Since it’s Christmas and you might be feeling a little full of egg nog… how about some nice Christmas blues songs 🙂

First, Clarence Carter with a little “Back Door Santa…”

But I couldn’t help but make a listening lesson here and show you another way you could play the same tune. Check out BB King’s version of it in more of a slower shuffle feel:

Now how about Little Milton’s “Lonesome Christmas.”

Or a more modern blues Christmas song by Joe Bonamassa… also called “Lonesome Christmas” but it’s not the same tune, just the same title.

I hope these add a little extra blue cheer to your holiday and that you have a wonderful day!


    83 replies to "Some Blues Christmas Songs You Might Not Know"

    • Clem

      thanks Griff. I’ ve seen Bonomassa 2x. Really appreciate you.

    • Tom

      Brilliant Griff, merry Christmas to you and your family.

    • William Narron

      Thanks for the great songs Griff. Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

    • Joyce Larson

      Thank you, Griff! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    • Eric

      Thanks Griff. Great tunes. One of my favorite blues tunes for this time of year, Blue Christmas performed by none other than Porky Pig.

    • DaveyJoe

      Thanks Griff! Merry Christmas to you and Laura and the family!

    • Richard M.

      Thank you for this Christmas tickler Griff; very enjoyable. I appreciate your regular email notices and I hope ou and your family have a great Christmas 2021 with a wonderful 2022 ahead.

    • Louis Ogden

      Merry Christmas to you and your family and thanks for all the great lessons!

    • Anthony Ingoglia

      Seasons Greetings for all how ever you celebrate this season of Joy.

    • David

      Thanks Griff and everyone for these great Christmas blues tunes. Another is Please Come Home for Christmas… happy holidays to all…oh, and Go Mean Green..!

    • John A

      Merry Christmas to you and your family Griff
      Thanks for the morning cup of Blues great choices, maybe you could put out a Christmas Blues CD (hint hint )
      wish you and the band all the best and hope you have a wonderful holiday

      Thanks for sharing

    • ROMEX Hines

      Throughly enjoyed the blues song selections. Merry Christmas and Thanks.

    • John

      Oh, Merry Christmas and God bless you all. Thanks Griff, great selections! Looking forward for next year and all your new info.

    • John

      good time with a cup of “Joe”.

      Thanks Griff

    • Stephen Obal

      Merry Christmas to you and your family, Griff!

      I’ve thoroughly enjoyed (and hated) your lessons throughout the seasons and look forward to more.

      Have a great holiday!

      Regards,
      Steve

    • Terry

      Griff,
      You and your family have a Merry Christmas. Thanks for all the inspiration and the never ending lessons throughout the year.
      Terry

    • lfnuin

      Griff…wishing you, your loved ones and all the BGU community a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2019!!!!

    • Chuck

      Thanks i really enjoyed that have a great Christmas

    • Louis

      Thanks for the tunes and Merry Christmas to you and your family. BTW, my favorite of the above tunes has to be BB! Joe is really fast with the finger work but I prefer a more laid-back style ala Peter Green.

    • Eel1948

      Thanks Griff!

    • chris clemans

      Thanks Griff and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family

    • Larry B.

      Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours and everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Thank you for sharing these videos. I rally enjoyed them.

      The Larry B family

    • Bill

      Griff, I hope you and your family have a happy holiday. If you like blues christmas songs, check out Alligator Records. They have a CD of Christmas Blues songs with a lot of good bands and singers and especially good blues players.

    • Alexander

      Hey griff, love that back door Santa 🎅 by BB King. Cool choices of Christmas Blues songs!
      Thanks!

    • brian jeffs

      hi griff long time ago you sent me a leason for christmas of chuck berry run rudolf run .it was about 5 years ago well i never did learn to play the 12 barr bluse but i realy would like to i am 70 years old now so if you could fix me up with a dvd or some other media that would be great can you let me know.thanks. Brian jeffs.

    • brian jeffs

      hi griff long time ago you sent me a leason for christmas of chuck berry run rudolf run .it was about 5 years ago well i never did learn to play the 12 barr bluse but i realy would like to i am 70 years old now so if you could fix me up with a dvd or some other media that would be great con you let me know.thanks. Brian jeffs.

      • Jeff

        Brian jeffs: Go to blues Guitar unleashed. There you can buy any of Griff’s courses. He will even let you pay for over three payment.

    • Epi M.

      Totally awesome music for the holidays, I know these artist music but have never heard these songs until now? thanks for shareing. Great guitar work also.

      • John

        Great X-Mas tunes here!!! Thank you, Griff!!! John.

    • whistler

      Hi
      Great stuff griff
      2 & 3 as you would expect teriffic
      Joe B nocks your socks off
      Blues sound somethingelse
      The beat leaned like jazz, duke ellington or similar he just wove it through
      All the best to you for the season
      Wistler

    • Bill Wiltshire

      Thanks a lot Griff. Got this Boxing day but the music is great and the season is still alive. Best of the season.

    • Jack Sperrt

      To bad I got this the day after Christmas, But it was still smooth today….Thanks

    • Dennis

      All Kool ! thanks Griff.

    • Lawrence Otvos

      Thanks for the 4 songs, they are great. I really loved B.B. King’s version
      and also Joe Bonamassa. I also truly appreciate all your short lessons, and the one I bought “killer blues made easy” I got it all memorized and can play it very well.
      Now I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year,and tons of fantastic blues lessons for 2015.

      Lawrence

    • Big Dan

      Griff, loved your Christmas selections. Pulled out my guitar and played along. A couple of years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do that, so thank you so much. Another favorite is “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry, rockin’ blues at its best. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    • Jeff

      Thanks Griff! And a Very Merry Christmas to you and your Family!

    • Mike

      How does Joe B….. Make it look so easy and sound so sweet. His fingers in this song are not crazy fast
      But no way can I hope to get anywhere near this sound even with BGU to help me.
      Must be an age thing…thanks Griff and hope 2015 brings you and your family all you want.
      P.S. I ache to be a decent player, but had to put the strings away for a few days making room for our grandchildren
      And their pressies.

    • IamCanadian

      Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday and New Year. Thankyou for lending your time throughout the year sharing guitar lessons with us. Awesome!

    • Michael Chappell

      Happy Christmas & New year 2015 To Griff and family.

      I am now a fan of this type of Christmas Music with a great touch of blues. Thank you very much for this Wow stuff. As someone else said we need your version!!!

      Have a great holiday. We are all thinking of you.

      Cheers
      Michael-Sydney Australia

    • Gary Hylton

      Griff,

      Great stuff and I just had to pickup my guitar and jam along. “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter (F#), and BB King’s version (D#). I wonder if these two songs were actually played in those keys, or if when they were recorded the keys was slightly higher due to the recording equipment. “Lonesome Christmas” Little Milton (B), and Joe Bonamassa’s version (G).

      I took Roy O’s suggestion and checked out Lowell Fulson’s version of “Lonesome Christmas.” Liked it, but not certain of the key. Perhaps Roy or someone else can help me in that regard. “Christmas Tears” key of (C) by artists Freddie King and Eric Clapton was super. Of course I have been a Clapton fan for 50 years.

      Input from anyone is welcome.

      Gotta go now and have Christmas dinner with some more friends.

      Thanks Griff and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

      Old School and Still Rockin’

    • Artie A

      Thanks Griff, Two of my favorite Christmas CD’s are Blue Yule on Rhino a compilation of 18 different groups ranging from Canned Heat to Lightening Hopkins.
      The other on the rock & roll side is A Very Special Christmas on A&M Records. I has 15 songs ranging from The Pointer Sisters to Springsteen, it includes a version of Back Door Santa by Bon Jovi …Just FYI
      Merry Christmas all…

    • Saddler

      Hi Griff, and a merry Christmas to you and your family, love these tracks especially Joe bonamassa. Love his music. I would like to hear your band do a cover of one of these Christmas tracks. Any chance? Happy Christmas teach.

    • Jim

      Merry Christmas !

    • Harry Parsley

      Great stuff…thank you,
      Merry Christmas to you and your family

    • Jim Kubitza

      Yeah! I with you Griff, I just don’t like Christmas music. But THIS stuff I could listen to all day long!

