Black Is The Colour chords

by Christy Moore

Song Key: Bb Minor (Relative to Db Major)

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 122 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner

Guitar Chords in A Minor: Am, Asus2, E, E7, F, G

Capo: 1st fret (to play with the video in Bb Minor)

Arrangement Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
Am Asus2 E Major E7 F Major F Major barre chord G Major G Major-V2
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Am-LH Asus2-LH E Major-LH E7-LH F Major-LH F Major barre chord-LH G Major-LH G Major-V2-LH
Speed: x0.1

Black Is The Colour

The Relative Major Key of Am is highlighted (C) - Transpose to any other key. 
    Am           F         G                     Am     Asus2
1.  Black is the co-lour     Of my true love's | hair -        |
  Am             F             G      E 
    Her lips are like     Some ro-ses fair
  E7                      F                 G         E 
    She has the sweet-est smile     And the gent-lest hands,
  E7               F        G                Am         Asus2
    And I love the ground     Where-on she | stands  -        |
           
  Am          F      G                Am       Asus2
2.  I love my love     And well she | knows -         |
  Am           F                G      E 
    I love the ground     Where-on she goes
  E7           F          G          E 
    I wish the day     It soon would come
  E7             F   G               Am    Asus2
    When she and I     could be as | one -        |

  Am            F       G                   Am     Asus2
3.  I go to the Clyde     And I mourn and | weep -        |
  Am       F        G            E 
    Sat-is-fied     I ne-ver can be
  E7              F                  G         E 
    I write her a let-ter     Just a few short lines
  E7            F       G               Am       Asus2
    And suf-fer death     A thou-sand | times -         |
           
    Am           F         G                     Am    Asus2
4.  Black is the co-lour     Of my true love's | hair -        |
  Am             F             G      E 
    Her lips are like     Some ro-ses fair
  E7                      F                 G         E 
    She has the sweet-est smile     And the gent-lest hands
  E7               F        G                Am        Asus2
    And I love the ground     Where-on she | stands -        |

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: B♭ Minor - relative to Db Major - 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭)
  • If you prefer to play in Bbm, press Db on the Transposer, as that is relative to Bbm (they share the same key signature).
  • Chords in Bbm: Bbm, Bbsus2, F, F7, Gb, Ab
  • Beginners playing along with the video - Capo on the 1st fret, and play in the key of A Minor - relative to C major with no sharps or flats... much easier to play.
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure, therefore the count is
    | 1 2 3 4 | or | 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ |etc.
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: ♩ = 122
  • The hyphen between 2 chords means you split the beat-count of the bar evenly between the 2 chords, e.g., | Am - Asus2 | with a time signature of 4/4 - play the Am chord for 2 beats, and the Asus2 for 2 beats.
  • The Asus2 chord adds a nice touch. You don't have to play it, but it does enhance the overall sound. It's a very easy chord to play... you just take your first finger off the Am chord.
  • The chord formula for a sus2 chord is 1 - 2 - 5:
    Asus2 = A - B - E (x02200)
  • On the second and third lines of each verse there is an added 2/4 bar (2 beats) of F major before the G chord... you will notice this when you play along with the video. There is a tendency to want to play the G chord earlier, but if you count each bar and listen to Christy, you will notice there is an extra 2 beats added to the F chord - 6 beats in total OR 1 bar + 1/2 bar OR 4/4 bar + 2/4 bar... I hope this is not too confusing. Just follow the chord changes on the chart as they are placed exactly where each chord change occurs.
  • Christy plays the G chord exactly the same as the F chord (open position) except 2 frets up... F + 2 semitones (frets) = G. You don't have to play it like this, but you should give it a go as it gives you an extra option to add to your repertoire... xx5433 (see charts).

Song Details:

Live At The Point Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Traditional
  • Lyrics Begin: Black is the colour of my true love's hair
  • Genre: Traditional ballad, Folk Song
  • Featured Artist: Christy Moore
    Born: May 7, 1945, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
    Occupation: Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist.
    Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bodhrán
  • Album: Live At The Point
    Released: 1994
    Country: Ireland
    Format: CD
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