Tom Dooley — Beginner Piano Tutorial

Learn "Tom Dooley" on piano — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded notes show you exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of G, 100 BPM.

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

Lyrics

(G)Hang down your head, Tom Doo ley, hang down your head and (D7)cry. Hang down your (Am7)head, Tom (D7)Doo ley. Poor (Am7)boy, you’re (D7)bound to (G)die. I (G)met her on the moun tain, and there I took her (D7)life. I it (Am7)met n’ her on the (D7)moun tain and a a (D7)stabbed in’ her a with my (G)knife. (G)Hang down your head, Tom Doo ley, hang down your head and (D7)cry. Hang down your (Am7)head, Tom (D7)Doo ley. Poor (Am7)boy, you’re (D7)bound to (G)die. (G)This her time to mor row, and reck on where I’ll (D7)be? If it (Am7)had n’ a been for (D7)Gray son, I’d a a (D7)been in’ in a Ten nes (G)see. (G)Hang down your head, Tom Doo ley, hang down your head and (D7)cry. Hang down your (Am7)head, Tom (D7)Doo ley. Poor (Am7)boy, you’re (D7)bound to (G)die. (G)die.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple Sheet

Song Details

Category
Folk
Key
G
Tempo
100 BPM
Difficulty
easy

Recommended For You

How to Play "Tom Dooley" on Piano

  1. 1
    Pick a practice mode — Choose from Fall Down, Beginner, Lead Sheet, Bar Sheet, or Simple Sheet — each mode visualizes the music differently to match your learning style.
  2. 2
    Practice each hand separately — Use the Left, Right, and Both buttons to isolate the bass or treble part and build muscle memory one hand at a time.
  3. 3
    Adjust speed and turn on metronome — Slow down to 50% while learning, then gradually speed up. Enable the metronome to keep steady timing.
  4. 4
    Loop a section — Select a tricky part and loop it until you nail it. Perfect for mastering difficult passages.
  5. 5
    Download sheet music — Export a PDF of the sheet music to print out and practice on your real piano anytime, anywhere.