Ireland's Call chords

Celtic Thunder

Song Key: D Major with a key change to Eb Major

Time Signature: 12/8

Tempo: 92 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner (see charts for open voicings)

Guitar Chords: D, Dsus4, G, Bm, A → E♭, A♭, Cm, B♭

Arrangement Beginners Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
D Major Dsus4 G Major A Major Bm Bm barre chord Ab Major Ab Major barre chord Eb Major Eb Major barre chord Bb Major Bb Major barre chord Bb Major barre chord-V2 Cm-open Cm barre chord Cm barre chord-V2
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
D Major-LH Dsus4-LH G Major-LH A Major-LH Bm Bm barre chord-LH Ab Major barre chord-LH Ab Major-LH Eb Major Eb Major barre chord-LH Bb Major-LH Bb Major barre chord-LH Bb Major barre chord-V2-LH Cm-LH Cm barre chord-LH Cm barre chord-V2-LH
Speed: x0.1

Ireland's Call

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
              
Intro: 12/8 Ireland, Ireland...

   D                G          D
1. Side by side, we stand like bro-thers
   D       Bm             G  A
   One for all and all to-ge-ther
           Bm     G              D       G
   We will stay u-ni-ted through dark-er days
             G     A               D   Dsus4  D
   And we'll be un-beat-able for - e - ver

        D         G
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land
           D        Bm        A 
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall
        D            G  
        Shoul-der to shoul-der
              D       A          D      G     D
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call |    -     |

   D                 G        D 
2. Come the day, and come the hour
   D         Bm               G   A
   Some will live in song and sto-ry
           Bm      G           D        G
   We were born to fol-low our guid-ing star
          G        A              D   Dsus4  D
   And to meet our des-ti-ny with glo-ry

        D         G     
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land
           D        Bm   
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall 
        D            G
        Shoul-der to shoul-der  
              D       A          D       G     D
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call |     -     |

   D                   G        D
3. Hearts of steel and heads un-bow-ing
   D       Bm           G   A
   Vow-ing ne-ver to be bro-ken
           Bm       G          D        G
   We will fight un-til we can fight no more
            G      A            D     Dsus4  D
   Till our fi-nal re-qui-em is spo - ken

        D         G     
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land
           D        Bm        A  
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall
        D            G
        Shoul-der to shoul-der
              D       A          D
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call

Instrumental:|(call)    |        |        |   (key change)|

        Eb        Ab     
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land
           Eb       Cm        Bb
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall
        Eb           Ab        
        Shoul-der to shoul-der
              Eb      Bb           Eb      Ab 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's | call -     |
              Eb      Bb         Eb 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call...

Arrangement Details:

  • Song Keys: D Major → Eb Major
  • Key Signatures:
    D Major - 2 sharps (F#, C#)
    Eb Major - 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
  • Time Signature: 12/8 — Twelve eighth-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: ♩. = 92
  • Voice Range: B3 - F5
  • Chord Types Used:
    D, Dsus4, G, Bm, A → E♭, A♭, Cm, B♭
    🔹 Major chords: D, G, A → Eb, Ab, Bb
    🔹 Minor chords: Bm → Cm
    🔹 Suspended chord: Dsus4

    The chords before the key change are part of the D Major diatonic set:
    🔹D–Em–F#m–G–A–Bm–Cdim
    🔹D-G-A: I–IV–V chord progression in D major.

    The chords after the key change are part of the Eb Major diatonic set:
    🔹Eb–Fm–Gm–Ab–Bb–Cm–Ddim
    🔹Eb-Ab-Bb: I–IV–V chord progression in Eb major.
  • Key Change This only comes into effect if you are playing with the video... otherwise just play the last chorus the same as the others.
  • If you do play the key change you may need to play some barre chords which are all fairy easy.

    The E♭, B♭, and A♭ are probably best played in the 2nd position around frets 4-8 where movement from 1 barre chord to the next is within close reach.

    There are 2 options for Cm - the first is a little closer to Eb & Bb, but you may prefer the alternative option.

🎸 Beginner Guitarists:

  • We have included open voicing for the typical barre chords: Bb, Eb, Ab and Cm. They are all very easy to play except for Eb which requires a bit of a stretch.

    To get you out of trouble, simply play the top 3 strings, omitting string 4 (basically a D chord starting on the 3rd fret instead of the 2nd fret).

    Eb: Eb-Bb-G
🎸 Frets  Notes Fingers
e|---3---  ← G    2nd
B|---4---  ← Eb   3rd
G|---3---  ← Bb   1st
D|------- 
A|-------  
E|-------
  • 12/8 time:
    If you were counting in each bar, you could count it as | 1 2 3 4 |, where each beat is equal to 3 eighth-notes (4x3=12)

    That means you can also count each bar as:

    🔹| 1++ 2++ 3++ 4++ | (showing subdivisions) OR

    🔹| 123 456 789 10-11-12 | (all 12 eighth notes spelled out).
  • Metronome: 92 bpm (♩.)
    This means the metronome or click track sounds on every dotted quarter-note which is equal to 3 eighth-notes

    | ♩.   ♩.   ♩.   ♩.  | = | ♪ ♪ ♪   ♪ ♪ ♪   ♪ ♪ ♪   ♪ ♪ ♪  |

    The clicks fall on 1, 4, 7, 10 of the 12 eighth notes, otherwise the metronome would be flying out the door at 276 bpm! 😕

Song Details:

Celtic Thunder Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Phil Coulter
  • Date: 1995
  • Lyrics Begin: Side by side, we stand like brothers, one for all and all together
  • Featured Artists: Celtic Thunder
  • Genre: Contemporary Folk, Pop/Ballad, Anthem
  • Album: Celtic Thunder
    Released: March 18, 2008
    Country: US
    Format: CD
    Label: Decca Records
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