
This chart will look wacky unless you
rotate your phone

This song is included in my totally awesome (and FREE) Christmas Carol Songbook, which includes lots of tips you don't see here. Merry Christmas!
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Traditional
Most of this song is in 4/4, but chords in [brackets] are in 3/4.
Chord Guide | |||
132 D: xx0232 |
1 2
A7: x02020 |
3 4
G: 3x0003 |
231
E: 022100 |
Strumming Guide | |
4/4 Strum: D D U D D U 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
3/4
Strum:
D D U D U 1 + 2 + 3 + |
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
A par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A7
Two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A 7(1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] A7
Three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, five golden rings
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking,
[A7] [A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A (½) D (½)
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
D (½) E (½) A7
Five golden rings.
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
D A7 (½) D (½)
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping,
[A7] [A7] [A7]
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,
[A7] D (½) E (½) A7
Six geese-a-laying, Five golden rings
[D] [G] A7
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,
D (1 beat) G (1 beat) D (1 beat) A7 (1 beat) D
And a par - tridge in a pear tree.
This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.