Little Drummer Boy
View chords used in this chart
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 01:07:59 -0500
From: "D. James Stein" <djs10@rabbit.INS.CWRU.Edu>
To: guitar@olga.net
Subject: TAB: The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy
Tablature by David James Stein, law studen extraordinaire
(djs10@po.cwru.edu)
I dunno who originally wrote it... miscellaneous Christmas song...
Written up on 12/16/97
E ------------I------------I------------I------------I
B ------------I-0--0--0--0-I-1-0-1-0----I------------I
G ---0------2-I------------I------------I------------I
D ------------I------------I------------I------------I
A ------------I------------I------------I------------I
E -2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I
E ------------I------------I------------I------------I
B ------------I-0--0--0--0-I-1-0-1-0----I------------I
G ----0--0-2--I------------I------------I------------I
D ------------I------------I------------I------------I
A ------------I------------I------------I------------I
E -2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I
E ------------I----------0-I------------I------------I
B -------0--1-I-3--3--3----I-3-1-0------I------------I
G ---2--------I------------I-------2----I------------I
D ------------I------------I------------I------------I
A -0-----0----I-0-----0----I-0-----0----I-0-----0----I
E ------------I------------I------------I------------I
E ------------I----------0-I-1-0--------I-0----------I
B -------0--1-I-3--3--3----I-----3-1----I---3-1-0----I
G ---2--------I------------I------------I------------I
D ------------I------------I-0-----0----I-0-----0----I
A -0-----0----I-0-----0----I------------I------------I
E ------------I------------I------------I------------I
E ------------I------------I
B -3-1-0------I------------I
G -------2----I------------I
D -0-----0----I-0-----0----I
A ------------I------------I
E ------------I------------I
E ------------I------------I------------I------------I
B ------------I-0--0--0--0-I-1-0-1-0----I------------I
G ---0------2-I------------I------------I------------I
D ------------I------------I------------I------------I
A ------------I------------I------------I------------I
E -2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I-2-----2----I
E ------------I------------I
B ------------I------------I
G -2-0-2-0----I------------I
D ------------I------------I
A ------------I------------I
E -2-----2----I-2-----2----I
The best way I found to play this song is to hold a pick between your
index and middle fingers and use this for the melody, while strumming
the "drum" notes with your thumb. Make sure to strum hard because
they'll come out too quietly otherwise. The rhythm comes naturally
after a few tries. Enjoy and Merry Christmas (and Happy Hanukkah!)
- DJS
How to play Little Drummer Boy
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.