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Tips for playing "The Twelve Days of Christmas": How do you keep a repetitive song like this one from dragging? Time signature changes! The switches between 3/4 and 4/4 are sure to keep you on your toes. A few specific recommendations: Just strum the chords that last for one beat (the ones played over "and a partridge in a pear tree") with a single downstrum each. Traditionally, you hold each of the chords played during the "Five golden rings" line, with a fermata at the end (a dramatic pause where you stop keeping track of the beat), the fermata lengthening as the song progresses. (Fun fact: Studies show a direct correlation between the average length of the fermatas and blood-eggnog level of the musicians.)
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Traditional
Most of this song is in 4/4, but chords in [brackets] are in 3/4.
| Chord Guide | |||
|
132 D: xx0232 |
1 2
A7: x02020 |
3 4
G: 3x0003 |
231
E: 022100 |
| Strumming Guide | |
|
4/4 Strum: D D U D D U 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
3/4
Strum:
D D U D U 1 + 2 + 3 + |
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
A par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A7
Two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A 7(1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] A7
Three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, five golden rings
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking,
[A7] [A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A (½) D (½)
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, Five golden rings
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
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.
