Easy Guitar Duet Christmas Songs • Jingle Bells

Chord Chart

This is the chord chart, perfect for holiday sing-alongs. The chart is notated with rhythm slashes. Strum direction is: down, down-up, down-up, down-up. The rhythm is counted: 1 2 and 3 and 4 and. Rhythm slashes correspond to standard notation, but do not move up and down on the staff. They are non-pitched, and tell you how the rhythm pattern is played. This is an excellent way to notate chord charts. There is no reliance on the lyrics to show where the chord changes fall. Instead the song is broken down into bars. Simply, play and count. Keep your strum hand moving in a constant, steady down-up pattern. The only stroke that is missed is the 'and' of 1. This is a quarter note slash, the rest are eighth notes.

Melody

This transcription is in the key of G. G Major has one sharp in the key signature: F. This means that, every time the note F is played in this key, it is sharp (one fret higher than the natural note). Try to use the same fret hand fingers as the fret placement in the tablature. Use your fourth finger for the F sharp. Try not to shift your hand, just stretch out your fingers. Basic rule is: four frets, four fingers. It is harder to stretch the fingers down this low on the fretboard, due to the fact that the frets are further apart. Using the same fingers everytime, makes it easier to visualize and memorize any piece of music.

Rhythm and Melody

This transcription combines both parts. Fairly easy, beginner to intermediate piece. Fun to play, and definitely one of the most requested Christmas songs I know of. Teaching holiday tunes is a great way to introduce students to a number of music fundamentals. I always quiz them on the regular symbols (treble clef, sharps, etc), then I have them name the notes and note durations. Try writing out the note names above or below the notes in the melody. In the treble clef the lines are E G B D F (silly saying: Every Good Boy Deserves Fun). The spaces are one word: FACE. Above or below the staff, simply go to the next letter in the alphabet (below the first line: D, above the top line: G). Remember the musical alphabet only goes from A to G, then starts all over again. Have fun!!!

I love Christmas, favourite time of the year.