[2026] Christmas Songs You’ll Want to Play on Guitar: A Collection of Classic Favorites Perfect for Solo Performances

I want to fall in love so much that the slopes melt.Hirose Kōmi

I Want to Fall in Love So Much the Slopes Melt / Kohmi Hirose Cover by Emi Noda (NodaEmi)

Delicate and beautiful like snowflakes, Kohmi Hirose’s voice slices through the winter air.

This song, which captures the moment of falling in love, was released in December 1995 and was also featured as a movie theme and in commercials.

Its lyrics about a romance that begins at a ski resort bring a warm, touching feeling to listeners.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear with the arrival of winter—perfect for Christmas parties or as background music on a ski trip.

Even beginner guitarists might consider adding this song to their practice set.

With its crystal-clear high notes and passionate lyrics, it’s sure to warm the hearts of all who listen.

Lovely holidayTakeuchi Mariya

A Wonderful Holiday / Mariya Takeuchi – Guitar and Vocals (Cover)

A song by singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi, who balances family life and music and is even dubbed a “full-time housewife singer-songwriter.” Included on her 31st single, Nostalgia, it was originally written as a commercial song for KFC Japan’s Christmas-related products and has been used for many years since.

It features tricky chords like Csus4 and F#m7-5, rapid chord changes, and a bouncy shuffle beat, so it’s not easy—but once you master it, your guitar skills are sure to improve dramatically.

It’s a classic Christmas song that also brings the house down when you recreate its grand ensemble with a band.

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Hoshino Takashi

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O Christmas TreeJoe Pass

O Christmas Tree

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.

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Murakami Shinpei

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We wish You a Merry Christmas

(Christmas Carol) We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Sungha Jung

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.

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Araki Jakkan

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Santa ClausELLEGARDEN

ELLEGARDEN / Santa Claus (Acoustic)

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.

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Hoshino Takashi

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