Dean Martin - Silver Bells - Guitar Lesson

The Dean Martin Christmas Album

1966 2:25

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About Silver Bells

Few Christmas standards sit as comfortably under the fingers as "Silver Bells," and in C major at 120 BPM it moves at a gentle waltz-like pace that rewards clean, unhurried playing. The song's backbone is a simple but expressive chord progression, and the challenge is not complexity but feel: keeping the strumming or fingerpicking relaxed and in the pocket without rushing the beat. E Standard tuning means no retuning is needed, so you can jump straight into working on smooth chord transitions, particularly any stretch between open and barre shapes. The melody is strong enough to carry on a single guitar, making this a good candidate for a chord-melody arrangement where you voice the tune on top while comping beneath it. If a chord-melody passage feels awkward at tempo, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the movements become automatic. Dean Martin's phrasing on this recording is laid-back and behind the beat, and matching that relaxed feel in your accompaniment is the real lesson here. The broader Pop Rock approach to the arrangement keeps things rhythmically straightforward, which makes it a rewarding piece for players building their holiday repertoire.

• Played in C major in E Standard tuning, the song requires no retuning and works well with open chord voicings throughout.
• The 120 BPM tempo sits in a comfortable waltz feel, so focus on keeping your strumming arm relaxed and avoiding any tendency to rush.
• A chord-melody arrangement suits this song well: try placing the vocal melody on the highest strings while holding chord shapes beneath it.