ChordSongs
Christmas

Carol of the Bells Chords

Traditional Intermediate Key of A 3 Chords 2 min read
Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Guitar

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.

Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Ukulele

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.

Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Piano

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.

Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Banjo

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.

Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Mandolin

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.

Amtap to play
Etap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
Am · E · Dm

Carol of the Bells Chords – Harmonica

The dramatic Ukrainian Christmas carol with its iconic four-note motif. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Em.

Dramatic Minor (3/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑
1234

Tip: This song has a relentless, driving feel in 3/4 time. The four-note repeating motif should be played with precision and building intensity.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
Em
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
Am
All seem to say, throw cares away
Em
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
B7 Em
To young and old, meek and the bold
 

Verse 2

 
Em
Ding dong ding dong, that is their song
Am
With joyful ring, all caroling
Em
One seems to hear words of good cheer
B7 Em
From everywhere, filling the air
 

Chorus

 
Am
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
Em
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Am
Gaily they ring, while people sing
B7 Em
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
 

Verse 3

 
Em
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Am
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Em
On on they send, on without end
B7 Em
Their joyful tone to every home
 

Final Chorus

 
Am Em Am B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em Am
Ding dong ding dong
Em B7
Ding dong ding dong
Em
 

Practice tip: The Em-Am-B7 progression drives the entire song. The 3/4 time signature gives it urgency. Practice the B7 to Em resolution — it’s the dramatic “landing” point at the end of each section.