of my Dheart

I wanna wish you a mGerry Christmas
A    I wanna wish you a Dmerry Christmas
Bmin    I wanna wish you a meGrry Christmas

From the Abottom of my Dheart

I wanna wish you a mGerry Christmas
A    I wanna wish you a Dmerry Christmas
Bmin    I wanna wish you a meGrry Christmas

From the Abottom of my Dheart

D      Feliz NavidGad, A    feliz NavidDad
Feliz NavidGad, próspero Aaño
Y felicidDad.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Chords: G C A D B7 Em    

Again, I’ve simplified the version from the video above a bit to make it easier.

We Gwish you a merry CChristmasWe Awish you a merry DChristmasWe B7wish you a merry EminChristmas and a Chappy D7new GyearGood tidings we Dbring for Eminyou and Ayour DkinWe Gwish you a merry DChristmas and a Chappy D7new Gyear
Oh, Gbring us some figgy CpuddingOh, Abring us some figgy DpuddingOh, B7bring us some figgy EminpuddingAnd Cbring some D7right Ghere
Good tidings we Dbring for Eminyou and Ayour DkinWe Gwish you a merry DChristmas and a Chappy D7new Gyear
We Gwon’t go until we Cget someWe Awon’t go until we Dget someWe B7won’t go until we Eminget someSo Cbring some D7right Ghere
Good tidings we Dbring for Eminyou and Ayour DkinWe Gwish you a merry DChristmas and a Chappy D7new Gyear

Mele Kalikimaka

No ukulele Christmas song list would be complete without this Hawaiian classic.

Chords: C C7 A7 Dm F G7 D7

VERSE
GMele Kalikimaka is the thing to sayOn a bright Hawaiian Christmas D7dayThat’s the island greeting that we send to youFrom the land where palm trees Gsway
CHere we know that Christmas will be C7 green and brightThe E7sun to shine by day and all the A7stars at D7night
VERSE
GMele Kalikimaka is HaG7waii’s E7wayAminTo say MerrD7y Christmas to Gyou
GMele Kalikimaka is the thing to sayOn a bright Hawaiian Christmas D7dayThat’s the island greeting that we send to youFrom the land where palm trees Gsway
CHere we know that Christmas will be C7 green and brightThe E7sun to shine by day and all the A7stars at D7night
VERSE
GMele Kalikimaka is HaG7waii’s E7wayAminTo say MerrD7y Christmas to Gyou
CHere we know that Christmas will be C7 green and brightThe E7sun to shine by day and all the A7stars at D7nightGMele Kalikimaka is HaG7waii’s E7wayAminTo say MerrD7y Christmas to Gyou

GMele Kalikimaka is the thing to sayOn a bright Hawaiian Christmas D7day

That’s the island greeting that we send to youFrom the land where palm trees Gsway
CHere we know that Christmas will be C7 green and brightThe E7sun to shine by day and all the A7stars at D7nigh

GMele Kalikimaka is HaG7waii’s E7wayAminTo say MerrD7y Christmas to GyouA Aminvery Merry D7ChristmasAminA very, very, Merry, Merry D7Christmas to Gyou.

Joy to the World

Chords: C D G

VERSE
GJoy to the world, the DLord is GcomeLet CEarth Dreceive her GKingLet Gevery heart prepare Him roomAnd Heaven and nature singAnd DHeaven and nature singAnd GHeaven, and CHeaven, and GnatDure Gsing
VERSE
GJoy to the Earth, the DSavior GreignsLet Call their Dsongs GemployGWhile fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joyDRepeat the sounding joyGRepeat, Crepeat, the GsounDding Gjoy
VERSE
GHe rules the world with Dtruth and GgraceAnd Cmakes the Dnations GproveThe Gglories of His righteousnessAnd wonders of His loveAnd Dwonders of His loveAnd Gwonders, Cwonders, Gof DHis Glove
VERSE
GJoy to the world, the DLord is GcomeLet CEarth Dreceive her GKing
Let Gevery heart prepare Him roomAnd Heaven and nature singAnd DHeaven and nature singAnd GHeaven, and CHeaven, and GnatDure GsingAnd GHeaven, and CHeaven, and GnatDure Gsing
Joy to the world, the DLord is GcomeLet CEarth Dreceive her GKing
Let Gevery heart prepare Him roomAnd Heaven and nature singAnd DHeaven and nature singAnd GHeaven, and CHeaven, and GnatDure GsingAnd GHeaven, and CHeaven, and GnatDure Gsing

The Twelve Days of Christmas

While this one is made up of relatively easy chords, it requires some quick chord changes. If you are having trouble keeping up, try simply strumming each chord once in the faster parts.

Chords: G Em Am D G C

On the Gfirst day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

A  GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gsecond day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DTwo turtle doves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gthird day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DThree French hens

Two turtle doves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gfourth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DFour colly birds

Three French hens

Two turtle doves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gfifth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gsixth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DSix geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gseventh day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DSeven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

On the Geighth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DEight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gninth day of EminChristmas

Mee Aminmee mee Dmee mee Gmee

DNine ladies dancing

Eight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gtenth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DTen lords a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Geleventh day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DEleven pipers piping

Ten lords a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree

 

On the Gtwelfth day of EminChristmas

My Amintrue love Dgave to Gme

DTwelve drummers drumming

Eleven pipers piping

Ten lords a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

GFive Agold Drings

GFour colly birds

CThree French hens

ATwo turtle Ddoves

And a GpartCridge Gin a Dpear Gtree.

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Chords: Am C D D7 G

G                        Am       D

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

C                 D7                   G

Just like the ones I used to know

G                                                C

Where the treetops glisten and children listen

G         Am                        D      D7

To hear sleigh bells in the snow

G                         Am     D

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

C               D7                       G

With every Christmas card I write

G                                           C

May your days be merry and bright

       G          D7                             G

And may all your Christmases be white

For all your song-learning needs, make sure to check out the song page on our blog!

For more lessons on chords, techniques, and songs to help you along on your own uke journey, make sure to check out our site www.ukelikethepros.com. We offer you a bunch of great ukulele content that comes hand-in-hand with an awesome ukulele community that will support you in this journey.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment

Translate »