Santa Claus is Coming to Town

How hard is it?

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How to read this tab — notation key

+: Blow note
−: Draw note
b or ': Half-step bend
bb or '': Two half-step bend
bbb or ''': Three half-step bend
(###): Chord — relevant hole numbers in parentheses
< or *: Push the button in (chromatic harmonica)

Full reference and posting tips in the tab guide.

Tab

written by: J Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie

 6   5 -5    6    6   -6 -7   7   7
You better watch out, better not cry,

 5 -5   6    6    6  -6  6   -5  -5
better not pout, I'm telling you why;

 5  6   4   5  -4 -5  -3  4
Santa Claus is coming to town.

 6    5 -5  6  6     -6  -7  7    7
He's making a list, checking it twice,

5 -5   6    6   6    -6  6   -5  -5
gonna find out who's naughty or nice;

 5  6   4   5  -4 -5 -3   4
Santa Claus is coming to town.

7  -8     7  -7     7     -6 -6
He see's you when you're sleeping.

7   -8     7    -7    7 -6
He know's when you're awake.

-8   8   -8    7     -8  -7 -7   -7
He know's if you've been bad or good,

-7 7  -8    7  -7  -6    6
so be good for goodness sake!

6    6   5 -5   6     6   -6 -7   7   7
Oh, you better watch out, better not cry,

 5 -5   6    6    6   -6  6  -5  -5
better not pout, I'm telling you why;

5  6    4   5  -4 -5  -3  4
Santa Claus is Coming to Town.


This song caught on quickly. First performed on Eddie Cantor's radio show in november 1934, the next day 100,000 orders for sheet music came in. By Christmas, over 400,000 copies were sold.

Play on a harmonica— watch which holes to blow & draw, with sound