The Galway Piper Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Galway Piper in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: D – A7 – D – A7
How it goes
The Galway Piper sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIA7V7DIA7V7
- DD · F# · A
- A7A · C# · E · G
222 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Oom-pahStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
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 100 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in The Galway Piper?

The loop is D – A7 – D – A7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is The Galway Piper in?

D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Galway Piper?

Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Galway Piper 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.