Christmas

Little Drummer Boy Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 2 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A traditional Christmas carol about a poor boy’s humble gift to the newborn king. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Gentle Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, marching rhythm to mimic a drumbeat.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G D

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

A newborn king to see, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

When we come.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Verse 2

G D

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I played my drum for him, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I played my best for him, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Then he smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

Me and my drum.

Chorus

G D

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

G D

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

C G

That’s fit to give our king, pa rum pum pum pum,

C G

Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

C G

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

D G

On my drum?

Practice tip: Mute the strings with your strumming hand on the “pa rum pum pum pum” parts to create a percussive, drum-like sound.