Tom Dooley

by Traditional
Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
Up nextBury Me Beneath the Willow
Download Sheet & MIDIPractice this songPlay on GuitarLearn to accompany
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play
Super Simple Drum previewDrums
Super Simple DrumTry it
Melody Tab previewGuitar
Melody TabTry it
Simple Piano for Kids previewKids
Simple Piano for KidsTry it

Other arrangements of Tom Dooley

Pick a learning view.

Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
Lyrics

(Bb)Hang down your (Eb)head, Tom (Bb)Doo ley,

hang down your head and (F7)cry.

You killed poor Lau ra Fos ter, poor boy, you’re go ing to (Bb)die.

I met her (Eb)on the (Bb)moun tain and there I took her (F7)life.

I met her on the moun tain, and I stabbed her with my (Bb)knife.

(Bb)Hang down your (Eb)head, Tom (Bb)Doo ley,

hang down your head and (F7)cry.

You killed poor Lau ra Fos ter, poor boy, you’re go ing to (Bb)die.

I This her (Eb)time to (Bb)mor row, and reck on where I’ll (F7)be?

I In some lone some val ley, and a hang on white oak (Bb)knife.

(Bb)tree.

Hang down your (Eb)head, Tom (Bb)Doo ley,

hang down your head and (F7)cry.

You killed poor Lau ra Fos ter, poor boy, you’re go ing to (Bb)die.

Tom Dooley — Visual Piano Sheet Music

7 people have learned this song

"Tom Dooley" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of Bb, 120 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesBeginnerLead SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “Tom Dooley”

Why does "Tom Dooley" show as colored bars instead of notation?
Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Tom Dooley".
What key is "Tom Dooley" by Traditional played in?
Tom Dooley is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Tom Dooley"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Tom Dooley" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Tom Dooley"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Tom Dooley"?
"Tom Dooley" was originally performed by Traditional. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Traditional can I play here?
Try "Bury Me Beneath the Willow", "DECK THE HALLS", "WE SHALL OVERCOME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "Tom Dooley"?
It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Tom Dooley".
Can I see all the notes in "Tom Dooley"?
Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of Bb at 120 BPM.