Guitar Noise

Learn Christmas songs on guitar

Learning Christmas songs is going to be easier than ever this year. We hope you have fun learning these songs and sharing them with your friends and family over the holidays.

Many more songs are available on Christmas songs page.

Silver Bells

David Hodge, December 1, 2008

This is a simple chord melody arrangement of a Christmas classic that most beginners should be able to get a handle on fairly quickly.

The First Noel

Peter Simms, November 24, 2008

Not so much a lesson as a nice chord melody arrangement of this beautiful Christmas song, courtesy of Peter Simms.

Man on the Moon - R.E.M.

David Hodge, November 17, 2008

Man on the Moon is a beautiful song that beginners can play easily and while adding some nice touches for a solo arrangement.

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) - Simon and Garfunkel

David Hodge, November 17, 2008

Even beginners can learn this Simon and Garfunkel arrangement as we will be using chord shapes that involve only one or two fingers of the fretting hand!

Don't miss: How To Practice Guitar With A Limited Amount Of Time by Tom Hess

Recent Articles

Color Me Blue - Turning Scales into Solos - Part 5

David Hodge, November 1, 2008

It only takes a single note to change the minor pentatonic scale into the “blues scale.” And what a world of difference that one note can make! As in the previous lessons in this series, we’ll provide you with MP3 sound files in order to help you create your own solos.

Guitar Trips Great and Small

Special to Guitar Noise, October 30, 2008

Susan Schwartz returns to Guitar Noise with two stories of recent trips - one to the Martin Guitar Factory in Nazareth, Pennsylvania and one to a small town in Maine where there happened to be an open mic night. You never know where you’re going to find a chance to play and enjoy music!

“FOD” for Thought

David Hodge, October 10, 2008

You never know who you’re going to meet in life. And, given the way things are these days, you also never know who you’re not going to meet yet still get to know and appreciate. Joining FODFest the past two years has hammered home, to me at least, the point that every life can make a difference in this world.

Getting Past “Up and Down” – Part 1: “Sock Puppets”

David Hodge, September 15, 2008

Guitarists nowadays think of rhythm in terms of “up” and “down,” the motions of strumming, instead of thinking of rhythm in much simpler terms - numbers and counting. In this, the first of a series of four articles, we begin to hone our strumming techniques so that any rhythmic pattern will be within our grasp.

Combining The Major Scale With The Minor Pentatonic - Turning Scales into Solos - Part 4

David Hodge, September 15, 2008

Last time out we sampled the different flavors the major and minor pentatonic scales offered us as tools for soloing over blues progressions. While each had its owns merits, we can create an even more tasteful (not to mention useful) solo when we combine the major scale with the blue note elements of its own minor pentatonic. Come listen!

Guitar and Music Books

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar

by David Hodge

Whether readers have just picked up the bass or are learning to improve their technique, this book provides a strong foundation in reading music, purchasing the right equipment, and care and maintenance of the bass guitar.

Customer reviews:

"David Hodge has written a very good book on the bass - of which there are very few."
"Mr. Hodge anticipates questions very well, and his conversational writing style translates superbly to learning an instrument."

Read our full review of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar.