Danny Boy - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics
"Londonderry Air" originates from County Londonderry of Northern Ireland (air is from the Italian aria). The composer of the music is unknown, although a few names has turned up in various speculations. The lyrics of the best known version "Danny Boy" which is actually a modern version of "Londonderry Air" (a.k.a. "Derry Air"), is written by Frederic Weatherly.
The music transcriptions of the song with tabs and notes are available for download as PDFs. It's free for personal use only.
Melody & full accompaniment
Free tabs and notes plus sound.
Download
Danny Boy guitar tab and notes (pdf)
Listen
Danny Boy instrumental guitar (mp3)
Danny Boy (full accompaniment)
"Danny Boy" ("Londonderry Air") for guitar with full accompaniment. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
Danny Boy guitar accompaniment
Danny Boy for flute
"Danny Boy" for flute in the key of C. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
Danny Boy flute
Danny Boy (only melody)
"Danny Boy" standard and tablature notation for guitar.
Tips on how to learn this song
This song is often played slow (listen to the audio above), although different tempos can be applied. Note the 32-bar structure together with the repeating patterns will get familiar with the melody more easily.
Lyrics and chords
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) chords in the key of G
Verse 1:
(D)Oh, Danny (G)boy, the (Bm)pipes, the pipes are (A)calling
From glen to (G)glen, and (Bm)down the mountain (A)side.
(D)The summer's (Em7)gone, and (Bm)all the roses (A)falling,
It's you, it's (G)you must (C)go and I must (G)bide.
Chorus:
But come ye (Em)back when (C)summer's in the (G)meadow,
(D)Or when the (Em)valley's (C)hushed and white with (A)snow,
(D)It's I'll be (Em)here in sunshine or in (G)shadow,
(Bm)Oh, Danny (Em7)boy, oh Danny (C)boy, I love you (G)so!
Verse 2:
(D)But when ye (G)come, and (Bm)all the flowers are (A)dying,
If I am (G)dead, as (Bm)dead I well may (A)be,
(D)You'll come and (Em7)find the (Bm)place where I am (A)lying,
And kneel and (G)say an (C)Ave there for (G)me.
Chorus:
[reprise]
Uncommon, poetic and archaic words:
ye = you
Download this song in pdf with chord charts, included in 60 Traditional songs e-book.
The song presented above with lyrics and chords are in the key of G, but it includes also the A major, which is outside the key. The A can be replaced with C and also D is played as D7 in some arrangements of the song.
The key of the song can be transposed with a capo:
- Capo 1: D# / Eb major
- Capo 2: E major
- Capo 3: F major
- Capo 4: F# / Gb major
- Capo 5: G major
Key, time, tuning and tempo
Information about "Danny Boy" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.
Key
The presented version of Danny Boy is played in the key of F.
Time signature
The song is played in 4/4 tempo (counted one, two, three, four for each measure)
Tuning
The song is normally played in standard tuning (EADGBE).
Tempo (BPM)
The tempo in beats per minute is 80 for the presented version.