Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Danny Boy on piano
By Frederick Edward Weatherly
- C major
- 4/4
- 70 BPM
- V7–I–I7–IV loop
- 1993
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Danny Boy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – C7 – F
How it goes
Danny Boy sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIC7I7FIV- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Tumble down
How it goes
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 635 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 70 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Danny Boy
What chords are in Danny Boy?
The loop is G7 – C – C7 – F (V7 – I – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Danny Boy in?
C major, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Danny Boy?
Tumble down: broken chord 8-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Danny Boy easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.