Happy holidays! This is a wonderful time of year to be making and sharing music with loved ones, and even brand-new players should be able to join in on the fun. Here are play-along videos for the three easiest songs from my holiday songbook, Oh, What Fun! Christmas Songs for the Ukulele. Play them using just the C, F, and G/G7 chords, then use the guide in the book to learn how to play in different keys.
Ready to start making merry?
Away in a Manger
Away in a Manger is a beautiful song that plays like a lullaby. Play it with a basic down-up strum or the waltz strum of your choosing.
Joy to the World
Joy to the World was written over three hundred years ago, and we still sing it today. Isn’t that incredible? Singing this in the key of C is not the best fit for my vocal range— how does it feel for you? If, like me, you’re sounding not so joyful, use the special chord chart in Oh, What Fun! to change the key of the song and make the most of your natural singing voice.
Silent Night
In this video for Silent Night, I’m using the G chord, but feel free to swap it for the G7 chord if you prefer. Like The First Noel, this song is set in 3/4 time and when we play we have to strum and count 1-2-3, 1-2-3. If this is a song you’re familiar with, you already know what it’s supposed to sound like and that can help you intuitively find the rhythm of the song. If Time Signature is a new concept for you, play this song with a very basic down or down/up strum.
Oh, What Fun! Christmas Songs for the Ukulele includes songs formatted using the Nashville Number System and a chord chart so you can easily transpose (change the key of a song) into five popular keys. But even if you only know C, F, and G7— the three most important chords for the key of C— there are still plenty of songs you can play, and I hope you’ll sing and strum along with me this holiday season!
