How to Play “Up on the Housetop” on Guitar

Learning to play Up on the Housetop on guitar is a great way for beginners to learn a holiday favorite. This arrangement, which you’ll find in the attached PDF, is designed to use open strings and the first few frets. If you’re comfortable reading tab and/or sheet music, dive into the PDF below! Here’s my article on note values if you need it.

Check out more Songs for Learning (including more holiday tunes) in my Free Sheet Music Library!

Focus on Melody

In this arrangement, the melody is arranged to keep everything within the first few frets, allowing for minimal movement and focusing on accuracy in finger placement. Playing melodies without chords is also an effective way for new students to build confidence in reading and playing music notation or tab. Open strings play an essential role in this arrangement. By incorporating open strings, you’ll find that the melody flows naturally without requiring any complex finger positions.

Musical Familiarity

Since Up on the Housetop is widely known and loved, it offers a familiar foundation for those starting to read music. By learning songs they recognize, beginners often feel more engaged and motivated to practice, as they’re more likely to notice when they’ve got the melody right.

Conclusion

With this simple arrangement of Up on the Housetop, beginners can gain confidence playing a holiday tune that’s both familiar and manageable. Focus on keeping a steady beat, utilizing open strings, and allowing the music’s natural flow to guide you. Enjoy this holiday tune, and feel free to share it with friends and family once you’ve mastered it!