Piano chords · Waltz garden
The Galway Shawl: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Traditional Irish Folk Song
- G major
- 3/4
- 90 BPM
- I–vi–IV–V loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
The Galway Shawl written out as piano music: the I – vi – IV – V loop in G major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays waltz ripple (broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4)), and the right hand sings the tune.
The Galway Shawl chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in G major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | I | G B D |
| 2 | Em | vi | E G B |
| 3 | C | IV | C E G |
| 4 | D | V | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: waltz ripple (broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4)) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the G – Em – C – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about The Galway Shawl
Does the sheet music for The Galway Shawl have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in The Galway Shawl?
The loop is G – Em – C – D (I – vi – IV – V) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is The Galway Shawl in?
G major, at about 90 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in The Galway Shawl?
Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Galway Shawl 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.