Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Tom Dooley on piano
By Traditional
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- Easy
Learn Tom Dooley in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – G – C
Tom Dooley sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7GICIV- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Freight-train bounce
Root, up, down low, up: the chugging bass of folk guitar songs. Musicians call it broken chord 8-10-5-10 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 32 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
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 – D7 – G
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G
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Questions about Tom Dooley
What chords are in Tom Dooley?
The loop is G – D7 – G – C (I – V7 – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is Tom Dooley in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Tom Dooley?
Freight-train bounce: broken chord 8-10-5-10, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Tom Dooley 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.