🎄Christmas tabs: Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles (Intermediate)

Florian Lettner -

The song is in the key of A major and uses a blend of chords, melody, and expressive dynamics to convey its heartfelt message.

Check out the video tutorial below:

To the full list of Christmas songs

Playing Tips

  1. Strumming Pattern: Use a slow and steady down-down-up-down-up strumming pattern. Emphasize the bass note of each chord for a bluesy feel.
  2. Fingerpicking (Optional): Add a fingerpicking style for the intro and verses. Pick the bass note first and follow with the higher strings in a rolling pattern.
  3. Chords: This song uses a combination of open chords and barre chords. Make sure your transitions are smooth.
  4. Feel: Play with a relaxed, soulful vibe. Add slight vibrato and dynamics for emotional expression.

Guitar Tabs and Lyrics

Intro

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-----2----------|-----2----------|-----2----------|-----2----------|
G|--2-----2----2--|--2-----2----2--|--2-----2----2--|--2-----2----2--|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--0-------------|----------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|

(Play with a slow, steady rhythm)

Verse 1

(Chords: A | Amaj7 | D | E)

         A                Amaj7
Bells will be ringing, the sad, sad news
         D                A
Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues
         A                    Amaj7
My baby's gone, I have no friends
           Bm                E
To wish me greetings once again

Chorus

(Chords: D | A | E | A)

          D                 A
Please come home for Christmas
         E               A
If not for Christmas, by New Year's night

Bridge

(Chords: F#m | Bm | E | A)

       F#m              Bm
Friends and relations send salutations
       E                       A
Sure as the stars shine above
       F#m                 Bm
This is Christmas, yes, Christmas my dear
         E                 E7
The time of year to be with the one you love

Solo

(Here’s the basic solo tab. Add slides and bends for feel.)

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|---2--2h3p2-----|---2--2h3p2-----|----------------|----------------|
G|--2---------2--2|--2---------2--2|---4--4/6-6--4--|--4---2---------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

Outro

Repeat the chorus softly and end with a slow strum on the A chord.

Chord Shapes

  • A: X02220
  • Amaj7: X02120
  • D: XX0232
  • E: 022100
  • Bm: X24432 (Barre)
  • F#m: 244222 (Barre)
  • E7: 020100

Final Notes

  • Use dynamics (soft and loud strumming) to match the emotional feel of the lyrics.
  • Practice the barre chords separately if you’re not used to them.
  • Feel free to improvise during the solo—use the pentatonic scale in the key of A.

Let me know if you'd like any adjustments or a deeper breakdown of specific sections! 🎸

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