As soon as December arrives, its time for Christmas music in our home!
Whether we’re driving to a special event, running errands, or singing and playing our favorite songs on our favorite instruments, it just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the music.
There’s something so special about Christian Christmas songs – they have the power to shift the entire atmosphere of your home and remind us to slow down as we reflect on the fact that Jesus is reason for the season.
Even on busy days filled with homeschool activities, holiday parties, and last-minute gift shopping, music always plays a role in our days.
You’ll find a mix of classic carols and hymns in this post – and maybe you’ll even discover a couple of new songs to add to your playlist!
So, whether you’re looking for something fun to add to your morning basket (or a unit study), creating a Christmas dinner playlist, or want to learn and play these songs with your family, I hope you find a few options here.
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Christian Christmas Songs Matter During the Holiday Season
We love a lot of Christmas traditions in our household but music is easily the one thing that our family enjoys most every single year.
Whether we’re singing “Silent Night” together in multiple languages or listening to our favorite songs while we’re baking, these songs help us worship together.
Christian Christmas music does three beautiful things:
- Refocuses our hearts on Jesus in the middle of the holiday rush
- Encourages worship as a family, no matter how old (or young!) your kids are
- Creates a peaceful, joyful home atmosphere – even if toys are everywhere, haha
Best Christian Christmas Songs on Guitar
These classic songs are so well known for a reason. They reflect on Scripture, fill the heart of those listening and singing them with hope, and are perfect for worship at home or church.
Here are a few beautiful classics to add to your playlist.
1. The First Noel
A beautiful retelling of the nativity story, this song is fairly simple to sing and easy to play on the guitar.
How to Play It:
This song can be played with just three chords: G, D, and C
2. Joy to the World
This is an incredibly uplifting song and its actually so easy to play too. A must on Christmas morning that the kids love to sing!
How to Play It:
This song requires only three easy chords to play: G, D, and C
3. Little Drummer Boy
Kids always love singing this song – and you already know their favorite part, haha.
How to Play It:
Know these chords to get started: G, C, and D
4. Silent Night
This peaceful, calming song is incredibly easy to play and can be played with only three chords. We like to sing it with lyrics in English, Croatian, and Slovak.
How to Play It:
G, D, and C – you could also switch up your D with a D7 for a bluesier sound.
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem
A soft, nostalgic, and peaceful song that’s perfect for the season. You can play it with three simple chords.
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you’ll want to know: D, G, and A
6. I Saw Three Ships
A bright and cheerful song that brings Christmas joy along with it. You need to know just three chords for this one.
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you should know: D, A, and G
7. Go Tell It on the Mountain
A joyful, upbeat song that kids (and grown ups) love to sing along to – especially the chorus!
How to Play It:
These four chords are all it takes: D, A, G, and E
8. Away in a Manger
Gentle and kid-friendly; this was one of the first songs my kids learned to sing and they’re even singing it with their church choir this year.
How to Play It:
This song can be played using 4 simple chord shapes: G, C, D, and Am
9. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
A straightforward melody that’s great for beginners and sounds lovely when it’s strummed slowly. Its sounds beautiful with 5 fairly simple chords.
How to Play It:
You wan’t to be familiar with these chords: G, C, D, Am, and D7
10. The Holly and the Ivy
We love how bright this traditional English carol sounds on the guitar!
How to Play It:
This song uses four simple chords: C, F, G, and Am
11. O Come, All Ye Faithful
What a beautiful invitation to adore Christ. This classic song is very well-known and is a great way to get the family ready for an evening of worship together.
How to Play It:
You only need 6 basic chords to play this song on the piano or guitar: C, Am, D, G, Em, and A
12. O Holy Night
Powerful, reverent, and full of the gospel message – it plays like a story with distinctly different parts that make it feel like a musical journey. This song is a bit more challenging than the others on the list – both to sing and play on the guitar but its absolutely worth learning.
Challenging yourself with a new chord here and there is a great way to grow as a musician and guitarist!
How to Play It:
This beautiful song includes a B bar chord among the 7 chords you should know to play. You’ll want to be able to make the following chord shapes on the piano or guitar: C, F, G, Em, B, Am, Dm
More music ideas for your family:
- 25 Beautiful Worship Songs That Are Easy to Play on Guitar
- How to Create a Beautiful Music Room at Home
- The Best Way to Learn Guitar: Why Creating a Custom Learning Path Works
- 7 Must-Know Basic Guitar Chords for Beginners
- How to Choose the Best Electric Guitar: Beginners Guide
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
This is a beautiful song that praises Christ’s arrival – its a great sing-along for families and church.
You’ll want to know 8 chord shapes for this one: G, D, E, and C
14. Angels We Have Heard on High
You’ll hear our kids singing the long “Glooooooria” every year – it’s adorable, haha.
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you should know: D, A7, Bm7, Em, G, and A
15. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Perfect for Advent. Hope-filled and deeply reflective. We love how the beautiful melody sounds finer picked on this one.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these five chords: Am, G, Em, C, and Dm
16. What Child is This?
Another gentle, reflective, and absolutely beautiful song, especially when its played fingerstyle.
You’ll want to know these chords: Am, C, G, Em, F, and E
17. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
An eerie, dramatic carol with a beautiful minor-sounding melody – my kids absolutely love this one!
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you should know: Em, B7, C, Am, G, and D
18. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
This hopeful song has a powerful message and we love it for our morning basket time and music time.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these chords: C, G, F, and Am
19. Angels From the Realm of Glory
This is a fun song to sing together as a family – it brings us all such joy!
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you should know: C, G, A7, Dm, and F
20. Star of the East
This beautiful melody sounds lullaby-like when you play it gently on the guitar.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these chords: D, G, A, Bm, and A7
21. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
This powerful song is rich with meaning and is a favorite for Christmas eve in our household.
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you’ll want to know to play it: C, F, G, D, E, and Am
22. In the Bleak Midwinter
This slow, heartfelt song sounds gorgeous when you let the chords ring out. Its a great one for practicing your minor and 7th chords.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these chords to play this song: C, Am, Dm, G, and D7
More Fun & Helpful Ideas for The Christmas Season:
- 25 Day Christmas Song Challenge Template (Printable + Instagram Versions)
- Simple + Sweet Christmas Gift Ideas for Under $50!
- 125+ Instagram Caption Ideas for Christmas Time
- Tips for What to Write in Christmas Cards for Family and Friends
23. We Three Kings
A rich, story-driven Christmas carol with a beautiful melody – the kids love to sing this one too. You’ll want to know seven chords including a couple of minors and 7th chords.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these chords: Em, B7, D, G, Am, D7, and C
24. Children Go Where I Send Thee
This is a beautiful Christmas spiritual that’s perfect for singing as a group and fun for kids! My girls absolutely love it and I’ll admit, we’ve sung it a couple of times in a row, haha.
How to Play It:
You’ll want to know these chords: C, F, and G7
25. The Friendly Beasts
This gentle storytelling carol offers sweet imagery that small children love. My four year old loves animals so this is a favorite right now, haha. You can play it with four easy chords.
How to Play It:
Here are the chords you’ll want to know: C, G, Am, and Dm
Christian Christmas Songs for Kids
Here are a few of our kids’ favorite songs for car rides and family worship time:
- Go Tell It on the Mountain
- Away in a Manger
- Little Drummer Boy
- The First Noel
- Joy to the World
- The Holly and the Ivy
- Children Go Where I Send Thee
- Angels From the Realm of Glory
- The Friendly Beasts
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
These songs make it easy for kids to engage with the story of Jesus’ birth and trust me, they love singing them over and over too!
Best Christian Christmas Songs for Kids to Play on Guitar and Piano
Christmas is such a fun season to practice and perform your favorite songs!
And since so many worship songs and Christmas carols only use 3 to 4 chords, they’re perfect for beginners to show what they’ve been working on over the holidays.
These simple songs are perfect for kids that are still fairly new to playing the guitar (and piano):
- Silent Night (G, D, C)
- Joy to the World (G, D, C)
- Little Drummer Boy (G, C, and D)
- Away in a Manger (G, C, D)
- Go Tell It on the Mountain (D, A, G, and E)
Final Thoughts: Easy Christian Christmas Songs to Play
Playing our favorite instruments while singing Christmas songs as a family has to be our favorite part of the Christmas festivities!
Its amazing to listen to the kids play and sing a song from start to finish and it brings such joy to their grandparents’ faces.
I hope you enjoy this list of songs as much as we do.
Merry Christmas and God Bless, friend!
– Nikki
