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Johnny Cash - Danny Boy Chords

ChordsA, A7, D, Dm, E7, F#m
Strumming↓-↓↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

AA7DDmAE7A
AOhDannyBoy,thepipes,theA7pipesareDcallingDm
FromglentoAglenanddownthe E7mountainside
Thesummer’sAgoneandA7alltherosesDfalling
It’syou,It’sAyoumustE7goandImustAbide
ButcomeyebackwhenDsummer’sintheAmeadowF#m
OrwhentheAvalley’s DhushedandwhitewithE7snow
I’llbeAhereinDsunshineorinAshadowF#m
OhDannyABoy,ohDannyE7Boy,IloveyouAso
AButifyoucomeandA7alltheflowersareDdyingDm
AndIamAdead,andA7deadIwellmaybeE7
You’llcomeandAfindtheA7placewhereIamDlyingDm
AndkneelandAsayanE7AvethereformeA
AndIwillknowtho’Dsoftyoutread Aaboveme
AndallmyAgravewillDrichersweeterE7be
Andyou’llbendAdownandDtellmethatyouAlovemeF#m
AndIwillArestinpeace E7untilyoucometoAme
AE7A
AlbumOrange Blossom Special
GenresCountry
Year1965
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Here's how to move from A to A7:

  1. While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A to A7

2. A7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A7 to D

3. D → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

D to Dm

4. Dm → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to A:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

Dm to A

5. A → E7 chord transition

To move from A to E7:

  1. While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

6. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

7. A → F#m chord transition

Switching from A to F#m:

  1. While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. D → E7 chord transition

To move from D to E7:

  1. While playing D, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
  2. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

9. A7 → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to E7:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse.

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 0.01% 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%