Flow Gently, Sweet Afton - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics
“Flow Gently, Sweet Afton” is a traditional song based on the poem ”Sweet Afton” written in 1791 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who is famous for many songs including ”Auld Lang Syne” and “My Luve Is Like a Red, Red Rose”. The “Afton” mentioned in the title and lyrics refers to a small river in the South West Scotland.
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Melody & full accompaniment
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Flow Gently, Sweet Afton guitar tab and notes (pdf)
"Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" for guitar with full accompaniment. Free PDF download with audio playback.
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton guitar accompaniment (tabs) | Flow Gently, Sweet Afton guitar accompaniment (including notes)
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton (only melody)
"Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" standard and tablature notation for guitar.
Tips on how to learn this song
The song is based on a common structure with 32 bars (the first pick-up bar excluded). Notice the AABA structure of these 32 bars: the first, second and fourth parts are similar, while the third deviates. The melody involves only the three thinnest strings and the frets nearest the neck, which makes it rather easy to play and memorize.
Lyrics and chords
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton chords in the key of D
Verse 1:
Flow (D)gently, sweet Afton! a(G)mang thy green (D)braes,
Flow (D)gently, I'll sing thee a song in (E7)thy (A)praise;
My (D)Mary's asleep by thy (G)murmuring (D)stream,
Flow (D)gently, sweet Afton, (G)dis(A7)turb not her (D)dream.
Verse 2:
Thou (A)stockdove whose echo re(E7)sounds thro' the (A)glen,
Ye wild whistling blackbirds in (E7)yon thorny (A)den,
Thou (D)green-crested lapwing thy (G)screaming for(D)bear,
I (D)charge you, disturb not (G)my (A7)slumbering (D)Fair.
Verse 3:
How (D)lofty, sweet Afton, thy (G)neighbouring (D)hills,
Far (D)mark'd with the courses of clear, win(E7)ding (A)rills;
There (D)daily I wander as (G)noon rises (D)high,
My (D)flocks and my Mary's (G)sweet (A7)cot in my (D)eye.
Verse 4:
How (A)pleasant thy banks and green (E7)valleys (A)below,
Where, wild in the woodlands, the prim(E7)roses (A)blow;
There (D)oft, as mild ev'ning weeps (G)over the (D)lea,
The (D)sweet-scented birk shades (G)my (A7)Mary and (D)me.
Verse 5:
Thy (D)crystal stream, Afton, how (G)lovely it glid(D)es,
And (D)winds by the cot where my Mary (E7)resi(A)des;
How (D)wanton thy waters her sno(G)wy feet (D)lave,
As, (D)gathering sweet flowerets, (G)she (A7)stems thy clear wave.
Verse 6:
Flow (A)gently, sweet Afton, a(E7)mang thy green (A)braes,
Flow gently, sweet river, the (E7)theme of my (A)lays;
My (D)Mary's asleep by thy murmu(G)ring (D)stream,
Flow (D)gently, sweet Afton, (G)disturb(A7) not her (D)dream.
Poetic and archaic words:
thy = your
braes = an upland area
yon = that
ye = you
There are mainly two chord progressions that alternate every other verse. The progressions involve a borrowed chord, the II (E7).
The key of the song can be transposed with a capo:
- Capo 1: D# / Eb major
- Capo 2: E major
- Capo 3: F major
- Capo 4: F# / Gb major
- Capo 5: G major
Key, time, tuning and tempo
Information about "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.
Key
The (tab) version of Flow Gently, Sweet Afton is played in the key of C.
Time signature
The song is played in 3/4 time (counted one, two, three for each measure).
Tuning
The song is normally played in standard tuning (EADGBE).
Tempo (BPM)
The tempo in beats per minute is 90 for the presented version.