Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You - Guitar Tab

About All I Want for Christmas Is You

Few holiday songs translate as well to guitar as this one, and at 120 BPM in G major the tempo sits comfortably enough that you can focus on feel rather than speed. The challenge is capturing the big, bright chime of the original arrangement within a guitar context: open G-position chords ring well here, and a capo can help you match the key to a more comfortable voicing if needed. The chord progression is straightforward pop movement through G major, but getting the rhythmic bounce right, that lilting, slightly behind-the-beat swing, is where most players stumble. Strumming patterns that lock into the 120 BPM pulse will take some attention, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse or chorus slowed down until the groove feels natural. Mariah Carey released the track in 1994, and it has since become a staple of the Pop repertoire. Fingerpickers can get a lot of mileage arranging the melody over a steady bass, which makes a satisfying solo guitar piece.

• The song sits in G major at 120 BPM, giving fingerstyle and strumming arrangements a comfortable, moderate tempo to work with.
• Nailing the rhythmic feel matters more than technical difficulty here: the swing in the strumming pattern is the hardest part to get right.
• A capo on the second or third fret lets you use open chord shapes while matching the key to your preferred vocal or arrangement register.