    • Tom

      Thank you, Griff! You’re the best! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    • Harry Stephens

      Awesome awesome and awesome!! Long time since I’ve heard Back Door Santa!! That’s the kind of Christmas music I’m talkin about.Thanks Griff for the good Christmas music.Really getting tired of hearing here comes Santa clause a thousand different ways!!

    • Lalo

      Give us one of yours

    • Randy J

      Great stocking stuffer

    • Scott

      Not a fan of Christmas music, but now I am. A very nice post by Griff!

    • Len

      Thanks Griff,Yes welove this also up in Canuck Country,ha,Would of liked to have heard you playing along as well.All the best Len Calgary.

    • Charles Guthried

      Merry Christmas to you and yours Griff!

    • Cj

      Like it a lot thank you best wishes to you & the kids

    • Walt

      Griff, I’m not much of a fan of Christmas carols either but these are way too cool. Thank you for the surprise Christmas Gift. Best wishes to you and your family. looking forward to more surprises from you in 2015.

      Regards,

      Walt

      • Roy O.

        Oh MY!! Great stuff! I have to mention Lowell Fulsons “Lonesome Christmas”, just another great version of this. Gotta say that Freddie Kings “Christmas Tears” rates honorable mention. Thanks

    • jimmy peters

      cool and extremely different

    • Bill

      Merry Christmas…. Love the tunes, Thanks

    • raymee

      You always surprise me Griff! If I keep plugging away maybe I will sound something like those blues champs. HaHa. Have a healthy CHRISTMAS with your loved ones. Ray.

    • mike

      thanks for the little extra cheer

    • ali wojcik

      Great takes…Looks like Joe is well on his way.
      Merry Christmas to all!

    • stephen

      merry xmas to all, show i know these guys also lightnin hopkins with (santa come to me)

    • Robert D.

      Now Thats the blues unleashed. Somebody catch that Dog. Totally Awesome Joe made it look so easy.
      Griff your the bomb. Merry Christmas.

    • Jack

      Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for the music. I enjoyed them all! Gonna go practice now. Later.

      Jack Kelley

    • Lady Dove

      Now that’s what I call Christmas Tuneage….. Thanks! Merry Christmas 😉

    • Chinodan

      Everyone have a blues Christmas.Good stuff Griff.

    • Mick Apps

      Love these songs especially the guitar work on the last one
      Thanks Griff and a very merry Christmas to you and yours.

    • Corky

      Now that is how it works !!

    • Leslie G

      Thanks Griff very refreshing, I admire ur dedication Merry Christmas

    • mike z.

      Griff,Merry Christmas to you and your family. This is some great music. Thanks for sending. Mike Z.

    • Jyff

      Merry Christmas everyone!

    • Lee Barker

      Cracking little selection!! Cheers Griff. Hope you all have a great Christmas.

    • Greg

      Thanks Griff, those are great selections for a bluesy Christmas. Here’s a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays greeting to you and your family.

    • tony

      Yeah man I do have the blues, never really liked to hear much of the christmas music . Only silent night is the one for this guy . Try that one on the guitar ! Sad to hear of Joe Cocker passing not a huge fan but He was at woodstock I was to young to see him . You said You were not gonna be around but You are thats cool catch you later.

    • Joe stone

      Griff

      Very cool! That is some Christmas music!!!

    • cowboy

      Thanks Griff…Merry Christmas to you, Laura and the family…later.

      cowboy

    • Bob JK

      Enjoyed hearing none traditional xmas music from great artists besides yourself.
      thanks Griff.
      PS: Hope that makes your day.
      Merry Xmas

    • geoff

      Very cool, many thanks, cheers

    • Joe Klein

      Thanx, Cliff. Theses recordings are my first Christmas present this opening . They are all great and inspiring.
      Have a Blessed Christmas today.
      Regards,
      Joe Klein
      Jumpin Joe

    • Alan Kinghorn

      Wicked!!!!!

      • Steven Daniels

        Merry Christmas to you and your family Griff. Really enjoyed and got a lot from your daily blogs,thank you. Cheers

    • Peter F

      Knockout !!!!!

    • Jyff

      I get the same lable for the same reason. Now this is Christmas Music!

    • Rick Nydegger

      I knock the dust off BB’s Christmas CD every December. It plays in my shop most of the month.

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