Dubliners - The Irish Rover Chords

ChordsG, C, D, Em

Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

IntheGFourthofJuly,eighteenhundredandCsix,

WesetGsailfromthesweetcoveofDCork

WewereGsailingawaywithacargoofCbricks

FortheGgrandCityDHallinNewGYork

ShewasaGwonderfulcraft,shewasDrigged‘foreandaft

AndhowGthewildwindsDdroveher

She‘stoodGseveralblasts,shehadEmtwenty-sevenCmasts

AndtheyGcalledhertheDIrishGRover

WehadGonemillionbagsofthebestSligoCrags

WehadGtwomillionbarrelsofDstones

WehadGthreemillionsidesofoldblindhorses’Chides

WehadGfourmillionDbarrelsofGbones

WehadGfivemillionhogsandDsixmilliondogs

GAndsevenmillionbarrelsofDporter

WehadGeightmillionbalesofoldEmnannygoats’Ctails

IntheGholdoftheDIrishGRover

TherewasGBarneyMcGeefromthebanksoftheCLee

TherewasGHoganfromCounty DTyrone

TherewasGJohnnyMcGurkwhowasscaredstiffofCwork

AndaGmanfromDWestmeathcalledGMalone

TherewasGSluggerO’ToolewhowasDdrunkasarule

GAndfightingBillTracyfromDDover

AndyourGmanMickMcCann,fromtheEmbanksoftheBann

WastheGskipperoftheDIrishGRover

WehadGsailedsevenyearswhenthemeaslesbrokeCout

AndourGshiplostherwayintheDfog

AndtheGwholeofthecrewwasreduceddowntoCtwo

‘TwasGmeselfandDthecaptain’soldGdog

ThentheGshipstruckarock;ohLordDwhatashock

GThebulkheadwasturnedrightDover

WeturnedGninetimesaroundthenEmthepoorolddogwasCdrowned

NowI’mGthelastoftheDIrish GRover

ArtistThe Dubliners

Album25 Years Celebration

GenresFolk

Year1987

KeyG

DifficultyEasy

How to play The Irish Rover on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Dubliners - The Irish Rover on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.

The Irish Rover uses these transitions most often: D → G (20), G → D (20), and C → G (11). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

2. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

3. G → Em chord transition

Switching from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

4. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

The Irish Rover chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Irish Rover.

The Irish Rover includes 67 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
The Irish Rover contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
These transition patterns show how The Irish Rover connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 29%