Christmas

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of C 5 Chords 2 min read

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

A traditional Christmas song popularized by many artists. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, upbeat tempo to match the festive mood.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 2

C

He sees you when you’re sleeping

F

He knows when you’re awake

C

He knows if you’ve been bad or good

G7

So be good for goodness sake

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Verse 3

C

You better watch out, you better not cry

F

Better not pout, I’m telling you why

C

Santa Claus is coming to town

Chorus

F

He’s making a list and checking it twice

C

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

G7

Santa Claus is coming to town

Practice tip: Master the C to F transition, as it’s the most common change in this song.