Lesson 14:
Danny Boy in C, F, & G

Danny Boy offers some nice challenges for the beginning pianist. Thumb-unders, crossovers, stretches and moves make this a fun and productive song for anyone trying to develop their note, finger, and keyboard awareness. Be patient and learn it well!

Instructions for learning a piece on the piano:

-play each line with right hand (fingerings written above note names) until it is easy and/or memorized.

-play each line with left hand (fingerings written below note names) until it is easy and/or memorized.

-play each line with both hands until it is easy and/or memorized.

-string the lines together until you can play the whole piece. Keep it slow until you are comfortable and familiar with it. Then, start playing it faster, working up to an appropriate tempo for that piece.

-Regardless of tempo, relax your arms & shoulders and keep it smooth and flowing.

[The tunes listed in the "free piano lessons" portion of this website provide a fun way for beginners to begin getting to know their way around the piano keyboard. By learning a bunch of simple tunes and learning to play them hands-separately and hands-together, as well as in at least 3 different keys, a new piano player not only learns the layout of the notes, but also begins to develop knowledge and confidence in piano fingerings. Along the way, you are working on the ability to learn and memorize melodies on the keys. Add a bit of work with a metronome and you begin developing a sense for steady rhythm, as well as the ability to work with an extremely valuable tool. Together, these elements will become part of a solid foundation of basic skills needed for more advanced piano playing in the future.]

Video Tutorial

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Danny Boy Music Notation

Click here for the music. 

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“Danny Boy” in key of C (sing along to establish proper rhythm):

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Key of F (sing along to establish proper rhythm):

[note: B-flat is the black note to the left (a half-step down) of B.]

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Key of G (sing along to establish proper rhythm):

[note: F-Sharp is the black note to the right (a half-step up) of F.]

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Other verse:

But when ye come, and all the flowr’s are dying,

If I am dead, as dead I well may be,

Ye’ll come and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me;

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,

And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,

For you will bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

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More Information

For more information about the history of this song, click here.

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return from "Danny Boy" to "Free Piano Lessons"