Christmas

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Guitar

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Ukulele

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Piano

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Banjo

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Mandolin

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Chords – Harmonica

The beloved Christmas hymn celebrating the birth of Christ with triumphant joy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Chords used: G, C, D, Em · Key: G · Difficulty: Beginner

Joyful Hymn (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

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Tip: Play with a strong, confident strum. This is a triumphant hymn — let the chords ring out boldly.

Chords & Structure

Full Song

Verse 1

G – D – G

C – G – D

G – D – G

C – G – D

Em – D – G (×2)

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Chorus

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Verse 2

G – D – G

C – G – D

G – D – G

C – G – D

Em – D – G (×2)

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Chorus

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Verse 3

G – D – G

C – G – D

G – D – G

C – G – D

Em – D – G (×2)

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Chorus

C – G – D

C – G – D – G

Practice tip: The main chords are G, C, and D with some Em passages. This is an excellent beginner Christmas song — the chord changes follow the natural rhythm of the melody.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"?

It was written by Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn.