Wham! – "Last Christmas” Chords & Guitar Lesson

For anyone who has lost someone, the holidays can be tough.

Here’s a song about just that.

You only need a handful of chords to play it.

Below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Last Christmas” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Last Christmas?

“Last Christmas” was originally written by George Michael from the British pop duo Wham! in 1984. 

It’s a song about heartbreak. Michael sings the story of a person who gave their heart to someone the previous Christmas but was let down. This year, they believe they won’t make the same mistake again.  

Wham! recorded “Last Christmas” with Andrew Ridgeley in London at the famous Sarm West Studios. It blends a synth-pop sound of the ‘80s with catchy melodies and a festive yet slightly melancholic feel.  

Upon its release, the tune became a hit, especially in Europe. Although it was beaten for the #1 spot by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Despite this, it’s become one of the most played and covered Christmas songs in history. Some famous versions include covers by Taylor Swift, Jimmy Eat World, and Backstreet Boys.

Over the years, the song has also been used in many films and television shows, making it a perennial favorite. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Last Christmas?

The tuning for "Last Christmas” is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E.  

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

However, it’s important to note that to play along with the original recording you are going to have to tune about .50 cents down.

This is something George Michael did often in the studio. He would record things and then speed up or slow down the tape to slightly change the sound. So it was recorded in standard tuning, 440Hz. But then, after the fact, it was adjusted via studio technology.

So this means it lands somewhere in between E and Eb standard tuning – approx .50 cents down.   

All right!  

Now that you know the tuning for “Last Christmas,” let’s next talk about…

Last Christmas Chords

To play “Last Christmas”, you only need to know 4 main chords they are Dsus2, Bm11, Em, and A7. Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes might show up on the fretboard.

Dsus2 is played in a standard (campfire) style from the 4th string down, but with the 1st string open like this:

Bm11 (alternatively called Bmadd11) is based on a common Bm bar chord in the 2nd position. But again, we are going to open up the 1st string like so:

This means you don’t have to bar. However, if bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/barchords

Em is a beautiful open-sounding chord played on all 6 strings like this:

Finally, A7 is played from the 5th string down like so:

Did you spot the commonality between all of these chords?

They all have the open 1st string in them. This is a great sound and keeps a consistent tone ringing through all the chords.

You could alternatively play them as D, Bm, Em, and A. But then you would have to bar, and you would also lose a bit of the fancier sound these chords have: Dsus2, Bm11, Em, and A7. 

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Last Christmas hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “Last Christmas” on guitar is going to require a late beginner skill level. The song doesn’t have a lot of chords but getting the Bm11 chord shape, keeping the rhythm steady with a palm-mute, and adding in walking bass lines start to move it out of the beginner level. So, take your time with this one. 

What key is Last Christmas in?

“Last Christmas”, as recorded by Wham!, is in the key of D major. The primary scale would be the D major scale, which is built using the notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#.

Let’s take a closer look at how all these chords relate in the key of D major. Starting with…

D (D major)

Notes: D, F♯, A

Function: This is the I chord (tonic) in D major. It’s the “home” chord. Everything else in the progression revolves around this tonal center.

Em (E minor)

Notes: E, G, B

Function: This is the ii chord (supertonic minor) in D major. It acts as a pre-dominant chord, creating motion toward the dominant A7 or adding contrast to the tonic D. It’s a common chord for establishing gentle tension and building interest.

Bm11 (B minor eleven)

Notes: B, D, F♯, E

Function: Bm11 is the vi chord (relative minor) in D major. It shares two notes with the tonic (D and F♯), giving it a smooth, melancholic contrast. With the addition of the note E, this gives the chord a more sophisticated sound. It can act as a bridge between other chords and adds emotional depth while still staying in the key.

A7 (A dominant seventh)

Notes: A, C♯, E, G

Function: A7 is the V7 chord (dominant) in D major. It creates tension that naturally wants to resolve back to the tonic D – especially the tritone interval between the notes C# and G. This sound dominates the key.

Together, these chords make up some of the most common sets of chords in popular music.

Millions of songs use them… 

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown. 

Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Last Christmas?

The main underlying groove for “Last Christmas” is an 8th note rock/pop groove. The primary rhythm strummed throughout is an 8th note rhythm. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a driving, steady flow like this: 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like: 

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and."

Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “Last Christmas” with the addition of a little palm-muting:

Conclusion

There ya have it!

“Last Christmas” goes out to all those who have loved and lost during the holiday season.  

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard for lead and rhythm, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan