Activities Hobbies 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Chords Learn Christmas Songs on Guitar Print Betsie Van Der Meer/Getty Images Hobbies Playing Music Contests Couponing Freebies Frugal Living Fine Arts & Crafts Astrology Card Games & Gambling Cars & Motorcycles Learn More By Dan Cross Dan Cross Dan Cross is a professional guitarist and former private instructor who has experience teaching and playing various styles of music. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 05/24/19 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Chords Chords Used: D | G | A | E Get chords for other Christmas songs D A DOn the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,D G D A DA partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DTwo turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DThree French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DSix geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DSeven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DEight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DNine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,Six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DTen lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking,Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DEleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree.D A DOn the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,DTwelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping,Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,Six geese-a-laying,D E AFive golden rings.DFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,D G D A DAnd a partridge in a pear tree. The Twelve Days of Christmas: Lyrics Performance Tips This song sounds best when you keep the strumming simple. You have a few options: strum slowly four times per bar (all downstrokes)strum eight times per bar (down up down up)hold chords and "arpeggiate" (play one string at a time) four notes per bar