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The Lesser-Known History of “Jingle Bells”
In today’s article, we have a short story about the Jingle Bells song together with a guide on how to play Jingle Bells on the ukulele.
Some things are certain in life and one of them is that you are always going to hear “Jingle Bells” on Christmas. The first Christmas song you learned to sing in school.
Sung by carolers (and cats) worldwide. My favorite holiday tune of the Joker is – because he gets away. You know it as well as Happy Birthday – maybe better. But how much do you know about “Jingle Bells?”
Legend says that the song made its debut in 1850 in Medford, Massachusetts, composed by James Lord Pierpont. Pierpont was a native of the town and wished to write something to commemorate the town’s annual sleigh races around Thanksgiving.
Historians have cast some doubt on that date because it’s recorded that Pierpont had relocated to Savannah, Georgia by that time. However, there’s a plaque in the Medford town square saluting Pierpont’s songwriting achievement.
He revealed the song in 1857 under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh.” It had three verses along with the one we usually sing today and details a young couple who go riding and tip their sleigh in a snowdrift.
As its popularity elevated, the song became simply known as “Jingle Bells,” referring to the jolly chorus. It was first recorded in 1889 on an Edison cylinder. While that recording no longer exists, the second one from 1898 can still be found online.
Here is the 1898 version of the recorded song:
As you already know, today we will learn how to play “Jingle Bells” on Ukulele in 5 chords but additionally, we will also put one easier version for beginners.
How to Play Jingle Bells on the Ukulele:
Playing The Chords
This version has 5 chords that we are going to use in order to play this song and we hope that you are going to learn them quickly enough.
As we already mentioned in case you are looking for some easier versions, just scroll down where the beginner’s lesson is also added!
“Jingle Bells” Ukulele Chords Structure and Lyrics
O
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits b
What
Chorus:
O
I
O
I
a
And
The horse was lean and lank, Misfortune seemed his l
We r
Chorus:
O
O
In
a
I w
a gent was riding by in a one-horse open s
He l
Chorus:
O
In
O
T
Just bet a bobtailed bay, Two forty as his s
H
watch: How to play Jingle Bells on ukulele beginners version
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this Jingle Bells easy ukulele tutorial and you will have a great time playing it with your family, especially for holidays.
In case you are interested in some additional lessons feel free to check our “Mary Had a Little Lamb” ukulele lesson, How To Play “8” By Billie Eilish On Ukulele, or How To Play “Let It Be” On Ukulele.
Happy Strumming!
