How To Play: Christmas Time Is Here

Cover from the soundtrack album for A Charlie Brown Christmas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I found an easy to intermediate chord chart for this very popular song, Christmas Time is Here, by The Vince Guaraldi Trio on the Charlie Brown Christmas at http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com and http://www.azchords.com

The song was written in 1966, with words by Lee Mendelson and music by Vince Guaraldi. Many artists have sung this song and a favorite that comes to mind is Diana Krall with her very laid-back style.

Fmaj7             Eb7 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj7         Eb7  
Happiness and cheer 
Bm7        Bb7   Am7 
Fun for all that children call   
Ab7 Gm            C      F 
Their favorite time of the year  

 
Fmaj7             Eb7 
Snowflakes in the air 
Fmaj7       Eb7 
Carols everywhere 
Bm7          Bb7 Am7 
Olden times and  ancient rhymes  
Ab7 Gm              C  F 
Of   love and dreams to share 
 
 
Dbmaj7               Gbmaj7  
Sleigh bells in the air 
Dbmaj7      Gbmaj7 
Beauty everywhere 
F            Eb7 D7 
Yuletide by the  fireside 
Am    Gm7         F   C   
And joyful memories there 

  
Fmaj7             Eb7 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj7            Eb7 
We'll be drawing near 
Bm7          Bb7  Am7 
Oh, that we could always see 
Ab7   Gm             C   F  
Such spirit through the year 
  

Jazzy Instrumental part...  
 

Dbmaj7               Gbmaj7  
Sleigh bells in the air 
Dbmaj7      Gbmaj7 
Beauty everywhere 
F            Eb7 D7 
Yuletide by the  fireside 
Am    Gm7         F   C   
And joyful memories there 

  
Fmaj7             Eb7 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj7            Eb7 
We'll be drawing near 
Bm7          Bb7  Am7 
Oh, that we could always see 
Ab7   Gm             C   F  
Such spirit through the year 

I have played this particular song at many Christmas parties and family gatherings because it is an all time favorite. I play it slowly in the Key of F with 3/4 time signature.

Intermediate to advanced chords:

Fmaj9             Eb13#11 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj9         Eb13#11  
Happiness and cheer 
Bm7b5        Bbm7   Am7 
Fun for all that children call   
Abm7 Gm7            Gm7b5/C      F 
Their favorite time of the year  

 
Fmaj9             Eb13#11
Snowflakes in the air 
Fmaj9       Eb13#11 
Carols everywhere 
Bm7b5          Bbm7 Am7 
Olden times and  ancient rhymes  
Abm7 Gm7             Gm7b5/C  Fmaj9 
Of   love and dreams to share 
 
 
Dbmaj7               Gb13#11  
Sleigh bells in the air 
Dbmaj7      Gb13#11 
Beauty everywhere 
Am7           Eb9 D9 
Yuletide by the  fireside 
D7b9    Gm7       Db9   C13 C13b9   
And joyful memories there 

  
Fmaj9             Eb13#11 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj9            Eb13#11 
We'll be drawing near 
Bm7b5          Bbm7  Am7 Abm7
Oh, that we could always see 
    Gm7              Bb/C  Fmaj9  
Such spirit through the year 
  

Jazzy Instrumental part...  
 

Dbmaj7               Gb13#11 
Sleigh bells in the air 
Dbmaj7      Gb13#11 
Beauty everywhere 
Am7            Eb7 D9 D7b9
Yuletide by the  fireside 
    Gm7         Db9   C13 C13b9   
And joyful memories there 

  
Fmaj9             Eb13#11 
Christmas time is here 
Fmaj9            Eb13#11 
We'll be drawing near 
Bm7b5         Bbm7  Am7 Abm7
Oh, that we could always see 
   Gm7             Bb/C   Fmaj9  
Such spirit through the year 

Here's what the chords look like:

L.H. / R.H.

FA/EGE Christmas time is

EbG/DbFA here,

FA/EGE happiness and

EbG/DbFA cheer

BA/DA Fun for all that

AG/CG children call their

GF/BbD favorite time

C/GBbDbF of

FE/ACG year

Db/EbFC Sleigh-bells in the

GbFb/BbEbAbC air

Db/EbFC beauty every

GbFb/BbEbAbC where

AG/CEC Yuletide by the

DF#/CEC fireside and

GF/BbDBb joyful mem'

DbF/CbEbA ries

CE/BbDA there

FA/EGE Christmas time is

EbG/DbFA here

FA/EGE we'll be drawing

EbG/DbFA near

BA/DA Oh that we could

AG/CG always see such

GF/BbD spirit through

CD/BbDF the

FC/ACG year



Have fun with the song. If you need more melody notes to fill in, remember your scale notes and chord progressions in F. You can also order the sheet music.

Also, you may be interested in,

Christmas Keys1



10 Christmas Classics Arranged for Solo Piano

 Do you have a favorite Christmas song?

Best,





"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King