Braw Braw Lads Chords And Lyrics by The Corries

Written as a poem by Robert Burns and later set to music. There are many variations of this song, some with up to six verses, this is the original version. The tune used is ''The Brave Lads Of Galla Water'' The sheet music is included with the tin whistle notes in the key of D Major. Back to all The Corries Lyrics And Chords .​Braw braw lads mandolin / tenor banjo tab now included.

[Am]Braw, [G]braw [C]lads on [G]Yarrow braes, 
Ye [C]won[G]der thro the [F]blooming heather, 
But [G]Yarrow [C]braes nor [Am]Ettrick shaws 
Can [C]match [G]the lads o' [F]Galla Water.
[Am]Braw, [G]Braw [C]Lads

But there is ane, a secret ane, 
Aboon them a' I loe him better; 
And I'll be his, and he'll be mine, 
The bonie lad o' Galla Water.

Altho' his daddie was nae laird, 
And tho' I had nae meikle tocher, 
Yet, rich in kindest, truest love, 
We'll tent our flocks by Galla Water.

It ne'er was wealth, it ne'er was wealth, 
That coft contentment, peace, and pleasure: 
The bands and bliss o' mutual love, 
O, that's the chiefest warld's treasure!

Braw Braw Lads Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes

​Here's the guitar chords in the key of D

[Bm]Braw, [A]braw [D]lads on [A]Yarrow braes, 
Ye [D]won[A]der thro the [G]blooming heather, 
But [A]Yarrow [D]braes nor [Bm]Ettrick shaws 
Can [D]match [A]the lads o' [G]Galla Water.
[Bm]Braw, [A]Braw [D]Lads.

​
“Braw, Braw Lads” is a lovely traditional Scottish air, usually sung slowly in 6/8 or 3/4 time with that signature lilting folk swing.
Below is a full arrangement for guitar in G major, including:
🎸 A strumming pattern that fits the rhythm,
🎵 A fingerpicking tab for all verses,
💡 And performance tips for an authentic Celtic sound.

🎵 Braw, Braw Lads — in G Major

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~80 BPM (gentle and flowing)
Time Signature: 6/8 — felt as “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six”

🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
[Em]Braw, [D]braw [G]lads on [D]Yarrow braes,  
Ye [G]won[D]der thro’ the [C]blooming heather,  
But [D]Yarrow [G]braes nor [Em]Ettrick shaws  
Can [G]match [D]the lads o' [C]Galla Water.  
[Em]Braw, [D]Braw [G]Lads...

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Folk Waltz Feel)

For slow Scottish airs, use a rolling 6/8 pattern:

↓ ↓↑ ↓↑

Count:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Beat 1: strong downstroke (bass note)

Beats 2–3: gentle down-up

Beats 4–6: soft down-up flow

Alternative for storytelling verses (softer feel):

Bass – Down – Down-Up
(Think of it as: Thumb → down → down-up)

🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)

Use a rolling arpeggio pattern in 6/8:

T – I – M – T – I – M
Thumb (T) plays bass, Index (I) plays G string, Middle (M) plays B string.

Let all notes ring gently for a harp-like resonance.

Verse Fingerpicking Example
   Em
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
 Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes,

   D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
 Ye wonder thro’ the blooming heather,

   G                              C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
 But Yarrow braes nor Ettrick shaws can match the lads o’ Galla Water.

   Em              D               G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--2-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Braw, braw lads...

💡 Performance Notes

🎵 Tempo:
Keep it slow and lyrical — like a storyteller’s waltz (around 70–80 BPM).

🎵 Dynamics:

Play softly for the opening lines.

Add a bit of volume and warmth as you reach “Ettrick shaws.”

Fade gently on the last “Braw, braw lads.”

🎵 Bass Alternation (for fingerstyle):

G: 6th → 4th

C: 5th → 4th

D: 4th → 5th

Em: 6th → 4th

🎵 Ornamentation (for Celtic feel):

Hammer-on on A string 0→2 for G and Em chords.

Slide into C from B bass (A string 2→3).

Grace note pull-off (G string 2→0) occasionally between lines.

🎵 Ending idea (slow arpeggio):

e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|

​Braw braw lads sheet music by The Corries in D Major

Braw braw lads mandolin / tenor banjo tab