1. Guitar – Gettin’ Your Irish On!
With St. Patrick's Day nearing, here's an easy was to add some Irish to your guitar playing! It's also a great way for absolute beginners to get started on guitar.

2. Instead of tuning your guitar in standard tuning, EADGBE, tune your guitar to the Celtic tuning - DADGAD. This tuning allows for some easy 1-finger and 2-finger chords with a beautiful and rich quality.

3. Try These Three Chords

4. The D Chord
Place your index finger on the G string in the 2nd fret and press down. Strum all 6 strings. D

5. X means to mute that string
The A Chord
Place your index finger on the D string in the 2nd fret up and press down. Use your thumb to mute the low D string by simply touching the string. Strum all 6 strings.
X means to mute that string

6. The G Chord
Place your ring finger on the low D String in the 5th fret and press down. Let your ring finger fall back slightly and mute the A String. Strum all 6 strings.
X = mute the string

7. When you play the D chord, G chord, A chord, etc
When you play the D chord, G chord, A chord, etc., you are playing the real chords, so you can use these new chords playing along with your fiddle playing friends. Using these DADGAD chords will give your music a real Celtic sound.

8. How To Strum The Chords In Songs
Sing the song and strum the chords as they occur over the lyrics.

9. My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean
D G D
My bonnie lies over the ocean, my
D G A D
bonnie lies over the sea. My bonnie
G D G
lies over the ocean, oh bring back
A D
my bonnie to me!

10. Amazing Grace D D G D Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, D D A D
that saved a wretch like me! I once
D G D
was lost, but now am found; was
D A D
blind, but now I see.

11. Add These 2 Chords To Play More Songs.
You’re On Your Way!
Add These 2 Chords To Play More Songs.

12. The C Chord
Place your index finger on the 4th string D String in the 2nd fret and press down. Place your middle finger on the A String in the 3rd fret, pressing down, and use your thumb to mute the low D String. Strum all 6 strings.

13. The Em Chord
Place your index, middle, and ring fingers (or your middle, ring, and pinky fingers) on Strings Low D, A and D pressing down firmly and strumming all 6 strings.

14. Need help with your guitar playing or want more information?
Contact Case School of Music at NOTE(6683) or