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Tips for playing "Happy Xmas (War is Over)": This song's in 6/8, but you can strum it just like it's in 3/4--that's what John does in the recording. And despite cycling through several different keys, this song sticks to surprisingly finger-friendly chords (so kind of you, Mr. Lennon). The one exception is the Bm, and though it's probably the easiest of the barre chords, it's still a pain for many beginners. The open Bm7 is a decent substitution.



Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

John Lennon

 

In 6/8.  All chords played for two measures.

 

Chord Guide

        123

A:    x02220

       13421

Bm:   x24432

       231

E:    022100

         132

D:    xx0232

      3    4

G:    3x0003

       12

Em:   022000

 

 

 

       >           >

Strum: D   D U D U D   D U D U

       1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +

 

              A

So this is Christmas

                   Bm

And what have you done

             E

Another year over

                    A

And a new one just begun

                 D

and so this is Christmas

                Em

I hope you have fun

                    A

The near and the dear one

                D

The old and the young

 

Chorus:

              G

A very merry Christmas                           

                 A

And a happy New Year

                       Em

Let’s hope it’s a good one

             D

Without any fear

 

                A

And so this is Christmas

                 Bm

For weak and for strong

                      E

For rich and the poor ones

                A

The world is so wrong

               D

And so happy Christmas

                  Em

For black and for white

 

                   A

For yellow and red ones

                   D

Let’s stop all the fight

 

Repeat Chorus

 

                 A

And so this is Christmas

                 Bm

And what have we done

             E

Another year over

                A

A new one just begun

               D

And so happy Christmas

                 Em

We hope you have fun

                   A

The near and the dear one

                 D

The old and the young

 

Repeat Chorus

 

A

War is over,

Bm

If you want it

E

War is over

A

Now

 


This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.