Chords in the Key of D and G

This is by far the most visited blog entry. So it seems that most people are looking for chord-shapes. There are a lot more blog entries which deal with chord or chord shapes. Maybe you could have a look at the labels on the right side. There you'll find some chord charts and some more information and videos about the topic chords.

 

Bob Gooday has released two videos on youtube which deal with Chords in the key of D and G. If you are a beginner this could be really helpful. As these are beginner tutorials he does not all possibilities on the fretboard. So this can only be a starting point.

Basic Chords in D


These are the basic chords he uses in this video:


Chord symbols - low to high string. 0=open string, x=do not play

D5 x000 or 2000 or 7000
A5 2202 or 2200 (with a D drone)
G5 0555

D Major x400 or 7400
A Major 2242
G Major 0020 or 0520 or 0025

B Minor 4420
B5 4424

E Minor 0222
E5 x222

Basic chords in G




Here are the chord shapes he uses in this video:

Chord symbols - low to high string. 0=open string, x=do not play

G Major 0020 or 0520 or 0025
G5 0555

D5 x000 or 2000
D Major 7400
C Major 0232 or 5232

A Minor 2232
A5 2202

E Minor 0222
E5 x222


To give you a lot more information here are chord charts I made for the key of D. They are in useful combinations. So every line shows one possible chord combination. There are lot of 2-Finger chords which let the open A and D string ring to give a drone Sound which is so special to the bouzouki.

And here is my video which shows how these chords sound like.

Daoiri Farrell - The Shady Woods Of Truagh

 Here's a fine recording of Daoiri singing The Shady Woods Of Truagh.

Lyrics and chords:

As intro and accompaniment of the first verse Daoiri only uses 2 chords. I'm not sure of the names of the chords, I call them D7  (7,10,0,0) and Bm7 (7,9,0,0)

{t:The Shady Woods Of Truagh}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

Intro:[D7no3][Bm7no5]

Out [D7]from the shady [Bm7]woods of Truagh

Mac[D7]Kenna rides at [Bm7]noon

And the [D7]sun shone brightly

[Bm7]Not a cloud dark [D7]in the sky of [Bm]June

[D7]No eye had he for [Bm7]nature’s charms

[D7]They don’t deny his [Bm7]brain

As by [D7]flowery vales he [Bm]makes his way

And [D7]never draws the [Bm7]reins

Until be[D7]fore him [G]looms the [C]tall grey [G/B]towers

Of [Am]Glaslough [C]Castle [D]Hold [Em7][D/F#]

Which [D]holds a treasure [C]in its [D]walls

[G]More dear to [C]him than [D]gold

For [D]within it dwells his [C]own true [D]love

His [G]dark eyed [C]young [D]Maureen

Who one [D]day he [G]hopes will [C]bless his [G/B]home

In the [Am]woods of [C]Truagh so [D7]green

I have come he cried to see you love

For tomorrow I must go

With my brave Truagh Men to Benburb

For to defend Owen Roe

I have come he cried to see you my love

And to hear your accent sweet

For I might in this battle fall

And never again we'll meet

Go forth my love, my blessing go

And smite that Saxon horde

And when you return

Oh, we will be wed without another word

And with a fond embrace

He's bid her adieu as the evening sun went down

Behind yon western wooded hill

That overlooks Glaslough Town

Oh MacKenna he lightly mounts his steed

At the twilight of the eve

And he heads her over Dasa Hill

And Truagh’s green shady Lee

And that night he leads his gallant men

O’er the dark hills of Tyrone

Where he meets the army of the North

At Benburb on their own

Right well O’Neill was glad to see

These gallant mountaineers

Who kept the Saxon wolves at bay

In Truagh for many years

And right well they fought on Benburb’s Plains

As the English flag went down

And few that night escaped them

Through Carrickfergus Town

Oh and Autumn’s cold was in the air

And berries ripe and red

MacKenna and his fair young bride

In Glaslough Church were wed

And never in her father’s life

A fairer bride was seen

Than McMahon’s only daughter

The dark eyed young Maureen

If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.

