How to Play Danny Boy
Frederick Weatherly, an English songwriter and lawyer, wrote the song "Danny Boy" in 1910. The song did not gain popularity until he set it to a different tune: He set the lyrics of "Danny Boy" to an Irish melody known as "Londonerry Air" in 1913. "Danny Boy" became popular in America and eventually grew to be a favorite St. Patrick's Day anthem. Bing Crosby was one of the many artists to record "Danny Boy." Although the song can be played on a variety of different instruments, the guitar can be used to produce a lovely version of "Danny Boy."
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Instructions
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Section A of Danny Boy
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1
Play a G chord for the lyrics, "Oh Danny Boy, the..." Play this chord by holding down the first string-third fret, the fifth string-second fret, and the sixth string-third fret. Leave the other strings open as you strum the first seven beats.
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2
Play a G7 chord for the next four counts, during which the lyrics go, "pipes, the pipes are..." To play G7, play a G chord, but change the first string from the third fret to the first fret.
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3
Play a C chord for the next beats, during which the lyrics go, "calling, from..." The C chord is made by holding the second string-first fret, fourth string-second fret and the fifth and sixth strings in the third frets (the rest of the notes are open).
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4
For the lyrics, "glen to..." play a D7 chord for two beats. D7 is played by holding the first string-second fret, second string-first fret, and the third string-second fret. Play the fourth and fifth strings open, but don't strum the sixth string at all.
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5
Play the G chord again for three counts on the lyric "glen"; play the C chord for one beat on the word "and"; play G for two counts on "down the..."; on the lyric "mountain," play an E-minor chord for two beats. Play E-minor by holding down the fourth and fifth strings-second frets, and play the other strings open. On the word "side," play a D chord for four counts, then a D7 for one count.
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6
Continue to play the D7 for three beats as you sing the words, "The summer's..."; play G for for four counts on "gone and..."; play G7 for four beats on the phrase, "all the flowers are..."; play C for six counts on, "dying, it's..."; play an A-minor chord for two beats on "you, it's...". A-minor is played by holding the second string-first fret, the third string-second fret, and the fourth string-second fret; the other strings are open during the strum.
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7
Play a G for "you must," which has two beats; play a D7 chord for four counts on, "go and I must..."; finish the section A of the song by playing G for two counts on the word "bide," followed by two counts of C, then one more beat of G.
Section B of Danny Boy
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8
Begin the lyric "but" on the end of the last beat of section A, during which you were strumming a G chord; follow with two beats of D7 on the phrase, "come ye...."; play G for four beats as you sing, "back when...."; sing "summer's" as you play C for two counts; play D for two counts along with the words "in the...."; follow with G on the words, "meadow, or," as you strum six beats.
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9
Play D7 for two counts on the lyrics, "when the...."; play E-minor for four counts as you extend the word "valley's"; play a C chord for two beats with the words, "hushed and..."; follow with a G chord for two beats with the words, "white with..."; continue by singing the word "snow" as you strum a D chord for four beats.
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10
Play a D7 chord for four beats as you sing, "Tis' I'll be..."; strum a G for four counts with the phrase, "threre in..."; play a C for four counts on "sunshine or in...."; follow with another G on "shadow" for five beats.
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11
Play an E-minor chord for three beats on "Oh Danny..."; play a G for six counts on, "Boy, oh Danny..."; play a C for four counts on "Boy, I..."; play a D for four counts on "love you..."; finish with a G chord for two beats on the word "so," followed by C for two beats, and one more count of G.
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12
Repeat sections A and B for the second verse.
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