A YouTube guitar lesson by Lauren Bateman teaching 'Frosty the Snowman'. The instructor lists the chords used (A7, Am, C, D7, Dm7, G7, Em, F/bar or Fmaj7), explains two strumming patterns (a simple down, down, down-up, down-up and a syncopated version that omits the downbeat on the 3rd), describes split measures where chords last two beats, and demonstrates muting on the bridge. The video includes a full play-along and links to notes/lyrics on laurenbateman.com.
Chapters
Hey, guitar enthusiast Lauren Bateman here. And we're going to be going over a super fun Christmas classic, Frosty the Snowman. I'm going to show you all the chords you need to know to play the song, as well as what strumming pattern you can use to play and sing along. We're going to do it all step by step. Let's get started.
So Frosty the Snowman does have a lot of chords. I would not consider this an absolute beginner Christmas song. But let's go through the chords that we're using here. We have an A7 chord. Okay. If you don't know what A7 is, it's an A chord. You lift up your middle finger, you got an A7. We also have an A minor chord. Okay. We have C major. We have a D7 chord. Ooh, interesting. D7. We have D minor 7, which has a little bit of a bar here. The first finger is kind of playing those two strings at the same time. And then your second finger's playing the third string at the second fret. Okay. D minor seven. And that usually transitions into a G7 chord. So this first fret finger can stay right here on the first string. First fret, and we go to G7. Okay, so we got D minor 7 and then G7. Okay. Told you there were a lot of chords in this. We also have an E minor chord. We have an F bar chord, and I think that's it. Now, if you wanted to get around that F chord, it's the only bar chord in the song. You could play an F major 7 chord, and that will work out just fine. So before I show you the strumming pattern, I want to tell you a quick little story about my Christmas sweater. Some of you know, my dad buys me these Christmas sweaters every year. And this one actually has a snowman on it. Okay. Got the one with the snowman. For Frosty the Snowman. I used to wear this at my music school until we realize that it's actually a homicidal snowman. I didn't know I'm wearing this with, like, kids around. It's a snowman, and he's stabbing the other snowman with an icicle. So I could no longer wear this Christmas sweater at the music school and it anymore. I thought that was crazy. I'm sure my dad didn't even know that that's what was on on the sweater. So that was my crazy Christmas sweater story for Frosty the Snowman. So let me just demo a little bit what we're gonna be playing and then I'm gonna show you how we're gonna do it. So we got one, two, ready?
And Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul With a con cup pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of snow FR.
Snowman was a fairy tale to say he was made of snow but the children know how we came to life one day.
So you can see there are a lot of chord changes and that's why this might be a little bit more late beginner to early intermediate for some of you guys. But it's a great song to practice and it's early enough in the season that you can get some time in there. So the strumming pattern. Let's talk about what we're doing. I'm going to give you two options. All right? I'm going to tell you what I was doing, but I'm going to give you an easier option. If you can't do that syncopated pattern. Let's take an A minor chord here. And the easy version, this is the foundation, is 1, 2, 3 and 4. And so down, down, down, up, down, up.
Okay? 1, 2, 3 and 4.
And down, down, down, up, down, up.
Okay, so if you keep. If you can't do the syncopated pattern that I'm going to show you right now, that might be a good option for you to get started with the syncopated version. It's exactly what I just showed you, except we're losing the downbeat on the third strum. Alright, so it's 1, 2 and. And 4 and play down, down, up, up, down, up, down, down, up, up, down, up. Just like this. One, two. Ready, M.
One, two, and.
Up, up, down.
Now, you've probably heard in the demonstration there are some faster chord changes. So we have some split measures that come in. And what's going to happen is each chord is only going to be two beats, okay? And if you need notes, you can follow along on my website, laurenbatement.com I have the notes and the lyrics and the chords over there. You guys can follow along to know what I'm talking about. And each chord is going to be a down, down, up, 1, 3, 4. And so if I take a chord change Here, C to A7 was the first one I came across. So we have a C chord, 1, 2, and. And then we switch to a 7, 3, 4. And so each chord was down, down, up, down, down, up.
Sounds like rolling on the river. Did anyone else hear that comment below? If you were like, hey, that Kind of sounds like rolling down the river. That's what.
Very, very similar. Anywho, little tangent there. But that's what we're going to be doing on those split measures. Now the only thing you have to pay attention to in this song is really when the chords change. And there's a couple spots, for example, on the bridge where we're going to strum once and mute the chord after. So let's take one of these bridge sections here. I'll play through it and I'll show you and then we'll talk about it. So we've got.
He led them down the streets of town to the traffic cop he only paused a moment when he heard them holler Stop, oh, Frosty.
So what did I do there? I'm just playing the normal strumming pattern. I'm strumming the chord. In this case it was G7. And I'm strumming and then I'm muting it with my fretting hand and my strumming hand very quickly. All right, so we got.
He heard them holler stop, oh Frosty.
And then you jump right back into Frosty the Snowman. So since I know you guys are practicing this for Christmas, I'm gonna include a full playthrough on this video. You're welcome. And we'll play along from the beginning to end. This way you can impress your family and friends this holiday season. And if you're looking for a variety of Christmas songs to learn to play this holiday season, I just want to let you know I do have a Christmas Classics Christmas course. Put a link in the description below if you guys are interested in checking that out. Alright, so let's count this baby in and get started. Right on the C chord. 1, 2, 1, 2.
Ready and. Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul With a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say he was made of snow but the children and knew how he came to life one day There must have been some magic in that old top hat they found and when they placed it on his head he began to dance around oh, Frosty the snowman was alive as he could be and the children say he could laugh and play Just the same as you and me Frosty the Snowman knew the sun was hot that day so he said let's run and we'll have some fun Now Before I melt away.
Down to the village With a broomstick in his hand Running here and there on around the stairs Saying catch me.
He led them down the streets of Right to that traffic cop and he only paused for a moment when he had him hollow stop. So Frosty the Snowman had to hurry on his way but he waved goodbye Saying don't you cry I'll be back again someday Thumpity thump thump Thumpity thump thump look at Frosty O.
Thumpity thump thump Thumpity thump thump over the hills.
Of snow I hope you enjoyed playing along with Frosty to Snowman. And if you're interested in learning more fun Christmas songs, go check out my Christmas playlist right over there.