Here I have collected some videos how this app works.

I asked chatgpt to write a summary of the lyrics. I was really curious what it might find out. Here it is.

 Plot / Narrative arc

1. The Journey & Love:
   McKenna rides from the woods of Truagh toward Glaslough to see Maureen. He’s not particularly distracted by the beauty of nature; his focus is on her. Maureen is more precious to him than gold.

2. War is approaching:
   McKenna reveals he must leave soon. He is joining the “Truaghmen” in a battle at Benburb to defend Owen Roe (a historical figure). He fears he may not return; thus, he wants this last meeting with Maureen, wants to hear her accent, etc.

3. The Departure:
   They embrace, exchange words of love, and McKenna rides off at dusk as the sun sets, passing through hills and woods on the way to join his comrades.

4. The Battle:
   McKenna fights alongside O’Neill’s forces at the Battle of Benburb. They succeed, pushing back the English forces (the “Saxon horde”). The victory is celebrated, and the enemy banner is brought down.

5. Reunion & Marriage:
   In the autumn, after the battle and passing of time, McKenna returns. He and Maureen are married in Glaslough Church. The song ends on a joyful note: love has endured, the hero has returned, and the union is celebrated.

🌲 Imagery & Mood

The song uses richly descriptive and romantic imagery to set both an emotional and physical landscape.

1. Natural Imagery

• “Shady Woods of Truagh”, “hill and hollow”, “dewy meadows green”
  → These phrases evoke an almost dreamlike Irish countryside. Nature becomes a backdrop to McKenna’s emotions — beautiful, serene, but also tinged with impending loss as he must leave.

• The ride through woods at twilight also symbolizes his emotional journey — moving from peace (love) into danger (war).

2. Romantic Imagery

• Maureen is described with “dark eyes”, her voice is compared to “a thrush’s song”, and her kiss is like “honeycomb”.
  → These tender comparisons elevate Maureen into a symbol of purity, beauty, and homeland — something worth fighting for.

3. Martial Imagery

• The battle is depicted with “O’Neill’s brigade”, “swords and shields”, and “Saxon horde”.
  → There’s a clear contrast between the soft, gentle imagery of love and the hard, aggressive imagery of war. It underscores the sacrifice McKenna is making.

Mood Shifts

• Opening mood: Gentle, romantic, nostalgic

• Middle (departure and battle): Somber, brave, determined

• Ending: Joyful, victorious, celebratory

The mood evolves with McKenna’s personal journey: from love, to separation, to return — mirroring a classic hero’s arc.

⚔️ Historical Background: The Battle of Benburb (1646)

This song doesn’t just tell a personal love story — it’s also rooted in 17th-century Irish history:

Owen Roe O’Neill

• An Irish general and leader of the Ulster army of the Irish Confederate Catholics during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

• A respected tactician and national figure.

Battle of Benburb (June 1646)

• Fought between Owen Roe O’Neill’s Confederate Irish forces and a Scottish Covenanter army led by General Monro.

• O’Neill decisively defeated the Scottish/English forces — a rare and important victory for the Irish at the time.

Why It Matters in the Song

• McKenna fights for O’Neill and the Irish cause — showing loyalty not only to love, but to homeland and heritage.

• The return after victory and marriage to Maureen signals hope for a better future, not just personally, but politically. Love and country are intertwined.

---

🎭 Final Thoughts: Layers of Meaning

• On the surface: A romantic ballad of love, separation, and joyful reunion.

• Below the surface: A patriotic ode to Irish resilience, identity, and sacrifice.

It fits well within the Irish ballad tradition — blending historical memory with emotional truth, wrapped in poetic language and melody.

If you find any issues here please comment and I will correct it.

