12 Harmonica songs you should learn for Christmas

Is Christmas just around the corner? Would you like to impress friends and family with your harmonica playing over Christmas Eve dinner or lunch on December 25th? You’ve come across the page for you! You will learn to play not only Silent Night, Jingle Bells, and Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle on the harmonica, but also much more!

In this collection, I present twelve of the most famous and well-liked Christmas songs to play with this little 10-hole instrument. These are some that many of us have known some since childhood, and that will bring back to you and those who listen to you play many memories. There’s nothing more exciting than watching the snow come down from the window, surrounded by our loved ones and sipping a drink after the Christmas banquet. Add the wonderful tunes of these songs and the picture will be really complete. You’re going to learn and play on harmonica songs by East 17, Mariah Carey, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, The Jackson Five, and many others!

For each song in this collection, you'll find the audio clip. I have personally performed all of them, on a C harmonica, and played them in a freer way, deciding for each of them how much to stick to the original melodies. In some cases, you’ll find variations of the main theme as well as some improvisation. The purpose of this page is to give you some great ideas about how to play any song you like, whether it’s a harmonica song or one that doesn’t involve harmonica, but that you want to use to reproduce the vocals or any other instrument.

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HARMONICA SONG INDEX

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

Do They Know It’s Christmas? By Band Aid

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5

Last Christmas by Wham!

Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by Bruce Springsteen

Stay Another Day by East 17

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

*** BONUS CHRISTMAS CONTENT! ***

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

SONG FACTS: In 1994, Mariah Carey recorded this Christmas song called "All I Want For Christmas is you". This work is known as one of the best Mariah 's songs, and it topped in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2019. The success of the track was enormous, it earned more than $60 million in royalties. I played for you a bluesy version, keeping it simple first, and add some more advanced techniques in the second part. Get your harmonica and play this wonderful song.

Song Key: G Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 2nd

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Listen to the audio clip

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

SONG FACTS: The Waitresses, a New Wave band that in 1981 released this Christmas song called "Christmas Wrapping." The song is present in many compilations and we might consider it one of the best pop holidays' songs. Below you'll find the verse, a variation of it, and the refrain part. Grab your harmonica and have fun!

Song Key: G Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 2nd

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Listen to the audio clip

Do They Know It’s Christmas? By Band Aid

SONG FACTS: This Christmas song was written in 1984 by Bob Geldof, performed by some of the most famous British and Irish singers that formed a band called "Band Aid." A million copies of the song have been sold, and the reason is that it was produced for raising money to help Ethiopia. I played on a C harmonica, the chorus, and an improvisation. Check it out!

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

SONG FACTS: In 1987, this song called "Fairytale of New York" was recorded by The Pogues. This Irish-Folk ballad contains some really soulful melodies, and I wanted to add them to my harmonica song collection for Christmas. You'll find the tabs for the first two verses, and a tongue blocking variations.

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono

SONG FACTS: This is a wonderful song to play on harmonica for Christmas! Written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono in 1971, the track reached the top position in the UK charts. It periodically appears again on the charts of several countries. You'll find here the verse and an advanced version that requires some tongue blocking features.

Song Key: G Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 2nd

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Listen to the audio clip

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5

SONG FACTS: I found this version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" really fun to play on harmonica. Its simplicity and the young voice of Michael Jackson caught my ear since the first time I listened to it. I rendered for you the original tunes and wanted to create a more complex version for the intermediate harmonica players. Give it a try, I'm pretty much sure you'll love it!

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Last Christmas by Wham!

SONG FACTS: "Last Christmas" is a song released by an English Pop duo called "Wham!" The song was produced by Geroge Michael, and many covers of it have been issued. This work reached the top positions in many countries' music charts, and it is well known everywhere. Here you'll find the harmonica version of the original verse, as well as an enhanced tab, and some improvised melodies. I'm sure you'll have fun playing these!

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson

SONG FACTS: The song was recorded in 1979 by Willie Nelson. "Pretty Paper" sounds great on harmonica and remembers me of a lullaby. The Country-Waltz rhythm and the sweet melodies will help your kids to relax, and you'll enjoy playing them with your harp. I played the chorus and the verse.

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

SONG FACTS: This song was written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brend Lee in 1958. Many covers of this track were recorded, and in 2008, the 50th-anniversary issue sold more than 25 million copies. This is a great Christmas song to play on harmonica, funny, and with a catchy rhythm! Come on, rock around the Christmas tree now!

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by Bruce Springsteen

SONG FACTS: This is an old Christmas song, published in 1934, and covered by many artist. Among them there is Bruce Springsteen, and I played the verse trying to keep it simple.

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

Stay Another Day by East 17

SONG FACTS: "Stay Another Day" was recorded by a British boy band called East 17, in 1994. The song topped the charts in countries like Sweden, Irleand, and Denmark, and reached the number one position in the UK singles chart. the same year this was the number one Christmas track. I played the refrain and the verse, enjoy the melodies that sound great on harmonica!

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

SONG FACTS: "White Christmas" was released in 1942. Sung by Bing Crosby, it is considered the world's most selled single in the music industry, we are talking about more than 50 million copies. Other versions of the song have ben sold, more than 100 million! Enjoy playing on harmonica its beautifuls tunes.

Song Key: C Major

Harmonica key: C

Position: 1st

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Listen to the audio clip