Hello, here are a few Christmas holiday classics arranged for the 3 and 4-string cigar box guitar in GDG and GDGB tuning.  We will learn one tune with the slide and the other with fingerpicking.  The first tune is O Christmas Tree and is suitable for most beginner players starting out with a slide.   The second tune is O Come All Ye Faithful and a little more challenging if you are not used to playing with your fingers.

I’ve also included a basic melody and chord sheet for both tunes.  If the cigar box guitar fingerstyle arrangement is too tricky, you can just strum the chords.

If you are a complete newbie to the cigar box guitar (CBG), check out this article for beginners:  “how to play cigar box guitar” 

O Christmas Tree – 3 and 4-String Cigar Box Guitar

Our first tune is based on the traditional Silesian folk song “Ach Tannenbaum” from the 16th century.  The lyrics were adapter in 1824 to the German version “O Tannenbaum,” the English version “O Christmas Tree” in English, and the French “Mon beau sapin.” This well-known tune didn’t start out as a Christmas carol but an ode to the evergreen symbol of consistency and unchanging quality of fir trees.

CBG Lesson Tips:

First, have a look at the leadsheet for the 3-string.  There are only two chords, G and D, but I added some variations on each of the chords for variety and also to follow the melody notes.  This tune can be played with the slide or fingers.

If you are playing with a slide, use your fingers and slide together.  This will allow you to play the melody notes smoothly and avoid quick movements with the slide.

For example, in measure 3 (…faithful are thy), I play the 4 on the 2nd string with my first finger and let the slide play the 1st string notes.

Listen to the audio for O Christmas Tree below:

4-String Cigar Box Guitar – Leadsheet – O Christmas Tree:

4-String Cigar Box Guitar – O Christmas Tree w/Slide

Drone Notes on the Cigar Box Guitar

O Christmas Tree works excellent in the key of G letting the open notes ring.  These open notes create what’s called a drone.  This helps tie the harmony together and hide some of the rattles from the slide.

You could play this with a pick but probably more manageable with the fingers.  Feel free to add any extra slides or drone notes to your liking.

The 4-string cigar box guitar version is a little trickier with a slide, but again use a combination of fingers and slide instead of just the slide.

Alright, let’s move on to the fingerstyle arrangements of O Come All Ye Faithful.  Also check out the:  3 & 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Holiday Collection Book 

O Come All Ye Faithfull – 3 and 4-string Cigar Box Guitar

O Come, All Ye Faithful is another very old tune possibly dating back to the 17^th century.  The hymn is also known in Latin as “Adeste Fideles.”

This arrangement for the 3 and 4-string CBG also uses the open string drones to advantage.  A few quick tips for these tunes:

1. Review any of the difficult parts first.  If there are chords you don’t know, make sure to learn the fingerings before you start.
2. Keep the melody clean and louder than the bass drone notes.  Remember, the melody is king in this type of tune.
3. Start slow and gradually build your speed and keep the tempo steady.

Have a listen to the audio track for O Come All Ye Faithful:

4-String Cigar Box Guitar – O Come All Ye Faithful

And there you have it.  I hope you were able to make sense and learn a couple holiday classics.   If you want to learn more, check out my book, Cigar Box Guitar Holiday Collection.  There are 30 tunes arranged for the 3 and 4-string cigar box guitar with tab, chords and lyrics.  There are also some good tips on how to accompany, some fingerpicking exercises to warm up with and a list of the most common chords on the cigar box guitar. 

For more cigar box guitar chord books, check out the Complete Cigar box Guitar Chord Book for the 3-string and 4-string.

Check back often for more free cigar box guitar lessons, and leave suggestions for future posts below.

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