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TradChords - Website to find chords to accompany tunes

Just found this website. It might be of interest if you are looking for chords to accompany a tune. Sometimes you can find chords on thesession, but not too often. So this is a website where you can find chords to lots of tunes. Also you can contribute the chords you use to help others.

On this website you'll find the dots for the tunes, also a player which is able to play the tune with and without chords.

So have a look at the website at: https://tradchords.org

 

Daoiri Farrell - The Mickey Dam Lyrics and Chords

 One of the first songs I ever heard Daoiri sing back in 2011. I had heard the song before from a Duo at Irish Folk Festival some time ago but don't remember the names of the two singers.

First a video of Daoiri, I think it's from 2013 made in Elmstein, Germany.

A live version from around 2001, only audio.

A live version with his trio I filmed in Pforzheim, Germany in 2019

{t:The Mickey Dam}

{st:Daoiri Farrell Version}

No capo

Daoiri: nur D 7050 und C 7500 je 2Takte In Str. 1

I’m an [D]honest Irish Laborer and I [G]came from the County Clare

I [D]always had a little farm with [G]nothin left to spare

I [D]had to sell me donkey and me [G]famous billy goat

And [D]with the money I received, to [C]Glasgow took the boat

In the [D]morning, when I landed there, be[G]fore me hair got [C\G]dry

I was [D5]started [C]at the [G]Micky [D/A]Dam in a [C]place they [D/A]called Mull [D5]Guy

And the [D5]ganger that I started with, they [C]call him [G/B]John the [C]Mouse

And the [D5]very first [C]day that [G/B]I got [D/A]there, at [C]me he’d [G/B]start to [G]grouse

Well, I [D]quickly did surprise him and I [G]said, „“You little [C\G]rat.

I’ll [D5]tie a [C]string a[G/B]round you’re [G]neck and [Dsus4/A]toss you to the cat““

For I’m [D5]strong as any lion. I was [G]reared on eggs and [C\G]ham

I’m a [D5]terror [C]to all [G/B]fighting’ [D/A]man a[C]round the [D/A]Micky [D5]Dam

Well, this roused the mouse’s temper and at me he made to jump.

And he swore he’d paralyze me with the handle of a pump

But, I quickly surprised him and I grabbed him by the throat

And I shook that ugly monkey ’til the tail fell off his coat

{soc}

For I’m [D5]strong as any lion. I was [G]reared on eggs and [C\G]ham

I’m a [D5]terror [C]to all [G/B]fighting’ [D/A]man a[C]round the [D/A]Micky [D5]Dam

{eoc}

Well, the big hotels we’re stopping at, they call them navies huts

And the fleas and bugs that are in the bed are as big as coconuts

Of a Saturday night, when I get home, I stands behind the door

And as they come out, one by one, I bashed them to the floor

For I’m as strong as any lion. I was reared on eggs and ham

I’m a terror to all fighting me around the Micky Dam

If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.

Here I have collected some videos how this app works.

Chords:

D5: 7,0,5,0

G/D: 7,5,0,0

G: 0,5,5,0

C/G: 0,2,3,0

C: 5,5,0,0 or 5,5,3,0

G/B: 4,5,0,0

D/A: 2,0,0,0

Dsus4/A (or A7?): 2,5,0,0 (A chord Daoiri uses often to lead from A to D)

Daoiri Farrell - Valentine O'Hara - Chords

 This is song from his "A Lifetime of Happiness" album. 

Valentine O’Hara is a traditional Irish ballad telling the dramatic life story of a doomed antihero. The narrator, Valentine, is an Irishman who flees his homeland after getting a woman pregnant. He joins the British army, serves abroad, but is flogged by a cruel officer and deserts. Homeless and hunted, he turns to highway robbery—stealing from nobles and giving to the poor, in a Robin Hood-like twist. Ultimately, he is captured and sentenced to hang at Tyburn.

