Anniversary Song chords

by Andy Williams

Key: Eb Minor

Time Signature: 3/4 (♩)

Tempo: 128 bpm (Allegro)


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginners / Intermediate

Guitar Chords in D Minor: Dm, Em, F, Gm, A7, Bb6, C9 (all charts below)

Capo: 1st fret (to play along with the video in Ebm)

Chord Chart Legend
Dm Em F Major F Major barre chord Gm Gm barre chord A7 Bb6 C9
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Dm-LH Em-LH F Major-LH F Major barre chord-LH Gm-LH Gm barre chord-LH A7-LH Bb6-LH C9-LH

Anniversary Song

The Relative Major Key of Dm is highlighted (F) - Transpose to any other key. 
              A7           Dm           Gm           Bb6     A7
Intro: 3/4 ‖      |  %  |     |  %   |      |  %  |       |      ‖
 
   A7                            Dm
1. Oh    How we danced    On the night    We were wed 
      Gm                Dm               A7              Dm
   We vowed    Our true love    Though a word    Was-n't said
       A7                               Dm
   The world was in bloom    There were stars    In the skies
      Gm              Dm              A7               Dm
   Ex-cept    For the few   That were there    In your eyes

        C9                    F
Chorus: Dear as I held you so close in my arms 
        Bb6                     F
        An-gels were sing-ing a hymn to your charms
            Gm                           Em      A7  Dm
        Two hearts gent-ly beat-ing were mur-mur-ing low
            Gm         Dm    A7    Dm
        "My Darl-ing I love  you | so." |  %  |  %  |  %  |
 
       A7                               Dm
3. The night    Seemed to fade    In-to blos-som-ing dawn
       Gm             Dm             A7                 Dm
   The sun    Shone a-new    But the dance    Ling-ered on
         A7                              Dm
   Could we    But re-live    That sweet mo-ment sub-lime
        Gm               Dm            A7          Dm
   We'd find    That our love    Is un-al-tered by time


        C9                    F
Chorus: Dear as I held you so close in my arms 
        Bb6                     F
        An-gels were sing-ing a hymn to your charms
            Gm                           Em      A7  Dm
        Two hearts gent-ly beat-ing were mur-mur-ing low
               Gm         Dm    A7    Dm            Gm     A7    Dm
        "My... Darl-ing I love  you | so." |  %  |      |     |     |

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: Eb Minor - relative to Gb Major - 6 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
  • Chords Set in Eb Minor: Ebm, Fm, Gb, Abm, Bb7, B6, Db9
  • Time Signature: 3/4 — Three quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Valse Moderato (moderately paced waltz)
  • Metronome: ♩ = 128
  • Voice Range: Db4 - Gb5
  • Guitarists: When playing Bb6, it may be easier to barre the first fret (strings 1-5). It has no effect on the sound as the notes are all covered by the fingers on the third fret, and it may be a little more comfortable.
  • Beginners: All chords are easy to play, with a few exceptions. Make sure you review the chord charts for some nice chord voicings.

    Bb6 will take some getting used to, but with practice becomes very easy, and a great pre-cursor for playing barre chords. The charts indicate a barre with the 3rd finger over 4 strings. Beginners can replace this with 3 fingers over 4 strings—very easy. 

    The Gm chord is usually played as a barre chord, but we have added a very easy alternative which sounds great, especially when followed by Dm.

    There are a few more open voicings for Gm which are very nice. They require a bit of a stretch, but well worth the effort, especially the second voicing: 
    Gm: G-Bb-D
🎸 Frets  Notes Fingers
e|---3---  ← G    4th
B|---3---  ← D    3rd 
G|---0---  ← G    
D|---0---  ← D    
A|---1---  ← Bb   1st
E|---3---  ← G    2nd


    Gm: G-Bb-D
🎸 Frets  Notes Fingers
e|---X---      
B|---3---  ← D    4th 
G|---3---  ← Bb   3rd
D|---0---  ← D    
A|---1---  ← Bb   1st
E|---3---  ← G    2nd

Song Details:

Album
Andy Williams
  • Songwriters: Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin
  • Music is based on the Romanian waltz "Waves of the Danube" by Iosif Ivanovici, which was first published in 1880.
  • Originally recorded by Al Jolson and released in 1946.
  • Lyrics Begin: Oh! How we danced, on the night we were wed…
  • Genre: Waltz
  • Featured Artist: Andy Williams
  • Album: The Academy Award-Winning "Call Me Irresponsible" and Other Hit Songs from the Movies
    Recorded: 1964
    Released: 1964
Songs by Andy Williams on this site:
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