Johnny Cash - Danny Boy Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
[Opening]
[A] [A7] [D] [Dm] [A] [E7] [A]
[A]Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the [A7]pipes are [D]calling [Dm]
From glen to [A]glen and down the mountain[E7]side
The summer’s [A]gone and [A7]all the roses [D]falli[Dm]ng
It’s you, It’s [A]you must [E7]go and I must [A]bide
[verse 2]
But come ye back when [D]summer’s in the [A]meadow [F#m]
Or when the [A]valley’s hu[D]shed and white with [E7]snow
I’ll be [A]here in [D]sunshine or in [A]shadow [F#m]
Oh Danny [A]Boy, oh Danny [E7]Boy, I love you [A]so
[verse 3]
[A]But if you come and [A7]all the flowers are [D]dying [Dm]
And I am [A]dead, and [A7]dead I well may be [E7]
You’ll come and [A]find the [A7]place where I am [D]lying [Dm]
And kneel and [A]say an [E7]Ave there for me [A]
[Closing]
And I will know tho’ [D]soft you tread a[A]bove me
And all my [A]grave will [D]richer sweeter [E7]be
And you’ll bend [A]down and [D]tell me that you [A]love me [F#m]
And I will [A]rest in peace un[E7]til you come to [A]me
[outro]
[A] [E7] [A]
How to play Danny Boy on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Johnny Cash - Danny Boy on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Danny Boy uses these transitions most often: E7 → A (10), A → E7 (7), and A → A7 (6). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with A - A7 chord transition.
1. A → A7 chord transition
To move from A to A7;
- While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
2. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
3. D → Dm chord transition
To move from D to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
4. Dm → A chord transition
To move from Dm to A;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.
5. A → E7 chord transition
To move from A to E7;
- While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
6. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
7. A → F#m chord transition
To move from A to F#m;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
- Place pinky on D string fret 4.
8. D → E7 chord transition
To move from D to E7;
- While playing D, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
- Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
9. A7 → E7 chord transition
To move from A7 to E7;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
Danny Boy chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Danny Boy.
- Danny Boy includes 57 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Danny Boy contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Danny Boy connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
- A → D: 29%
- A → F#m: 6%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → A: 17%
- D → E7: 1%