Want to learn a Christmas song on the ukulele? Then you should definitely consider Jingle Bells, one of the most popular Christmas songs in the world! Everyone likes this song, young and old, and it unites several generations. In fact, it has become so popular that many people in other countries, such as France or Germany, also sing this song in English during the Christmas season. There are translated versions, but the original is dominant and has found its way into everyone’s ears through many movies. In this free ukulele song tutorial we will learn a bit more about the history of the song and how to play it on the ukulele. We will show you how to fingerpick the melody with some simple chords. We will also provide the free tabs and sheet music that you can download at the end of the ukulele lesson.
History of Jingle Bells
As already mentioned Jingle Bells is one of the most famous Christmas carols and actually it was not originally intended for the Christmas season. Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, the song was first published as “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was meant to celebrate Thanksgiving. Pierpont composed the tune in Medford, Massachusetts, inspired by the town’s popular winter sleigh races. Over time, the song’s catchy melody and joyful lyrics made it a natural fit for Christmas celebrations, leading to its association with the holiday. Today, Jingle Bells is an iconic part of Christmas celebrations around the world, beloved for its cheerful depiction of winter fun.
Ukulele Tabs for Jingle Bells
Let’s start by learning how to play the melody on the ukulele. There are several ways to play it. There is an easy version and an advanced version. You can fingerpick the melody or strum it with chords. Since we are focusing on beginners and children, we will learn the easy versions of the Christmas song. And to get familiar with the melody, we will start with the tabs for the fingerpicking version. Remember to start slowly and learn only the first line before moving on. This will make it easier and more accessible for beginners.
Here are the ukulele tabs for playing the Christmas carol on the first three strings:
We have also recorded the playing of Jingle Bells on the first three strings. Have a listen to the audio recording to see if you get it right on the ukulele.
Ukulele Chords For Jingle Bells
Fingerpicking a melody on the ukulele is not only great practice, but also a lot of fun! The melody of these nursery rhymes will be instantly recognizable, even without the lyrics, as we pluck each note. However, if you want to sing along, strumming chords is the way to go. Let’s try to play the song in the key of G, which will require us to use one basic ukulele chord, the G chord.
To play this Christmas carol we need for different ukulele chords: G, C, D and A7.
Here are chord diagrams for Jingle Bells:
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Do you already know how to play these four chords on the ukulele? Then you’ll have no trouble playing this carol on your ukulele right away! But if you’re not quite there yet, start by practicing the four chords individually. Once you can play all these chords without any difficulties, you can start playing the whole song.
It’s pretty essential for beginners to start new songs slowly. This means, focus on doing only a simple down strum with each chord change. This gives beginners enough time to change between chords without the pressure of difficult strumming patterns. Additionally, singing along is simpler when you strum down only once per chord change. Once you’re comfortable, you can try out other strumming patterns.
Ukulele Sheet Music For Jingle Bells
Sheet music is an essential tool for ukulele players and teachers, offering a deep dive into the intricacies of a song’s notes, rhythms, and chord progressions. However, beginners and young children might find sheet music challenging since it demands some knowledge of music theory and the ability to read musical notation. Because of this, ukulele tabs or lyrics with chord notations tend to be more beginner-friendly, especially for younger learners. That said, if you’re confident with sheet music, it’s an excellent resource for improving your skills and taking your playing to the next level.
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Here is the sheet music for Jingle Bells:
Free Ukulele Printables for Jingle Bells
Are you a ukulele teacher or do you just want to practice the song with the printed worksheet instead of on the screen? Then download the lyrics with cords, tabs and sheet music as a PDF.
Interested in instruments other than the ukulele? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Jingle Bells on the guitar, piano and recorder.
