Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[G7]Have a [C]Holly, [Cmaj7]Jolly [C]Christmas [Cmaj7]
It’s the [C]best time [G]of the [G7]year.
[G7]I don’t know if there’ll be snow,
But [G7]have a cup of [C]cheer.[G7]
[verse 2]
[G7]Have a [C]Holly, [Cmaj7]Jolly [C]Christmas [Cmaj7]
And when [C]you walk [G]down the [G7]street..
[G7]say hello, to friends you know..
And [G7]everyone you [C]meet. [G7]
[verse 3]
[F]Oh, ho, the [Em]mistletoe
[Dm]hung where [G7]you can [C]see.
[Dm]Some[E7]body [Am]waits for you
[D7]kiss her once for [G]me [G7]
[Closing]
[G7]Have a [C]Holly, [Cmaj7]Jolly [C]Christmas [Cmaj7]
And in [C]case you [G]didn’t [G7]hear,
[G7]Oh, by golly, have a [C]Holly, [Am]Jolly
[D7]Christmas [G7]this [C]year.
How to play A Holly Jolly Christmas on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas on guitar requires 10 chords and 15 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.
A Holly Jolly Christmas uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (8), C → Cmaj7 (6), and Cmaj7 → C (6). 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 G7 - C chord transition.
1. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. C → Cmaj7 chord transition
To move from C to Cmaj7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
3. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
4. G → G7 chord transition
To move from G to G7;
- Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.
5. G7 → F chord transition
To move from G7 to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
6. F → Em chord transition
To move from F to Em;
- While playing F, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
7. Em → Dm chord transition
To move from Em to Dm;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
8. Dm → G7 chord transition
To move from Dm to G7;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
9. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
10. Dm → E7 chord transition
To move from Dm to E7;
- While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
11. E7 → Am chord transition
To move from E7 to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
12. Am → D7 chord transition
To move from Am to D7;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
13. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
14. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
15. D7 → G7 chord transition
To move from D7 to G7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 1.
A Holly Jolly Christmas chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in A Holly Jolly Christmas.
- A Holly Jolly Christmas includes 41 chord transitions, 15 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- A Holly Jolly Christmas contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how A Holly Jolly Christmas connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
- G7 → C: 69%
- G7 → F: 5%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → Am: 10%