It is hard to find a contemporary – or indeed a past – artist who hasn’t done a Christmas compilation. This magical time of the year seems to attract artists in all genres and classic Christmas tunes often get surprising and fun makeovers, not to mention the few brave attempts to create new tunes for the holiday season! If you are looking for a Christmas album to listen to, these following albums are definitely worth checking out.

1. She & Him – A Very She & Him Christmas

She & Him is a folk-indie band by the great actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward, and together they’ve produced one of the most refreshing Christmas albums for a long time. A Very She & Him Christmas has a lovely 60s vibe to it, but it still manages to sound refreshing.

The album has plenty of Christmas favourites from Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to Blue Christmas. The definite highlight of the album is the fun rendition of Baby, It’s Cold Outside.

2. Halford III – Winter Songs

When you think about Christmas music, you won’t necessarily associate with metal music, but there are plenty of great metal Christmas albums out there. Winter Songs by Judas Priest’s frontman Rob Halford is definitely among the best and you should give it a go if you like your music rough and dark.

There are a few more unknown holiday songs on the playlist, giving you a nice change to the usual Christmas tunes. But you can also find a few lovely classics, such as the powerful version of Oh Holy Night.

3. Michael Bublé – Christmas

If you are looking for a traditional Christmas album, then you should definitely go with the smooth tunes of Michael Bublé. Bublé is perhaps one of the coolest talents to come out in recent years and his Christmas album from 2011 has a great vibe to it.

You’ll hear all the classic Christmas tunes from Jingle Bells to White Christmas. Bublé’s version of the pop song All I Want for Christmas Is You is one of the highlights of the album.

4. Pentatonix – That’s Christmas To Me

One of the most exciting new Christmas albums has to be That’s Christmas To Me by Pentatonix. This American a cappella quintet published the album just this year and it has already become one of the most sold holiday albums.

The group’s beautiful performances currently have over 6.7 million Youtube subscribers, and the compositions of classic songs are both traditional and new. The group’s version of Silent Night is especially touching.

5. Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart

Bob Dylan’s Christmas album is a great pick if you are looking for something a bit different, as his grizzly vocals aren’t the first thing you’d associate with heart-warming Christmas songs. Dylan manages to make it work and Christmas in the Heart is well-worth listening to.

His version of the The First Noel makes you hear the song in a new light and you’ll suddenly fall in love with these classic songs all over again. If you need a festive cheer, then put on Must Be Santa.

If the above albums put you in a creative mood, then check out our video lessons for guitar and saxophone. You can soon put your own spin on classic Christmas songs!

Lets be honest, Christmas songs can be pretty tedious and cringe-worthy. It isn’t any wonder, as any song can lose its magic appeal if you listen to it year after year. But luckily, you can make even the most annoying Christmas songs a bit more enjoyable with a good, old-fashioned guitar riff. Here’s our pick of five Christmas songs that could do with a bit of guitar.

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Although Christmas is – supposedly at least – a time of joy and cheer, many classic Christmas songs have a surprisingly gloomy sound to them. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is definitely one of these moody, melodic songs and it could do with some cheery guitar riffs.

Adding a bit of guitar and a faster tempo would do wonders for the song. Sarah McLachlan has created an almost jazz-like version of the song and something similar with a guitar would work beautifully.

2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is a more upbeat Christmas song, yet it could be even better with a touch of electric guitar. We are talking about a full metal version of this song, as the crisp distortion of an electric guitar would add plenty of freshness to the tune.

You can check different guitar techniques and find the right level of rock to add to this song. Furthermore, you can check out the Twisted Sister version of the song, which is definitely something worth playing.

3. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

The acoustic version of I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a beautiful version of this classic Christmas song and a clear example of how a guitar can transform a song. You can find the classic guitar tabs for the song online.

But you can play with the song further and add a bit of tempo to this tune as well. I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a tune that would sound great if you changed the genre you play it in. A jazz or a country version of this song would add more excitement to the sound and give it a much needed makeover.

4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Even though Let it Snow! is a cheerful Christmas song, the tune could definitely do with a bit more guitar. It would sound great with a classic rock guitar and you could add improvised riffs in between the verses.

Since the tune is an upbeat one, you could even turn it into something a bit mellower. With a simple acoustic guitar and slower pace, you would have a beautiful, relaxed version of this song. Judy Collins has recorded a lovely slow version of this song and you could do something similar with the acoustic guitar.

5. Last Christmas

Now, Last Christmas by Wham! is a classic pop composition and you can hear guitars in the original version, but it still doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit more guitar to it. The song is played so often that it definitely needs a little facelift.

One great idea is to play the song with an acoustic guitar and slower the tempo a little. This gives a bit gloomier feel to the song and adds a nice darker tone to it.

Check out our guitar lessons for some tips on riffs and the specifics of playing different genres. You can instantly add new life to these grand-old Christmas songs with simple guitar tweaks!

Most Christmas songs are admittedly a little cheesy and by the end of December, you are most likely ready to cause a hissy fit, if you need to listen to ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ one more time. To avoid losing your mind this Christmas, try these Christmas songs with cool guitar riffs.

