Tom Dooley
View chords used in this chart
A|-----------------------2|------3-------2----2----|
E|-----------------------3|--------------3-----3---|
[Chorus]
G C
Hang you head Tom Dooley
G
Hang your head and cry
D G
You killed little Laurie Foster
C G
Now your bound to die
[Verse 1]
C
You took her on the hillside
G
For to make her your wife
D G
You took her on the hillside
C G
There your took her life
[Verse 2]
C
You dug the grave four feet long
G
And dug it three feet deep
D G
You rolled the cold clay over her
C G
And trampled it with your feet
[Chorus]
G C
Hang you head Tom Dooley
G
Hang your head and cry
D G
You killed little Laurie Foster
C G
Now your bound to die
[Break 1]
e|------3------0----------|---3----------2---------|------3------0------3---|--3---0----
B|------3------1----------|---3----------3-3-3-0-1/|3-1-0-3------1------3---|--3---1----
G|------0----0-0----0-2-0-|---0----0---2-2-2-2-0-2/|4-2-0-0----0-0-0----0---|--0---0----
D|----0-0-0h2--2-0-2-----2|-0-0-0h2-0-0------------|------0-0h2--2--2-0-0---|--0-0-2-0h2
A|-0h2--2------3----------|---2--------------------|------2------3------2-0h|2-2---3----
E|------3-----------------|---3--------------------|------3-------------3---|--3--------
-0----------3-|
-1----------3-|
-0-0-2-0----0-|
-2------2-0-0-|
-3----------2-|
------------3-|
e|-------2----------------|---------------1-0------|-----------------3------|-----------
B|-------3-3-3-0-1/3-1-0-1|1--1-1------------3-1-0-|-0---------------3------|-----------
G|-0---2-2-2-2-0-2/4-2-0-0|--0-0---0-2-0-0---------|3-2-0---0--------0------|---0-------
D|--0-0------------------3|-3-2-2/4-----2----------|-----2-0-2-0-----0--0---|2p0--------
A|------------------------|------------------------|------------1/2--2-2----|-----------
E|------------------------|------------------------|---------------3-3------|-----------
--------------|
--------------|
--------------|
--------------|
--------------|
--------------|
[Verse 3]
G C
Trouble there's trouble
G
Running through my breast
D G
As long as i'm a livin' boys
C G
They ain't gonna let me rest
[Verse 4]
C
You can take down my old violin
G
And play it all you please
D G
For at this time tommorow boys
C G
It'll be of no use to me
[Chorus]
G C
Hang you head Tom Dooley
G
Hang your head and cry
D G
You killed little Laurie Foster
C G
Now your bound to die
[Break 2]
e|------3------0----------|---3----------2---------|------3------0------3---|--3---0----
B|------3------1----------|---3----------3-3-3-0-1/|3-1-0-3------1------3---|--3---1----
G|------0----0-0----0-2-0-|---0----0---2-2-2-2-0-2/|4-2-0-0----0-0-0----0---|--0---0----
D|----0-0-0h2--2-0-2-----2|-0-0-0h2-0-0------------|------0-0h2--2--2-0-0---|--0-0-2-0h2
A|-0h2--2------3----------|---2--------------------|------2------3------2-0h|2-2---3----
E|------3-----------------|---3--------------------|------3-------------3---|--3--------
-0----------3-|
-1----------3-|
-0-0-2-0----0-|
-2------2-0-0-|
-3----------2-|
------------3-|
e|-------2---------------3|------0-------3---------|
B|-------3-3-3-0-1/3-1-0-3|------1-------3---------|
G|-0---2-2-2-2-0-2/4-2-0-0|----0-0-2-0-0-0---------|
D|--0-0------------------0|-0h2--2----2--0----0----|
A|-----------------------2|------3-------2-1/2-----|
E|-----------------------3|--------------3-----3---|
[Verse 5]
G C
In this world and one more
G
Where do you reckon i'll be
D G
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson
C G
I'd been in Tennessee
[Verse 6]
C
I know they're gonna hang me
G
Tomorrow i'll be dead
D G
Even though I never harmed a hair
C G
On poor little Laurie's head
[Chorus]
G C
Hang you head Tom Dooley
G
Hang your head and cry
D G
You killed little Laurie Foster
C G
Now your bound to die
[Outro]
e|------3------0----------|---3----------2---------|------3------0------3---|--3---0----
B|------3------1----------|---3----------3-3-3-0-1/|3-1-0-3------1------3---|--3---1----
G|------0----0-0----0-2-0-|---0----0---2-2-2-2-0-2/|4-2-0-0----0-0-0----0---|--0---0----
D|----0-0-0h2--2-0-2-----2|-0-0-0h2-0-0------------|------0-0h2--2--2-0-0---|--0-0-2-0h2
A|-0h2--2------3----------|---2--------------------|------2------3------2-0h|2-2---3----
E|------3-----------------|---3--------------------|------3-------------3---|--3--------
-0----------3-|
-1----------3-|
-0-0-2-0----0-|
-2------2-0-0-|
-3----------2-|
------------3-|
e|-------2---------------3|------0-------3---------|
B|-------3-3-3-0-1/3-1-0-3|------1-------3---------|
G|-0---2-2-2-2-0-2/4-2-0-0|----0-0-0-----0---------|
D|--0-0------------------0|-0h2--2--2-0--0---------|
A|-----------------------2|------3-------2---------|
E|-----------------------3|--------------3---------|
************************************
| / Slide up
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| \ Slide down
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How to play Tom Dooley
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is A. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.