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Christmas Carol - Silver Bells Chords

ChordsC, F, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram


City [C]sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in [F]Holiday style
In the [G]air there’s a feeling of [C]Christmas, children [C]laughing, people passing
Meeting [F]smile after smile, and on [G]every street corner you [C]hear
[C]Silver bells, [F]silver bells, [G]it’s Christmas-time in the [C]city
[C]Ring-a-ling, [F]hear them ring, [G]soon it will be Christmas [C]Day


Strings of [C]street lights, even stop lights, blink a [F]bright red and green
As the [G]shoppers run home with their [C]treasures, hear the [C]snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is [F]Santa’s big scene, and [G]above all the bustle you [C]hear…
[C]Silver bells, [F]silver bells, [G]it’s Christmas-time in the [C]city
[C]Ring-a-ling, [F]hear them ring, [G]soon it will be Christmas [C]day

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AlbumSilver Bells
GenresChristmas
Year1950
KeyC

How to play Silver Bells on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Christmas Carol - Silver Bells on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Silver Bells uses these transitions most often: C → F (8), F → G (8), and G → C (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
C to F

2. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G;

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
F to G

3. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
G to C

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Silver Bells.

  • Silver Bells includes 24 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Silver Bells contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Silver Bells connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → G: 21%