Beginners should focus on strumming evenly and switching between chords smoothly. The song is in the key of C, and the tempo is moderate. If the chord transitions are difficult at first, practice slowly before speeding up.

For a slightly advanced version follow the video tutorial or read our instructions below for a simplified version.

To the full list of Christmas songs

Chords Used:

  • C (x32010)
  • G (320003)
  • Am (x02210)
  • F (133211 or x33210 for an easier version)

Intro:

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

Strum C chord gently to start the song.

Verse 1:
(Strumming: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up - Repeat for each chord)

C                      G
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Am                     F
You better not pout, I'm telling you why,
C                G              C
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

C                      G
He's making a list, he's checking it twice,
Am                     F
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice,
C                G              C
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Chorus:

C                F  
He sees you when you're sleeping,  
C                G  
He knows when you're awake,  
C                F  
He knows if you've been bad or good,  
    D7              G  
So be good for goodness sake!

Verse 2 (Same progression as Verse 1):
C                      G
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry,
Am                     F
You better not pout, I'm telling you why,
C                G              C
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Bridge (Optional – Repeat chords with light strumming):
C   G   Am   F
(Instrumental, hum the melody)

Ending:
C                      G
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Am                     F
You better not pout, I'm telling you why,
C                G              C
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Tips for Beginners:

  1. Practice Chord Changes: Focus on transitioning between C, G, Am, and F smoothly. Break the song into sections and master each one before combining them.
  2. Strumming Pattern: Start with a simple down-strum pattern if the suggested strumming is too challenging.
  3. Use a Capo: Place a capo on the 2nd fret if you want to match Springsteen's higher pitch.
  4. Play Along: Play along with the recording to get the feel of the rhythm and dynamics.

Have fun spreading holiday cheer!

How to take your guitar playing skills to the next level

The next step to bridging that gap is to explore the step-by-step lessons of the Fretello Learn Path. Not only will you learn how to master all of these chords, but it’ll teach you the basics and beyond including scales, power chords, improvisation and composition techniques, and much more!

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