"The 12 Days of Christmas" is a traditional holiday song, dating back to late 18th Century. Creating a countdown for the 12 days before Christmas Day, the song, originally published in England, is actually misinterpreted in modern times. The 12 days actual begin after Christmas and countdown towards the end of the Christmas season, the Epiphany, on January 5.
Pay close attention to the song's structure, which is broken up into different sections. From day one ("1st day of Christmas...") to day 4 ("4th day of Christmas..."), every countdown is played on the G chord. Once you reach day five ("five golden rings"), the progression changes for each countdown. Every day higher than day five follows this same progression counting down.
The F and G chords can be played in different ways depending on where you are in the song in order to make transitions cleaner and easier. You will see Jen play different forms of F and G chords without moving her hand position. Follow along with the video to better understand the structure of the song and practice the chord progression.
The following chords are used in the song:
Sing & Play!
- Played in the key of C major with a moderate 4/4 feel -
C
On the first day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
C F C G C
A partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the second day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the third day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the fourth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Four calling birds,
G
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the fifth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the sixth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the seventh day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the eighth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Eight maids a-milking,
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the ninth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Nine ladies dancing,
G
Eight maids a-milking,
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the tenth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Ten lords a-leaping,
G
Nine ladies dancing,
G
Eight maids a-milking,
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Eleven pipers piping,
G
Ten lords a-leaping,
G
Nine ladies dancing,
G
Eight maids a-milking,
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.
C
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
G7 C
my true love sent to me
G
Twelve drummers drumming,
G
Eleven pipers piping,
G
Ten lords a-leaping,
G
Nine ladies dancing,
G
Eight maids a-milking,
G
Seven swans a-swimming,
G
Six geese a-laying,
C D7 G7
Five golden rings,
C Am
Four calling birds,
F
Three French hens,
G
Two turtle doves,
C F C G C
And a partridge in a pear tree.