Deck the Halls

"Deck the Halls" is derived from the popular Welsh song, "Nos Galan," originally recorded on the harp in 1784 by Edwards Jones. The song was originally a traditional New Year's hymn but is treated more often as a Christmas carol in modern times.

The exercise uses simple downstrokes in its strumming pattern. The song contains only a handful of basic chords, but the F chord is a bar chord that requires more attention for beginners. If it's easier, play the F and G chords in ways that make your transitions cleaner without having to take your hand out of position, especially for the sections of the song with quick transitions.

The song is split into two sections, the second of which uses the quick transitions. The line that begins "Don we now..." moves into quick chord changes at "fa la la..." then returns to the original progression with "Troll the ancient..." Practice the close transitions to make sure it flows smoothly.

Start slowly by learning the progression and then build up your speed. Follow along with video to learn the different sections and the chord progressions.

The song uses the following chords:

Sing & Play!

- Played in the key of C major with a relaxed 4/4 feel -

C                             G               C
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
C                       G      C
Tis the season to be jolly, 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

G                          C
Don we now our gay apparel, 
C           Am      D7   G
Fa la la, la la la, la la la. 
C                         G            C
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, 
F              C     G     C
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

C                        G         C
See the blazing Yule before us, 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
C                             G           C
Strike the harp and join the chorus. 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

G                   C
Follow me in merry measure, 
C           Am      D7   G
Fa la la, la la la, la la la. 
C                   G            C
While I tell of Yule tide treasure, 
F              C     G     C
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

C                      G           C
Fast away the old year passes, 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
C                        G            C
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, 
C                      G
Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

G                         C
Sing we joyous, all together, 
C           Am      D7   G
Fa la la, la la la, la la la. 
C                        G              C
Heedless of the wind and weather, 
F              C     G     C
Fa la la la la, la la la la.