Top 10 Ukulele Christmas Songs: A Christmas Special

by | Dec 24, 2017 | Video lessons

Golden bell with sheet music of "Jingle Bells" and blue Christmas ornaments.What’s a good Christmas without some merry music? In this Christmas special, we present a countdown of our top 10 ukulele Christmas songs.

Christmas is the time of the year when friends and family come together to celebrate this important holiday. So it is a time to share happiness and goodwill with those we love. Here at ukulele.io, we wish our members and the whole ukulele community a merry Christmas with our most popular ukulele Christmas video tutorials.

If your favorite doesn’t appear on the list, let us know in the comments!

Top 10 Ukulele Christmas Songs

 

#10 – The Christmas Song

At number 10 is The Christmas Song. The Chrismas Song, better known as ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ is a classic Christmas song. Bob Wells and Mel Tormé wrote the song in 1945. The ukulele version has a lot of chords. But that means more fun for you!

 

#9 – We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Next up is We Wish You a Merry Christmas. This is a popular English Christmas Carol that has been around since the 16th century. Almost everyone knows this famous piece. It is one of the few Christmas carols that mentions the New Year, which comes a week after Christmas. Enjoy the tutorial below.

 

#8 – Oh Christmas Tree

At number 8 is the beautiful Oh Christmas Tree. This is actually a German folk song with the original title of “O Tannenbaum.” A tannenbaum is a fir tree in German. You can listen to the bilingual performance of the first verse of O Tannenbaum here. Then watch the ukulele tutorial below.

 

#7 – Jingle Bells

Yes, Jingle Bells just had to be on this list. Jingle Bells is not only one of the best known Christmas songs, it claims the distinction of being one of the most popular American songs of all time. It was originally intended for the Thanksgiving season and had no relation to Christmas. However, it became associated with Christmas after it was first performed on Washington Street in Boston in 1857.

 

#6 – Silver Bells

Silver Bells comes in at number 6. Jay Livingston and Ray Evans composed this popular Christmas song. The duo originally wrote the song for the movie “The Lemon Drop Kid.”  On the other hand, Decca Records released the first recording of the song. This was the Bing Crosby and Carol Richards’ version which became very popular. Enjoy the tutorial below.

 

#5 – Let It Snow

Next up, Let It Snow. The song was written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945. It was written in Hollywood, California during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions. Technically, Let it Snow is not a Christmas song since the song’s lyrics make no mention of Christmas. However, it is played on radio stations during the Christmas season and has become associated with the holiday over time. Various artists also often cover the song on Christmas-themed albums.

 

#4 – Silent Night

The beautiful Silent Night takes up position 4 on the top 10 list. It is one of the world’s most famous Christmas carols. Joseph Mohr  wrote the song’s lyrics in 1816. He (Joseph) was from the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. Franz Xaver Gruber composed a melody to fit the text in the schoolhouse of Arnsdorf, on Christmas Eve, 1818.

 

#3 – Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland takes the third position. This famous Christmas song was first published in 1934. The lyricist was Richard B. Smith and the composer was Felix Bernard. Through the decades it has been recorded by over 200 different artists. The lyrics of Winter Wonderland have undoubtedly contributed to the magical vision of snow at Christmas, together with the tradition of building snowmen to turn fantasy into reality by creating a real winter wonderland.

 

#2 – Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad almost always lands in any list of top 10 ukulele Christmas songs. It’s no surprise then that it comes at number 2 on our list. It is a bilingual Christmas song written in 1970 by Puerto Rican songwriter José Feliciano. The famous song comprises a simple English verse with a Spanish chorus, “Feliz Navidad, próspero año y Felicidad” that translates as “Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness.”

 

#1 – Jingle Bell Rock

And the grand prize goes to Jingle Bell Rock. The song is considered the first mainstream rock and roll Christmas song. It was released by Bobby Helms in 1957. The song enjoys frequent airplay across the United States during the Christmas period. Many artists  have covered the song including Hall & Oates, The Platters, 38 Special, and The Beach Boys. The sweet rock and roll tune makes this song a wonderful piece to play during the Christmas period. The tutorial below guides you on how to play Jingle Bell Rock.

We hope you enjoyed our top 10 list of ukulele Christmas songs. Learn more ukulele Christmas songs and get access to video tutorials with 21 Easy Ukulele Songs for Christmas.

 

You want to fill your home with Christmas cheer! You know a few chords and strumming patterns. And you’d like to play the melodies too.

Look no further. Our Christmas book offers all this and more!

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Related posts:

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  1. Teach a Rest Position

Create a standard position players use whenever they are listening:

  • Place the ukulele flat against the body.
  • Rest the strumming hand gently on the strings.
  • Keep both hands still.
  • Look toward the leader.

Call it “rest position” and demonstrate it at the group’s first meeting. Use the same phrase consistently: “Ukuleles in rest position, please.”

This physically mutes the strings and gives everyone a clear visual signal that playing has stopped.

  1. Use One Attention Signal

Choose a signal that can be seen or heard across the room. Possibilities include:

  • Raising one hand
  • Playing a short, distinctive chord
  • Saying, “Rest position”

Explain the signal before rehearsal begins: “When you see my hand raised, finish the chord you are playing, mute your strings, and look up.”

Avoid competing with the group by repeatedly talking over the instruments. Give the signal, pause, and wait until everyone is ready.

  1. Set a Clear “No Noodling” Expectation

Many players noodle because they are excited, nervous, practicing a difficult chord, or unaware that it is distracting. Address the behavior without embarrassing anyone.

Try saying:

“Between songs, please mute your strings so everyone can hear the instructions. We’ll always give you a moment to check chords before we begin.”

Then build short, intentional practice windows into the session:

  • “Take 20 seconds to find the opening chord.”
  • “Quietly check the change from C to G7.”
  • “Let’s try that strum together once.”

Players are more likely to stop playing at random when they know when practice is welcome.

  1. Amplify the Leader, Not the Entire Room

In larger groups, a small microphone, portable speaker, or amplified ukulele can save the leader’s voice and make directions easier to follow. Amplification should provide clarity—not to overpower the players.

Test the equipment before the session, position the speaker where everyone can hear it, and keep spoken instructions short. A microphone cannot replace an attention routine, but it makes a good routine much more effective.

  1. Create Predictable Transitions

Noodling often fills uncertainty. Tell players exactly what is happening next:

    1. “Finish the final chord.”
    2. “Rest position.”
    3. “Turn to page 14.”
    4. “Find a C chord.”
    5. “Watch for my count-in.”

Use a visible or audible count-in before every song. Once players learn that nothing begins until the leader counts them in, spontaneous starts become less common.

6. Operate iPads for music.

Many ukulele groups read off iPads, and everyone buys the same app. forScore is one of the common ones, but don’t get anything until the group leader tells you which one they use. From there, the leader or the singer/songwriter shares the music by AirDrop, so everyone is reading off the same page. Corrections land with the whole group at once, and nobody is working from an outdated copy.

 

A Simple Group Agreement

At the beginning of a session, say:

“To help everyone hear and learn, we use rest position whenever someone is speaking. When I raise my hand, please mute your strings and look up. You’ll have time to check chords before each song, and we’ll always start together on the count-in.”

The goal is not silence for its own sake. It is to create a group in which instructions are brief, rehearsals move smoothly, and everyone gets more time to make music together.

 

Here’s a list of etiquette expectations from ukulele group members to make the group learning more effective and fruitful for everyone. 

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