Ukulele Tricks Online Ukulele Lessons
  • Lessons
    • How to Play Ukulele
    • Free Lessons
    • Books
  • Courses
  • Songs
  • Tools
    • Online Ukulele Tuner
    • Ukulele Chord Library
    • Baritone Chord Library
  • Blog
  • More
    • About
    • Ukulele Buying Guide
    • Contact
  • Log In
  • Log In
  • Sign Up

Learn to Fingerpick “Jingle Bells”

by Brett McQueen

The song Jingle Bells will forever be a must-know Christmas song.

It’s a song you can strum, or as you’ll learn today, you can fingerpick.

In this lesson, you learn to fingerpick the chords and sing Jingle Bells with the chords and ukulele tabs included.

Let’s get to it!

First, watch the video and hear a performance of Jingle Bells.

Before moving forward, you’re going to want to download the ukulele tab and chord chart for this song.

Download the ukulele tab and sheet music for Jingle Bells.

If you don’t know how to read ukulele tab, don’t worry. It’s easy to learn with this lesson here.

Next, be sure to brush up on the chord positions you must know to play this song.

In the next video, I demonstrate the fingerpicking pattern counted out loud. This is the first thing you’ll want to practice.

Practice this pattern over a G major chord.

In the ukulele tab, the letter p indicates to pluck with the thumb, i indicates to pluck with the index finger, m indicates to pluck with the middle finger, and a indicates to pluck with the ring finger.

The letters p-i-m-a are the initials for the Spanish words for each finger: pulgar (thumb), indice (index finger), medio (middle finger), and anular (ring finger).

Once you’ve practiced the chords and the picking pattern for Jingle Bells, the next step is to play through the song’s chord progression while counting out loud.

For now, you’re not worried about the singing. It’s easier to sing out the melody of the song when you’re sure that you’re picking and chord changes are rock solid!

Hear how Jingle Bells sounds played and counted out loud at a slower tempo.

Once you can fingerpick the chord progression of the song, then, it’s just a matter of humming out the melody and eventually singing out the words nice and strong!

Take it slow and you’re sure to see progress.

Great job!

Learn to Fingerpick with Fingerpicking Tricks

If you’re new to fingerpicking, then, I’m here to help.

In the Fingerpicking Tricks online video lesson course I teach you pattern-based fingerpicking on the ukulele which allows you to pick complex and syncopated patterns like this one. With small, easy steps you have what you need to learn how to fingerpick the ukulele in multiple styles.

Why don’t you join me?

Learn to fingerpick. Take your fingerpicking skills to the next level on the ukulele, learning fingerpicking pieces in four distinct styles.

Learn More

Not sure where to go next? Grab the free ukulele lesson book.

Your First Ukulele Lesson And Then Some Book

Join over 50,000 people and get our free ukulele lesson book Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some. Learn new tricks like:

  • How to properly tune, hold, and strum your ukulele
  • The most essential "must-know" ukulele chords
  • How to play 3 extremely versatile strumming patterns
  • How to play "I've Been Working On the Railroad"

To get a free copy of the digital lesson book delivered to your inbox, enter your email below:

    Start Here

    Join over 50,000 people and get the free ukulele lesson book

    Your First Ukulele Lesson And Then Some

      100% privacy. We promise to keep your
      email safe. Learn more.

      Courses

      Strumming Tricks course

      Perfect for beginners. Become proficient in strumming, rhythm and chord changes on the ukulele, improving your skills while learning actual songs.

      Fingerpicking Tricks course

      For players beyond the basics. Take your fingerpicking skills to the next level on the ukulele, learning fingerpicking pieces in four distinct styles.

      View More Courses →

      Books

      Ukulele Exercises For Dummies by Brett McQueen

      Written by Brett McQueen, founder of UkuleleTricks.com.

      Learn More

      View More Books →

      Popular

      • Ukulele Sizes: Soprano, Concert, Tenor & Baritone
      • Somewhere Over the Rainbow Ukulele Chords & Lesson
      • How to Play Ukulele: The Ultimate Guide to Learn to Play Ukulele Today
      • Tuning Your Ukulele to Low G
      • How to Play the E Major Chord on Ukulele the Easy Way
      • 3 Best Ways to Play the E Major Chord on Ukulele
      • 5 Effective Strumming Patterns for Beginners
      • Ukulele vs. Guitar: Complete Guide to Decide Which to Learn
      • Start Reading Music in 30 Minutes or Less
      • My Free Ukulele Lesson Book is Finished!
      • 5 Best Ukuleles to Buy for Beginners
      • How to Play the 12-Bar Blues On Ukulele
      • How to Play a C Major Scale on Ukulele
      • Ukulele Blues Fingerpicking Lesson for Beginners: Pattern #1
      • Best Ukulele Strumming Pattern to Learn a New Song

      About

      Brett McQueen
      Brett McQueen is the founder of Ukulele Tricks and author of the internationally-published book Ukulele Exercises For Dummies. He teaches thousands of people from around the world to play ukulele in a non-intimidating, easy-to-follow style. Read more.

      Copyright © 2025 Ukulele Tricks – a McQueen Machine, LLC website.
      Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Links