I face the same challenge every Christmas: piecing songs together from random internet sources to play holiday music at home. They’re rarely in a convenient key or format! This year, my son’s early excitement for the holidays—starting with the first snow in mid-November—inspired me to get into the Christmas spirit sooner. So, I decided to give myself an early gift: arranging a collection of Christmas songs just how I’d like them—bass and melody only, perfect for improvising the inner voices.
While creating these arrangements, I also explored the history behind each carol, digging into old prints and researching their origins. To my surprise, not all the famous carols were initially written for Christmas! These fascinating stories became a key part of the book, with short notes accompanying each song to offer context and insight.
25 Christmas Songs for Fingerpicking Guitar is the result of that effort. This book features beginner-friendly arrangements in a two-part style, combining melody and bass, which is ideal for fingerpicking practice. Each song is presented with standard notation, tablature, chord diagrams, and chord symbols, making it adaptable for solo playing or accompanying singers.
Whether you’re preparing for a holiday gathering, playing for personal enjoyment, or looking to refine your guitar skills, this book offers a practical and meaningful way to enjoy timeless Christmas carols. It’s available now on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats: https://a.co/d/9alMRaL
And that’s not all. While I was at it, I also compiled a version without bass: just melodies and chord symbols. To make it more practical, I present each melody in two keys which are fourth/fifth apart so with the capo you can reach most every tonality there is: https://a.co/d/ak0fhMC