Dec112021

Chris Tomlin – I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsC G/B Am7GD Gsus4 Bsus4 B/D#Em A/C#G/DDsus4D/C

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
C - G/B - Am7 - G - D    G
G - Gsus4 - G

[Verse 1]
G                                Gsus4
 I heard the bells on Christmas day
G
 Their old, familiar
          Bsus4  B/D#
 carols play
    Em         G/B       A/C#
And wild and sweet their words repeat
   C     G/B Am7
Of peace on  earth,
G    D       G   Gsus4
good-will to men

[Verse 2]
G
 And thought how,
                 Gsus4
 as the day had come
G
 The steeples of
             Bsus4  B/D#
 all Christendom
    Em       G/B       A/C#
Had rolled along the unbroken song
   C     G/B Am7    G    D       C
Of peace on  earth, good-will to men

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[Chorus]
             G/B
I heard them ringing,
             C
I heard them ringing
G/D
All across the earth
             Dsus4 D   D/C
I heard them rin - ging
            G/B
The bells remember,
             C
they ring forever
G/D
Unto us a child is born,
    Dsus4 D
our Sa - vior
    Dsus4 D
Our Sa - vior

[Verse 3]
G                            Gsus4
 But, in despair, I bowed my head
G
'There is no peace on earth',
   Bsus4 B/D#
I said
    Em         G/B
For hate is strong and
A/C#
mocks the song
   C     G/B Am7
Of peace on  earth,
G    D       C
good-will to men

[Chorus]
             G/B
I heard them ringing,
             C
I heard them ringing
G/D
All across the earth
             Dsus4 D   D/C
I heard them rin - ging
            G/B
The bells remember,
             C
they ring forever
G/D
Unto us a child is born,
    Dsus4 D
our Sa - vior
    Dsus4 D
Our Sa - vior

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 4]
G
 Then pealed the bells
                Gsus4
 more loud and deep
G
 God is not dead nor
           Bsus4  B/D#
 does He sleep
    Em           G/B
The wrong shall fail,
    A/C#
the right prevail
     C     G/B Am7
With peace on  earth,
G    D       C
good-will to men

[Chorus]
             G/B
I heard them ringing,
             C
I heard them ringing
G/D
All across the earth
             Dsus4 D   D/C
I heard them rin - ging
            G/B
The bells remember,
             C
they ring forever
G/D
Unto us a child is born,
    Dsus4 D
our Sa - vior
    Dsus4 D
Our Sa - vior
    Dsus4 D
Our Sa - vior

[Tag]
G
 I heard the bells
               Gsus4
 on Christmas day

[Outro]
G   Gsus4
G

How to play I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day by Chris Tomlin on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day by Chris Tomlin is written in G major (one sharp: F♯) and moves through 13 chords: C, G/B, Am7, G, D, Gsus4, Bsus4, B/D#, Em, A/C#, G/D and Dsus4 and 1 more.

Most of the song cycles through G/B – C – G/D – Dsus4 (I – IV – I – Vsus4 in G major). In solfa, that is doh – fah – doh – soh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord here is an open shape on guitar: no capo, no barre chords needed.