The ballad exists in multiple versions across Ireland and Britain, often under titles like Alan Tyne of Harrow. The Irish version, Valentine O’Hara, is believed to be the oldest. Daoirí Farrell learned it from Frank Harte’s powerful rendition and included his own arrangement on his 2019 album A Lifetime of Happiness, with contributions from Dónal Lunny.

The song captures themes of exile, injustice, rebellion, and fate, and stands as a vivid example of Irish folk storytelling. Though rooted in history, its emotional core—freedom lost and honor sought—remains timeless.

Now here's lyrics and chords. Daoiri plays in C so put capo on the 5th fret.

{t:Valentine O'Hara}

{st:Daori Farrell}

Capo 5

I [G]am a gallant [C]highway [G]man, called [C]Valen[D]tine O'[G]Hara

And I [C]come from poor but [G]decent [D]folk nigh [G]to the [C]Hill of [D]Tara

By the [D]getting of a [G]maid with child, to [C]England [F]I went[G] over

I [G]left my [C]parents and [G]I be[D]came a [G]wild and [D]daring [G]rover

 

Well, it's [G]straight to England [C]I did [G]go, where [C]I be[D]came a [G]soldier

Re[C]solved to fight Bri[G]tannia's [D]foes; no [G]Hector [C]great was [D]bolder

I [D]fought all in some [G]foreign shores, where the [C]cannons [F]loud did[G] rattle

[G]Believe me [C]boys, I [G]do not [D]boast how [G]I be[D]haved in [G]battle

 

Well it's [G]many's the battle [C]I fought [G]in, in [C]Holland [D]and French [G]Flanders

For I [C]always fought with a [G]courage [D]keen, led [G]on by [C]great [D]commanders

Until a [D]cruel Ensign [G]found me out, and [C]I was [F]flogged and[G] carted

Oh [G]Cruel [C]Usage [G]they gave [D]me, and [G]so I [D]soon de[G]parted

 

 

Well it's [G]straight back to England [C]I did [G]go as [C]fast as [D]winds would [G]drive me

Re[C]solved that of my [G]liber[D]ty, no [G]man could [C]e'er [D]deny me

For I [D]slept out in the [G]fields at night, by [C]all my [F]friends[G] forsaken

I [G]dared not [C]walk the [G]road by [D]day, for [G]fear I [D]might be [G]taken

 

But [G]I being of a [C]courage [G]keen and [C]likewise [D]able-[G]bodied

I [C]robbed Lord Nelson on the [G]King's [D]Highway with my [G]pistols [C]heavy [D]loaded

I [D]placed my pistols [G]to his breast which [C]caused his [F]heart to[G] quiver

Five-[G]hundred [C]pounds in [G]ready [D]gold to [G]me he [D]did de[G]liver

 

Well, with [G]part of my new [C]store of [G]gold I [C]bought a [D]famous [G]gelding

That [C]could jump o'er a [G]five-bar [D]gate, and I [G]bought it [C]from Ned [D]Fielding

Lord [D]Arkinstone all [G]in his coach I [C]robbed near [F]Covent[G] Garden

And [G]two hours [C]later [G]that same [D]night I [G]robbed the [D]Earl of [G]Warren

 

In [G]Turnham Green I [C]next did [G]rob the [C]reve[D]nue col[G]lector

And [C]what I took from [G]him I [D]gave to a [G]widow [C]to pro[D]tect her

I [D]always robbed the [G]rich and great, for to [C]rob the [F]poor I[G] scorned it

And [G]now in [C]iron [G]chains I'm [D]bound and [G]dooomed I [D]now lie [G]burning

 

And it's [G]straight to Newgate [C]I do [G]go, all [C]by the [D]law con[G]victed

To [C]hang all on the [G]Tyburn [D]tree, of [G]which I'm [C]much af[D]frighted

[D]Farewell my friends and [G]neighbors all, like[C]wise my [F]native[G] Tara

Kind [G]provi[C]dence may [G]test the [D]soul of [G]Valen[D]tine O'[G]Hara

If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.

Here I have collected some videos how this app works.