Oh Shenandoah
Hello! Below you'll find my "Oh Shenandoah" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This classic folk song has one of my favorite melodies of all time. There are many versions out there with different lyrics and interpretations of the chord progression. I give a few different options in the video.
Enjoy!
Oh Shenandoah Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Oh Shenandoah:
Oh Shenandoah Chords & Lyrics
[Verse 1]
C C
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
F C
Away, you rolling river
F G Am
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
C Em Am7
Away, I'm bound away
Dm7 G7 C
Across the wide Missouri
C C
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
F C
Away, you rolling river
F G Am
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
C Em Am7
Away, I'm bound away
Dm7 G7 C
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 2]
C Am Em
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
F F/G C
Away, you rolling river
F G Am (G/B)
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
C Em Am7
Away, I'm bound away
Dm7 G7 C
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 3]
C Am Em
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
F F/G C
Away, you rolling river
F G Am (G/B)
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
C Em Am7
Away, I'm bound away
Dm7 G7 C
Across the wide Missouri
C Am Em
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
F F/G C
Away, you rolling river
F G Am (G/B)
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
C Em Am7
Away, I'm bound away
Dm7 G7 C
Across the wide Missouri
Note: Verse 1 has a simplified progression.
You are welcome to use your favorite version for all verses.
Alternative: sub A7 and D7 for Am7 and Dm7
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Oh Shenandoah Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Oh Shenandoah" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Oh Shenandoah" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
