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Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, Dm7, Em7, F, Gm7, E7, Am, Fm, B7, G7, A7, Cm7, Am7, D7, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Dm7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Gm7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-x-3-3-3-x Barre at fret 3.Guitar Gm7 chord diagram
  • Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar Fm chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-1-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Fm chord diagram
  • Guitar B7 chord diagram Fingering: x-2-1-2-0-2Guitar B7 chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
  • Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Cm7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-3-4-xGuitar Cm7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Am7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-1-0Guitar Am7 chord diagram
  • Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]Chestnuts [Dm7]roasting on an [Em7]open [F]fire
[C]Jack Frost [Gm7]nipping at your [F]nose [E7]
[Am]Yuletide [Fm]carols being [C]sung by a [B7]choir
And [Em7]folks dressed [Fm]up like Eski[G7]mos

[verse 2]
Everybody [C]knows a [Dm7]turkey and some [Em7]mistle[F]toe
[C]Help to [Gm7]make the season [F]bright.[E7]
[Am]Tiny [Fm]tots with their [C]eyes all a[B7]glow
Will [Em7]find it [A7]hard to [Dm7]sleep [G7]to[C]night

[Closing]
They know that [Gm7]Santa’s on his [C]way
He’s loaded [Gm7]lots of toys and [C]goodies on his [Gm7]sleigh.[C]
And every [Cm7]mother’s child is gonna [Fm]spy [Gm7]
To see if [Am7]reindeer really know [D7]how to [G]fly.[G7]

[chorus]
And [C]so I’m [Dm7]offering this [Em7]simple [Dm7]phrase
To [C]kids from [Gm7]one to ninety[F]two [E7]
[Am7]Although it’s been [Fm]said many [C]times many [B7]ways
[Em7]Merry [Am7]Christ[Dm7]mas [G7]to [C]you.

[chorus]
And [C]so I’m [Dm7]offering this [Em7]simple [Dm7]phrase
To [C]kids from [Gm7]one to ninety[F]two [E7]
[Am7]Although it’s been [Fm]said many [C]times many [B7]ways
[Em7]Merry [Am7]Christ[Dm7]mas [G7]to [C]you.

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SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistNat King Cole
AlbumSingle
GenresChristmas, Jazz, Pop
Year1948
KeyC

How to play The Christmas Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song on guitar requires 15 chords and 29 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.

The Christmas Song uses these transitions most often: C → Gm7 (7), G7 → C (5), and B7 → Em7 (4). 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 - Dm7 chord transition.

1. C → Dm7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Dm7 chord diagram

To move from C to Dm7;

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
C to Dm7

2. Dm7 → Em7 chord transition

Guitar Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Dm7 chord diagram
Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram

To move from Dm7 to Em7;

  1. While playing Dm7, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
Dm7 to Em7

3. Em7 → F chord transition

Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from Em7 to F;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
Em7 to F

4. F → C chord transition

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

To move from F to C;

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
F to C

5. C → Gm7 chord transition

To move from C to Gm7;

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

6. Gm7 → F chord transition

To move from Gm7 to F;

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

7. F → E7 chord transition

To move from F to E7;

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

8. E7 → Am chord transition

To move from E7 to Am;

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

9. Am → Fm chord transition

To move from Am to Fm;

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

10. Fm → C chord transition

To move from Fm to C;

  1. While playing Fm, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on D string fret 2.

11. C → B7 chord transition

To move from C to B7;

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

12. B7 → Em7 chord transition

To move from B7 to Em7;

  1. While playing B7, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.

13. Em7 → Fm chord transition

To move from Em7 to Fm;

  1. While playing Em7, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

14. Fm → G7 chord transition

To move from Fm to G7;

  1. While playing Fm, 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 ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 1.
  4. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

15. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

16. Em7 → A7 chord transition

To move from Em7 to A7;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on D string fret 2.

17. A7 → Dm7 chord transition

To move from A7 to Dm7;

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

18. Dm7 → G7 chord transition

To move from Dm7 to G7;

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

19. C → Cm7 chord transition

To move from C to Cm7;

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

20. Cm7 → Fm chord transition

To move from Cm7 to Fm;

  1. While playing Cm7, lift your middle finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
  4. Lift your pinky from B string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 3.

21. Fm → Gm7 chord transition

To move from Fm to Gm7;

  1. While playing Fm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
  3. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

22. Gm7 → Am7 chord transition

To move from Gm7 to Am7;

  1. While playing Gm7, lift your ring finger from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

23. Am7 → D7 chord transition

To move from Am7 to D7;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

24. D7 → G chord transition

To move from D7 to G;

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

25. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7;

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

26. E7 → Am7 chord transition

To move from E7 to Am7;

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

27. Am7 → Fm chord transition

To move from Am7 to Fm;

  1. While playing Am7, lift your middle finger from D string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

28. Em7 → Am7 chord transition

To move from Em7 to Am7;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

29. Am7 → Dm7 chord transition

To move from Am7 to Dm7;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

The Christmas Song chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Christmas Song.

  • The Christmas Song includes 77 chord transitions, 29 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Christmas Song contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Christmas Song 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 → B7: 0%
    • C → Dm7: 0%
    After Dm7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G7 (50%), C (12%), and G (9%).
    • Dm7 → G7: 50%
    • Dm7 → C: 12%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.