Jingle Bells chords
by Jim Reeves- Writer: James Lord Pierpont: (1857)
- Original Key: G Major
- First Published: 1857 - It was titled 'One Horse Open Sleigh', and was originally written as a song for Thanksgiving.
- First Recorded: 1898 on an Edison Cylinder (phonograph), by the Edison Male Quartette.
- Featured Artist: Jim Reeves from the album 12 Songs Of Christmas.
- Music: Key of C Major in 2/2 time at 95 bpm (♩)
- Chords: C, C7, F, G, G7, Dm, D7
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
Jingle Bells
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
F G Dm G G7
Intro: 2/4 | Jing-a-ling-a-ling | " | Ah - Ah | Ah - Ah |
F G Dm G G7
| Jing-a-ling-a-ling | " | Ah - Ah | Ah - Ah |
C F
1. Dash-ing through the snow In a one-horse o-pen sleigh
Dm G7 C
O’er the fields we go Laugh-ing all the way
F
Bells on bob-tail ring Mak-ing spi-rits bright
Dm G G7 C
What fun it is to ride and sing A sleigh-ing song to-night
C C7
Chorus: Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle all the way
F C D7 G7
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse o-pen sleigh eh!
C C7
Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle all the way
F C G7 C
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse o-pen sleigh
F G Dm G G7
Instr: | Jing-a-ling-a-ling | " | Ah - Ah | Ah - Ah |
F G Dm G G7
| Jing-a-ling-a-ling | " | Ah - Ah | Ah - Ah |
C F
2. Now the ground is white So go it while you're young
Dm G7 C
Take the girls to-night And sing this sleigh-ing song
F
Just get a bob-tailed nag Two-for-ty for his speed
Dm G G7 C
Then hitch him to an o-pen sleigh And crack! you'll take the lead
C C7
Chorus: Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle all the way
F C D7 G7
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse o-pen sleigh eh!
C C7
Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle Bells Jin-gle all the way
F C G7 C F G C
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse o-pen | sleigh | | | 𝄑 |- Reading the Song Charts - a closer look at reading the song charts on this site
- Chord Transposer - a better understanding of how it works
- Another version in the original key of G Major
Notes:
- Song Key: C Major - no sharps or flats
- 2/4 Time: This represents 2 quarter-note beats per bar. Each bar can be counted as | 1 2 | or | 1& 2& | etc.
- 95 bpm (♩) - beat sounds on every quarter-note if you are using a metronome or click track.
- This song is very simple to play although the fast chord changes in the Intro and Instrumental sections may prove a little quick for beginners... you can hold the G chord over the | Ah - Ah | bits if you like, just till you are able to play them in time.
- | G - Dm | in 2/4 time means you play the G chord for 1 beat and the Dm chord for 1 beat. The hyphen splits the bar in half with equal beat counts between the 2 chords.
- 𝄑 represents a 'fermata' symbol, commonly known as a pause symbol. At the end of the song, you strum the C chord and hold... let it ring out.
- These tips relate to the video on this page. If you don't play along with the video, you can play the song in a more 'straight-forward' fashion without all the added bits in the instrumental sections... beginners will also find it a lot easier to play.
- You may even like to try a different key... use the Transposer to find the right key for you.
