Shenandoah - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics
"Shenandoah" is an American traditional folk song from the early 19th century with an unknown originator (the song is also known as "Oh Shenandoah"). Since the song was sung by sailors it's sometimes referred to as a Sea shanty.
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.
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Shenandoah guitar tab and notes (pdf)
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Shenandoah instrumental guitar (mp3)
Shenandoah (full accompaniment)
"Shenandoah" for guitar with accompaniment including bass walks. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
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Shenandoah (only melody)
"Shenandoah" standard and tablature notation for guitar.
Tips on how to learn this song
The tempo is slow and that can make the melody somewhat less clear. Try to play with feeling to emphasize the melody and atmosphere of the song as much as possible. The fingering of the presented version is relatively easy with all the notes on open strings and the first three frets.
Lyrics and chords
Shenandoah lyrics and chords in the key of G
Verse 1:
(D)Oh, (G)Shenandoah, (Em)I long to (G)hear you
(C)Away, you rolling (G)river
(Em)Oh, Shenandoah, I long to (C)hear you(G)
(Em)Away, (C)we’re bound a(G)way, (C)across the wide (Em)Mis(D)sou(G)ri
Verse 2:
(C)Oh, Shenandoah, I long to (D7)see you(G)
(Em)Away, you rolling (G)river
(Em)Oh, Shenandoah, I long to (C)see you(G)
(Em)Away, (C)we’re bound a(G)way, (C)across the wide (Em)Mis(D)sou(G)ri
Verse 3:
(D)Tis (G)seven long years, (Em)since last I (G)saw you
(C)Away, you rolling (G)river
(Em)Tis seven long years, since last I (C)saw you(G)
(Em)Away, (C)we’re bound a(G)way, (C)across the wide (Em)Mis(D)sou(G)ri
Verse 4:
(C)Oh, Shenandoah, I long to (D7)see you(G)
(Em)Away, you rolling (G)river
(Em)Oh, Shenandoah, I long to (C)see you(G)
(Em)Away, (C)we’re bound a(G)way, (C)across the wide (Em)Mis(D)sou(G)ri
The lyrics are quite similar trough the song and the chord progressions shift between the verses in two variants.
The key can be transposed by using a capo. These are the keys that the song would transpose in depending on which fret the capo is put:
- Capo 1: G# / Ab major
- Capo 2: A major
- Capo 3: A# / Bb major
- Capo 4: B major
- Capo 5: C major
Key, time, tuning and tempo
Information about "Shenandoah" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.
Key
The presented version of Shenandoah is played in the key of G.
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 120 for the presented version.