Do You Hear What I Hear? - Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne

Do You Hear What I Hear? Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a well-known Christmas carol, originally composed in 1962. Its gentle, flowing melody and simple chord structure make it accessible for beginner guitarists, especially when played in the key of C as in this arrangement.

Chords & Transitions:
The main chords used are C, F, G, G7, Am, and Em. All are common open chords, well-suited for beginners. Practice transitioning especially between C and F, as this is a frequent movement; for F, you can use the simpler "F major 1-finger" version if full barre is too challenging.

Strumming Pattern:
A gentle strumming pattern works well, such as down-down-up-up-down-up (D D U U D U) or even a basic downstroke on each beat. Experiment with lighter strums to match the song's calm, storytelling feel. For added expression, try playing quieter on verses and a little fuller on chorus lines like "with a tail as big as a kite."

Techniques & Tips:
Pause briefly at the end of each line to let the chord ring, giving the song a reflective mood. If you struggle with G7, try practicing the finger placement separately. Keep your strumming wrist loose, and focus on smooth transitions rather than speed.

With practice, these tips will help you capture the gentle spirit of the original while making the song your own.

Intro

C F C

Verse 1

Said the night wind to theG littleC lamb: Do you see whatF IC see?

Way up in the sky,G littleC lamb. Do you see whatF IC see?

AAm star, a star,Em dancing in the night, with aF tail asG big as aAm kite.

With aF tail asG⁷ big as aC kite.

Verse 2

Said the little lamb to theG shepherdC boy: Do you hear whatF IC hear?

Ringing thru the sky,G shepherdC boy. Do you hear whatF IC hear?

AAm song, a song,Em high above the tree, with aF voice asG big as theAm sea.

With aF voice asG⁷ big as theC sea.

Verse 3

Said the shepherd boy to theG mightyC king: Do you know whatF IC know?

In your palace warm,G mightyC king. Do you know whatF IC know?

AAm child, a child,Em shivers in the cold. Let usF bring HimG silver andAm gold.

Let usF bring HimG⁷ silver andC gold.

Verse 4

Said the king to the peopleG everyC where: Listen to whatF IC say.

Pray for peace, peopleG everyC where. Listen to whatF IC say.

TheAm child, the child,Em sleeping in the night. He willF bring usG goodness andAm light.

He willF bring usG⁷ goodness andC light.

Song Tabs