Beginner melody · key of D dorian
Drunken Sailor — Easy Guitar Tab
Drunken Sailor — Traditional sea shanty. In the key of D dorian, 4/4 time — a great first melody for new players. Public domain.
Drunken Sailor — guitar tab
Dm Dm C C e|------------------|------------|------------------|------------| B|------------------|------------|------------------|------------| G|-2--2--2--2--2--2-|-2--------2-|-0--0--0--0--0--0-|-0--------0-| D|------------------|----0--3----|------------------|-------2----| A|------------------|------------|------------------|----3-------| E|------------------|------------|------------------|------------| Dm Dm C Dm e|------------------|------------|------------|------------| B|------------------|----0--1--3-|-1----------|------------| G|-2--2--2--2--2--2-|-2----------|----2--0----|------------| D|------------------|------------|----------2-|-0-----0----| A|------------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------------|------------|------------|------------|
Standard tuning. Top line = thin high E string. Numbers are frets (0 = open string). This tab uses frets 0–3 on strings 2, 3, 4, 5.
The notes, in letters, numbers or Do-Re-Mi
Show notes as
Numbers and Do-Re-Mi count from the key note (D), so you can sing it or play it in any key.
Chords
DmC
How to practise it
- Press Play and follow the highlighted numbers in the tab. Slow the speed slider down until you can follow every note.
- Play along slowly, one bar at a time. Use one finger per fret: frets 1, 2, 3 and 4 get fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- When the melody feels comfortable, untick Play chords too and play it alone, then try strumming the chords while the player plays the tune.
- Test your ear in the melody trainer: it plays a phrase and you name its last note — or, on Advanced and Master, tap out every note you hear.
The lowest note is C; the guitar is written an octave higher than it sounds, so this tab matches standard guitar notation.
More beginner melodies
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Questions
Is Drunken Sailor easy to play on guitar?
Yes — this version stays between frets 0 and 3 and it is rated beginner. Start slowly with the speed slider and speed up as it gets comfortable.
What chords go with Drunken Sailor?
This arrangement uses Dm, C in the key of D.