Christmas Carols on Accoustic help?

[Phinnin]

I am pretty much a total newb at guitar. I play chords mainly and I can play a minor pentatonic jam scale over 12bar type thing. Pretty basic.

Recently, a teacher I know was showing me some stuff about major scales (still working on that) and part of his illustration of the value of the major scale, he played 3-4 christmas carols on just the B string real fast. He did it to show that lots of christmas music (like all of it) is written in a Major key. He was using Cmaj is his example.

Well I don't have access to him anymore (moved away) but I would love to learn to play a few of those melodies for the family this christmas. I have looked for stuff online but just about every reference to christmas music leads me to chords to play accompanying singers.

Can anyone help me out on this one? I know this sounds really basic and I know many of you will just say "figure it out yourself" but although I am picking up guitar pretty well for just having 8 months in it, at 38 years of age (I know, late start) it seems the wiring for figuring out tunes is just shot (too many drugs back in college?)

God rest ye merry gentlemen and silent night type come to mind as target tunes. Anything really. And single string would make things much easier, I can always try improving on it later.

Thanks in advance, I figured most of you know something on the subject. All musicians have to know some Christmas Carols right?

[Evil Peavey]

Well, I play bluegrass guitar mainly anymore and have picked up a Christmas tune here an there but I admit they are hard to find on the internet.

Check this link out..

http://www.ezfolk.com/guitar/tab/xmas/index.html

They got a little something for everyone. Whether you're into flat picking, finger style, travis picking or just interested in the basic melody.

Good Luck

[Phinnin]

Pure gold. Thanks very much

[Ephemeral]

The easiest way to figure out the melodies is to sing it to your self.

For example, Silent Night. Hum or sing the first note of the tune. Now, while still humming or singing, move your finger up and down the fretboard and look for that note. Once you find it, and a few of the other notes, it should start to come very easily.

Take it slow, and do it in sections. Play the first section until you can play it at a good speed and have it memorized. Then slowly move onto the next section.

This is what I do to figure out melodies. Hope it works for you to.

[sars]

check the misc section, it's bound to have some, and good luck.
:O heres some mozart for you!

E - 0 0 1 1 3 3 1 0 0
B - 3 1 1 3 3 1 1


thats bound to turn up a few smiles :) good luck!

[Timm]

jingle bells :-D
http://www.mxtabs.net/tabs.php?path=Guitar,c,3855,Christmas+Songs,Jingle +Bells+Jingle+Bells,104558

[Broken String]

goooooooooogle it ...

[WindowLedge]

When I was just starting out my teacher would make me figure them out myself using a scale . . . did my ears and my scales a world of good. I highly recommend it. Here's a major scale in case you don't know any:

e---------------------------------------5-7-{8}-]
B--------------------------------5-6-8----------]
G----------------------4-{5}-7-----------------]
D-----------------5-7---------------------------]
A----------5-7-8--------------------------------]
E-5-7-{8}--------------------------------------]

{root note}. it's in C, if you were wondering.