'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Chords

Learn Christmas Songs on Guitar

man and woman playing acoustic guitar at christmas
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'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Chords

Chords Used: D | G | A | E

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      D                      A               D
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D G   D  A  D
A partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                       A              D
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D  E    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And a partridge in a pear tree.
D                      A               D
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
D
Twelve 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    A
Five golden rings.
D
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D G   D  A  D
And 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