Jingle Bells – Bobby Helms

Bobby Helms rockabilly version of the Christmas classic is a heart-warming experience and you’ll definitely get your Christmas spirits up by playing this song with your guitar. The great old, jazzy riffs here and there make this song a definite classic.

Christmas songs are among the top songs artists copy and ‘Jingle Bells’ certainly hasn’t been an exception to the rule. You can find plenty of versions from a metal version to an acoustic rendition.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen has a magic touch to turn every song into a rock ‘n’ roll festival and his version of ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ is going to get you to play air guitar faster than you think. It’s a lovely traditional Christmas tune, with plenty of opportunities for adding your own twist as well.

‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ is a Christmas carol that can only be improved by little experimenting. It is no wonder then how many artists have covered this song from the Rizzle Kicks to Paul Di’Anno.

Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses

‘Christmas Wrapping’ is a funky song from the 80s, but surprisingly it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. At its core, it is like any traditional Christmas carol, but it somehow doesn’t end up being stuck in your head for days like all the others. Perhaps because it comes with lyrics like, “Forget it, it’s cold, it’s getting late/trudge on home to celebrate/in a quiet way, unwind/doing Christmas right this time”.

The guitar riff alone is going to hook you and it’s a fun riff to learn to play. If you are in charge of entertaining your family with Christmas songs, then at least this song will be fun to practice beforehand. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can always check out the Spice Girls’ version of the song.

Walking in the Air – Nightwish

If you are looking for a Christmas song that even the toughest metal fan can’t resist, then you should listen to ‘Walking in the Air’ by Nightwish. The Finnish melodic metal band gave this classic Christmas tune a dramatic makeover a few years back and it sounds amazing!

If you are into dramatic guitar riffs, then this song truly allows you to play at your heart’s content during the long intermission. And if you prefer a softer version, this melody sounds terrific when played with a single acoustic guitar.

Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea

If you after a traditional and beautiful Christmas song, then ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ is a fantastic pick. The guitars in the song are, of course, great quality as the rock ‘n’ roll legend Chris Rea is the man behind the song. The man definitely knows how turn a boring subject (driving home) into something magical (the hope to see loved ones!).

The song wasn’t a big hit on its release in 1988, but it has since become a stable Christmas radio tune. It’s a neat song to play on the guitar and it highlights the wonder of Christmas in a lovely way.

2014 has been an amazing year in music. The summer’s festivals were magnificent and Britain has once again attracted the latest talent from abroad, as well as enjoyed the best of British music in countless gigs and concerts. Luckily, the year is not yet over and there is plenty of fantastic musical talent to experience. If you want to see one last gig before the new year, then here are the five must see events.

Kasabian, December 1-6, O2 Brixton Academy, London

This Glastonbury-headlining rock band is definitely worth checking out. Kasabian has been instrumental in bringing back the good, old-fashioned Brit pop with its psych-rock flavourings and electronic additions, and you don’t want to miss out seeing the band perform live.

You’ll be able to enjoy them at the O2 Brixton Academy, where the band performs for five nights. There are still some tickets left and you can purchase them online. And if you are not able to make it to the capital city, then the tour stops in four other locations (Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester, Sheffield) before the Christmas break.

Lenny Kravitz, December 6, Wembley Arena, London

Another guaranteed night of rock ‘n’ roll will take place at the famous Wembley Arena on December 6^th. Lenny Kravitz is touring once again, celebrating his illustrious career in music.

You’ll be able to enjoy old classics as well as the newer hits. His performance is always electric and the guitar sounds will be ringing in your ears for days after the performance! He’s a popular rock star and you need to be quick to find a ticket.

John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’, December 9, Union Chapel, London

For a night filled with smooth jazz tunes, you need to head down to Union Chapel. The venue will host a commemorative evening celebrating the legendary saxophonist, John Coltrane.

You’ll bee able to hear classic tunes performed by top class artists such as Steve Williamson and Cleveland Watkiss. The artists will recreate the ‘A Love Supreme’ album, which was recorded 50 years ago. The night will be filled with amazing saxophone sounds and quirky xylosynths.

Basement Jaxx, December 11, O2 Arena, London

If you are looking to relive the 90s, then you definitely need to check out Basement Jaxx at the O2 arena in London. This iconic electro-pop group is performing all of their greatest hits from the 90s and noughties, providing you with a fun-filled night out.

The band is also performing in Plymouth on December 9, if you are unable to get to London on the 11^th. You can still find tickets to the event online, but you better act quick to guarantee you know where your head’s at in December!

Madness, December 20, O2 Arena, London

Madness will perform at London’s O2 Arena right before Christmas. If you want a funky start to your holiday, then that’s where you should be. This London group has been rocking for a long time now, but their gig is as energetic and electric as it used to be back in the day.

You’ll be able to enjoy amazing hits and the whole arena is guaranteed to be up on their feet by the end of the night. Madness combines smooth saxophone sounds with quirky electric pop tunes to create something fun and easy on the ears.

And while you wait for your tickets to arrive, you can practice your own guitar skills with our video lessons!