Learn a Fun, Easy Arrangement of ‘Jingle Bells’

Excerpted from Christmas Songs for Beginning Ukulele.

Video by Diane Nalini | Arranged by Peter Penhallow

Written in 1857 by James Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving children’s production. (It was first referred to as a “merry little jingle” by one of Pierpont’s neighbors, who had the only piano in town.) The community is said to have liked it so much that they asked the children to repeat it at Christmas. It has been a holiday favorite ever since.

Christmas Songs for Beginning Ukulele is a collection of favorite carols, arranged for ukulele. Here you’ll find everything you need to learn to play “Jingle Bells,” including lyrics, chords, notation, and TAB. This is just one of 15 songs in the complete guide (available exclusively in the Ukulele Store.)

The 4/4 accompaniment pattern shown below is used throughout the complete guide: single notes on string 4 on beats 1 and 3, and strums on the top three strings on beats 2 and 4. Given the relatively slow-moving chord progression, “Jingle Bells” should be a breeze to learn.

With a little practice, you should soon be entertaining your friends and loved ones with this Christmas classic! Plus, the kinds of chords, chord progressions, rhythms, and melodies used in the songs featured in Christmas Songs for Beginning Ukulele are fundamental to countless styles of music – even if you only return to this repertoire during the holiday season, learning these tunes is well worth your time.