Learn "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon & Yoko Ono on guitar! ☮️💟

An all-time Christmas favorite!

It's a meaningful one too! John Lennon & Yoko Ono released this song in December 1971 as a symbol of their active role in the anti-war protest.

A symbol of hope for many. And - a simple and beautiful melody people love to sing along. There's some tasty guitar stuff in this tune. This includes Barre chords, sus chords, and other cool chord extensions! Some might be a little tricky - but I'll show you how you can tackle them. :)

So grab your guitar, and get ready to learn how to play Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) on guitar! If you're following my beginner guitar course, this song is excellent practice for Grade 5+ guitar players.

First, let's take a look at the rhythm.

Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) Rhythm

To play this Christmas song, you'll follow a 12:8 rhythm. This rhythm is similar to 4:4 times, but each beat is divided into 3.

Now - for the strumming pattern, you'll mix up and downstrums. If you need to, practice the strumming on its own. This way, you can make sense of the movement.

Follow the strumming pattern guide below:
D D U D U D

1 2 + 3 + 4 

Make sure to add a strumming accent on the first beat of each bar. Go for it - make it heavy - it's part of what makes this song so catchy!

Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) Chords

Loads of chords going on here. Some open chords, followed by sus chords & tricker barre chord transitions. With many different transitions, it's helpful to write them down.

You'll encounter cool chord extensions and add9 chords, which is great practice for intermediate guitar players. Go slow and ease into it! Few challenges in there, but with a bit of practice - you can nail it!

Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!