Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

By Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca.

Published: 20 Oct 2015 Updated: 08 Dec 2020Visits: 1Code: UL589

Category: HolidayInstrument: Any Subjects: Songwriting • Rock • Holiday

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Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca. Despite her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded this song when she was only thirteen years old. The song's declaration of a rock and roll sound notwithstanding, its instrumentation also fits the country music genre, which Brenda Lee more fully embraced as her career evolved. The recording features Grady Martin's ringing guitar and Boots Randolph's swinging solo sax break. The song is written in the key of A-flat major.

Despite her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded this song when she was only thirteen years old. The song's declaration of a rock and roll sound notwithstanding, its instrumentation also fits the country music genre, which Brenda Lee more fully embraced as her career evolved. The recording features Grady Martin's ringing guitar and Boots Randolph's swinging solo sax break. The song is written in the key of A-flat major.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree…

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca.

My performance here is in the key of C, an easy ukulele key. With a Basie Ending thrown in for fun.

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Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca

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Traditional and Contemporary Triads

Updated: 20 Feb 2014

A "Triad" is a three note chord. In traditional chord theory there are four traditional triad chord types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. And four contemporary triad chord types: sus2, sus4, add2 and add9. Triads can be used harmonically, as chords and melodically, as single notes. Triads are a great way to get started with creating melodic solos and improvising.

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Using Triads on `Ukulele

Updated: 23 Apr 2015

In music or music theory, a triad is a three-note chord (or, more generally, any set of three notes, pitches, or tones). Triads can be used harmonically, as chords and melodically, as single notes. These lessons explore both. Using triads as chords like any other chord and using triads as a basis for creating melodies and improvising.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

Alternating Thumb Fingerpicking on Ukulele

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

This is the common alternating thumb and two finger strumming style utilizing the thumb, index and middle fingers. Commonly called “Travis” picking in the guitar world. This series of lessons explores and adapts this style to ukulele. Travis Picking is a finger-style made famous by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. This style is commonly played on steel string acoustic guitars.

Exploring Fingerpicking Technique on Ukulele

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The 'Ukulele is typically played with the fingers in a strumming style and finger picking. This series explores the two fingerpicking styles.

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Feliz Navidad

Updated: 29 Aug 2023

Feliz Navidad is a Christmas song written in 1970 by the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. With its simple Spanish chorus (the traditional Christmas/New Year greeting, "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad" meaning "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness") and equally simple English verse "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart", it has become a classic Christmas pop song in the United States, throughout the Spanish-speaking world and internationally.

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Jingle Bells

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"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and most commonly sung American songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857.

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Mele Kalikimaka

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Mele Kalikimaka (pronounced [ˈmɛlɛ kəˌlikiˈmɐkə]) is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. A chord chart with lyrics in the format typically used for ukulele beginner groups. A classis you can start playing around end of Novemeber into January. The season of holiday songs.

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Silent Night

Updated: 25 Nov 2014

Silent Night (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in March 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre.

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QuickStart Progressions Blues Track 4 - Rock

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