Released in 1997 as a radio promo single, it marked one of the band’s early holiday-themed tracks. The song satirizes the pressures of Christmas gatherings and carolers, capturing a more rebellious perspective on the festive season.

The track was recorded during the band's early years when they were solidifying their signature fast-paced sound. It gained popularity after its re-release in 2001 and became a staple for those looking to add some edgy fun to the holidays. The mix of humor, catchy power chords, and upbeat rhythm gives this song a lasting appeal among Blink-182 fans.

To the full list of Christmas songs

Chords Used (Power Chords for a Punk Rock Sound):

  • E5 (022xxx)
  • C#5 (x466xx)
  • A5 (x022xx)
  • B5 (x244xx)
  • G#5 (466xxx)

Strumming Pattern:

🎸 Pop-Punk Feel: Downstrokes for verses and upbeat down-up strumming for the chorus.

  • Verses: Fast down, down, down (palm-muted).
  • Chorus: Down, down-up, down-up, down-up.

I Won’t Be Home for Christmas - Blink-182 (Advanced Guitar Version)

For advanced players, this version includes octave melodies, lead fills, and a punk-inspired rhythm that emulates Blink-182’s studio recording. Incorporating faster picking, dynamics, and embellishments will add a professional touch.

Tuning:

Standard E A D G B e

Chords and Octaves Used:

  • E5 (022xxx)
  • C#5 (x466xx)
  • A5 (x022xx)
  • B5 (x244xx)
  • G#5 (466xxx)

Octaves:

  • C# Octave: (x4x6xx)
  • A Octave: (5x7xxx)
  • B Octave: (7x9xxx)

Intro (Power Chords + Lead Octave Riff):

Power Chords:

E5      C#5     A5      B5  
e|-------------------------------|  
B|-------------------------------|  
G|--9-------6--------------------|  
D|--9-------6------7------9------|  
A|--7-------4------7------9------|  
E|-----------------5------7------|

Lead Octave Riff:

e|---------------------------------|  
B|--4--4--5--4-----4--4--5--4------|  
G|--x--x--x--x-----x--x--x--x------|  
D|--6--6--7--6-----6--6--7--6------|  
A|---------------------------------|  
E|---------------------------------|

Play the power chords once, then overlay the octave melody for the second round.

Verse (Power Chords + Palm Muting):

Play with downstrokes and tight palm muting for a clean punk sound.

E5                    C#5  
Outside the carolers start to sing,  
       A5                   B5  
I can’t describe the joy they bring.  
    E5           C#5        A5       B5  
Cause joy is something they don’t bring me.

Lead Fill (Between Lines):

e|---------------------------------|  
B|------12-12--12-12--10--9--------|  
G|---------------------------------|  
D|---------------------------------|  
A|---------------------------------|  
E|---------------------------------|

Chorus (Power Chords + Lead Melodic Fills):

E5              C#5  
I won’t be home for Christmas,  
A5             B5  
I’m tired of all this nonsense.  
E5                 C#5  
Season’s greetings are so fleeting,  
A5             B5  
I just want to be alone this year.

Lead Guitar Harmony:

e|--12-12-10-9--10-12--10-9--10-9--|  
B|---------------------------------|  
G|---------------------------------|

Bridge (Octave Slides + Chugs):

Octave Slides:

e|---------------------------------|  
B|--4/5--5/7--7/9--9-7--5----------|  
G|--x----x----x----x----x----------|  
D|--6/7--7/9--9/11-11-9--7---------|  
A|---------------------------------|  
E|---------------------------------|

Chugged Power Chords:

A5                  B5  
I won’t be home, I won’t be home,  
E5                 G#5  
I won’t be home for Christmas.

Solo Section (Based on Chorus Chords):

Here’s a fast-paced Blink-182-inspired solo:

e|--12b14--12b14--12--10----12-12h14p12--10----|  
B|----------------------12-----------------12--|  
G|---------------------------------------------|  
D|---------------------------------------------|  
A|---------------------------------------------|  
E|---------------------------------------------|  

e|--10--9--10--12--9--------12--12--10--9------|  
B|------------------12b14-----------------12---|  
G|---------------------------------------------|  
D|---------------------------------------------|

Use bends, hammer-ons, and pull-offs for fluidity.

Outro (Heavy Finish):

Play the chorus chords while adding quick, syncopated downstrokes. End on E5 with a slight vibrato.

Final Chord:

e|----------------|  
B|----------------|  
G|--9------------|  
D|--9------------|  
A|--7------------|  
E|----------------|

Advanced Tips:

  1. Lead Harmony: Layer the melodic fills over the rhythm to recreate the studio version.
  2. Palm Muting Dynamics: Switch between muted verses and open-strummed choruses for impact.
  3. Speed Control: Use alternate picking for riffs and ensure the lead sections are clean at tempo (160-180 BPM).
  4. Tone: Use a bright, crunchy distortion with slight reverb for a polished pop-punk sound.

Final Thoughts:

This advanced version of “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” captures Blink-182’s high-energy sound with fast-paced riffs, dynamic fills, and harmonized leads. Mastering this will add an impressive and edgy track to your holiday playlist. 🎸

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