[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 Tunes Also Great for Singing and Playing (41–50)
Christmas Tree FarmTaylor Swift
A gem of a holiday song by Taylor Swift that weaves Christmas memories together with a sweet, wistful melody.
Released in December 2019, this nostalgic and heartwarming track sings of childhood memories on a Christmas tree farm.
The music video, produced by Swift herself, features her own childhood home videos, visually expressing the bonds with her family.
Built on a simple chord progression, it’s an easy song for beginner guitarists to try.
Highly recommended for those who want to perform at a Christmas party or play on Christmas Eve with someone special.
Last Christmas EveYazawa Eikichi
A 15th single by Eikichi Yazawa—often called a living legend in the history of Japanese rock and known for his passionate fan base.
The song was used in a commercial for Johnnie Walker Red Label, and its gravelly vocals woven into the melody really resonate.
While the chord Bsus4, which can be tricky to fret, appears throughout, the song is largely built from basic chords, making it a great choice for acoustic guitar and vocals.
It’s a number I’d love you to practice with the song’s mood in mind—perfect for bringing a calm, understated atmosphere to Christmas.
Driving Home For ChristmasChris Rea
A heartwarming Christmas song that exquisitely blends the feeling of winter with a road trip.
Accompanied by gentle guitar tones, it celebrates the joy of returning to family even while stuck in traffic, and is included on the classic 1988 album “New Light Through Old Windows.” In fact, although the track was recorded in 1986, it didn’t attract much attention at first.
Over time, however, it resonated with many listeners and is now cherished as a winter staple.
It’s also approachable as a guitar practice piece, and performing it at a Christmas party or a cozy family gathering is sure to wrap the room in warmth.
Jingle BallsKorn
This is a heavy arrangement of Jingle Bells—the classic Christmas song known by children and adults alike—by the American metal band Korn.
The arrangement charges forward with ultra-low riffs on an 8-string guitar, palm-muted for maximum impact, and it’s guaranteed to hype up a live crowd during the holiday season.
Since the tempo is slow and it only uses basic techniques like single-note melodies and power chords, it’s also easy to cover.
However, to replicate it perfectly, you’ll need an 8-string guitar or a pitch shifter to hit those ultra-low notes.
If you can prep the gear, give it a try.
Gift of the Holy NightHata Motohiro
It’s a lovely Christmas song that conjures up images of a snowy town.
Written and performed by singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata, it’s included on his fifth album, “Ao no Kōkei,” released in 2015.
It gained attention when it was used in a commercial for House’s “Hokkaido Stew.” The lyrics express a pure wish felt on Christmas Eve with a loved one: I want to spend this day with you next year, and the year after that, too.
Since it’s a ballad, be careful not to let the tempo speed up.
Last ChristmasWham!
A song by Wham!, the British pop duo that produced many hits in the early 1980s.
Although it’s a breakup-themed track, its catchy melody and Christmas-like feel have captivated many listeners, making it a holiday staple in Japan as well.
The chords used are simple, and it’s such a famous song that even people not familiar with Western music have likely heard it at least once.
It’s a sure-fire number to liven up any Christmas event if you perform it as a vocal-and-guitar piece.
HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over)John Lennon
This classic Christmas song features a beautiful chord progression composed by John Lennon, making it a truly wonderful piece.
Much like Beatles songs, it basically unfolds with simple chord progressions, but true to Lennon’s style, he adds notes to basic chords—using things like sus4 and sus2—to create a more dramatic development.
The progression feels fantastic, so definitely try practicing it and give it a go!
