The Minstrel Boy chords
by John McDermottSong Key: Eb Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 72 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Beginner 🟢
Guitar Chords in C Major: C, G, G7, Gsus4, Am, F, E7
Capo: 3rd fret (to play along with the video in Eb Major)
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts
L-H Chord Charts
Speed: x0.1
The Minstrel Boy
Capo on 3 if playing with the video.Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
C G F G C G Am F G C Gsus4 G C
Intro: 4/4 |---♩| | / | / | / |
C F C G Am
1. The Min-strel boy to the war is gone
F C Gsus4 G C
In the ranks of death you'll fi - ind him
C F C G Am
His fath-er's sword he has gird-ed on
F C Gsus4 G C
And his wild harp slung be - hi - ind him
Am F G7 G
Land of Song! Said the war-rior bard
Am C E7 Am E7 Am
Tho' all the world be - tra - ays thee
C F C G Am
One sword at least thy rights shall guard
F C Gsus4 G C
One faith-ful harp shall pra - aise thee
C F C Am F C G C
Instr: | - | - | - | - |
C F C G Am
2. The Min-strel fell but the foe man's chain
F C Gsus4 G C
Could not bring his proud soul u – un - der
C F C G Am
The harp he loved ne'er spoke a - gain
F C Gsus4 G C
For he tore its chords a – su – un - der
Am F G7 G
And said no chains shall sul-y thee
Am C E7 Am E7 Am
Thou soul of love and bra – av’ - ry
C F C G Am
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
F C Gsus4 G C
They shall nev-er sound in sla - av’- ry
Am F G7 G
Land of Song! Said the war-rior bard
Am C E7 Am E7 Am
Tho' all the world be - tra - ays thee
C F C G Am
One sword at least thy rights shall guard
F C Gsus4 G C
One faith-ful harp shall pra - aise thee
C F C Am F C G C
Outro: | - | - | - | - |
Arrangement Details:
- Key Signature: Eb Major – 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
- Piano chords set: Eb, Bb, Bb7, Bbsus4, Cm, Ab, G7
- Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderately
- Metronome: ♩ = 72
- Voice Range: Bb3 - Eb5
- Chord Types in This Arrangement:
- Major chords: C, G, F
- Minor chord: Am
- Dominant 7th chords: G7, E7
- Suspended 4th chords: Gsus4
- Intro: The violin brings the band in with a note played on the 4th beat of the 1st bar, followed by the rest of the band at the start of the second bar.
- There are several chord changes packed into the four bars of the intro. If that feels a bit challenging at first, you can simplify things by playing the same chords during the four‑bar instrumental break in the middle of the song instead.
- A hyphen between 2 chords splits the bar count in half, therefore:
| C - F | in 4/4 time indicates 2 beats on C and 2 beats on F.
This could also be written as | C / F / |
- | F G C / | indicates 1 beat on F, 1 beat on G, and 2 beats on C.
The simile mark or repeat sign (/) means you repeat the previous chord in the same bar. - The song tends to start and stop and change tempo, but this is the nature of the song.
- Use the Transposer for any other key changes.
- The pdf download is in the key of D Major, which those of you with some knowledge of barre chords will enjoy. They are easy to play, and the transition from Dsus4 to D is also very easy.
Related Pages
- Key Signatures - Understanding their placement, purpose, and significance in music.
- Time Signature - Defines the rhythm and structure of the music helping musicians follow the appropriate beat and count the measures accurately.
Song Details:
- Music: Set to the melody of an old Irish 'Air' called The Moreen.
- Lyricist: Thomas Moore - Irish singer, songwriter, poet and entertainer from Dublin, Ireland.
- Lyrics Begin: The Minstrel boy to the war is gone,
- Featured Artist: John McDermott
- Genre: Irish Folk Song
- Album: Danny Boy
Released: 1992
Format: CD
Country: Canada
Label: Angel Records
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