ChordPocket

Up on the Housetop chords

Benjamin Hanby, 1864

Among the first songs to put Santa Claus on the roof with his reindeer. The "Ho, ho, ho!" chorus is a favorite with children.

Chords
3
Level
Easy
Time
4/4

Chords

C×321
F××321
G7321

Chart

Verse

  1. C
  2. /
  3. F
  4. C
  5. C
  6. /
  7. G7
  8. /
  9. C
  10. /
  11. F
  12. C
  13. C
  14. G7
  15. C
  16. /

Chorus

  1. F
  2. /
  3. C
  4. /
  5. G7
  6. /
  7. C
  8. /
  9. C
  10. F
  11. C
  12. /
  13. C
  14. G7
  15. C
  16. /

How to play it

You need 3 chords: C, F and G7. The change you'll make most is C to G7, so practice switching between those two slowly before playing along.

Each box is one bar of 4/4 time. Strum the chord on the beat, and change when the next box starts. A slash means keep playing the same chord.

Questions

What chords are in Up on the Housetop?

This arrangement uses C, F and G7.

Is Up on the Housetop easy to play on guitar?

Fairly. None of the 3 chords needs a full barre, though there are a few more shapes to learn.

Can I play Up on the Housetop with easier chords?

Yes. Put a capo on fret 3 and play A, D and E7. It sounds exactly the same.