[2026] Christmas Songs You’ll Want to Play on Guitar: A Collection of Classic Favorites Perfect for Solo Performances
When the Christmas season rolls around, there are plenty of chances to perform a guitar piece as entertainment at parties and events.
If you’re going to play, you might want to tackle something Christmas-themed—but you may be wondering which songs to choose.
In this article, we’ve picked a wide range of pieces: classic Christmas songs from J-pop and Western music that you’ll want to try singing and playing at least once, instrumental versions of standards, and band-friendly arrangement ideas you might want to perform.
It’s not only perfect for party entertainment but also useful for guitar practice—so guitarists, don’t miss it!
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[2026] Christmas Songs You’ll Want to Play on Guitar: A Collection of Classic Favorites Also Great for Singing and Playing (71–80)
O Christmas TreeJoe Pass
What wonderfully smooth guitar playing with a sense of restraint.
This piece was composed with “Tannenbaum,” meaning fir tree in Japanese translation, as its motif.
It’s quite jazzy and also challenging to play, but if you lock down the chord forms and then focus on your right hand, you’ll want to nail those flowing, arpeggiated fingerpicking lines perfectly.
We wish You a Merry Christmas
Known in Japanese as “Omedetō Christmas,” this is a Christmas song that almost everyone has heard—and probably sung at least once.
Its history is old; it’s said to have originated around the 1500s in the England region.
This song lets you celebrate both Christmas and the New Year at the same time, and its melody just makes you want to sing along! It’s also easy to perform at events like Christmas programs in nursery schools and kindergartens, or at activities in nursing homes.
Santa ClausELLEGARDEN
A four-piece rock band, ELLEGARDEN resumed activities in 2018 after a 10-year hiatus.
When it comes to Christmas songs, many people imagine either irresistibly cheerful tunes or, conversely, bittersweet ones.
This song, however, blends a poignant melody with the band’s signature intense guitar work, making it a track you’ll want to revisit every Christmas once you’ve heard it.
If your Christmas party has a setup that allows for a live band performance, this song is guaranteed to liven up the event.
[2026] Christmas Songs You’ll Want to Play on Guitar: A Collection of Classics Also Great for Singing and Playing (81–90)
Lonely This ChristmasElvis Presley
This is a song originally released in 1974 by the British rock band Mud, covered by Elvis Presley.
The lyrics tell a sad story of spending a lonely, heartbroken Christmas after a loved one has gone.
Elvis’s slow-tempo, tender vocals are striking, making it a great choice for a relaxed, stripped-down solo performance.
Tie a ribbon around my affectionLittle Glee Monster
This song became a hot topic after being featured in Coca-Cola’s Ribbon Bottle commercial, and it’s performed by the girls’ vocal group Little Glee Monster.
It’s included on their first EP, “I Feel The Light,” released in 2019.
The piece gently tells us that Christmas isn’t just a day for receiving presents, but a special day when everyone can be happy.
As you listen, before you know it your heart feels warm and a smile comes to your face.
Since it’s a slow ballad, it’s best to play it at a slightly relaxed tempo.
Wonderful Christmas TimePaul McCartney & Wings
This is a Christmas song by Paul McCartney of the Beatles.
While John Lennon’s Christmas song carries a stronger message, this one is a simple tune about the joy of Christmas.
Its clear, catchy melody showcases Paul’s signature style, making it perfect for livening up the holiday.
The chords use many barre shapes, so it’s a bit challenging, but because there are many repeated sections, once you memorize it you should be able to play it comfortably.
Christmas Time is HereSteve Vai
A lovely Christmas song performance by the guitar-playing god, Steve Vai.
Right from the calm intro, I’m captivated by the perfectly dialed-in distortion of the sound.
As it moves into the latter half, the dynamics build, and in the busier passages he unleashes the kind of masterful technique you’d expect from him.
It’s a romantic Christmas song packed with nuances that guitar players will especially appreciate.