THE LOCHS O’ THE TAY LYRICS AND CHORDS
(Jim Malcolm) The McCalmans played this song in C# major with a capo on the 1st fret
[Scottish Song]
[Scottish Song]
Intro: C-G-C-G-C-G-C-G-G
From (F)Forfar the Dean (C)Water drains the (F)Vale of Strath(C)more,
Doon the (F)lazy loopin (C)Isla to the (Am)Tay by Meik(G)lour.
Now the (C)Isla's early (F)roa(C)min' is in (Am)Highland no' in (G)Lowland,
Where the (C)Ardle (F)and (C)Shee twine in Ericht's (G)compa(C)ny.
Chorus
For the (C)Lochs (Am)o' the (C)Tay
Are the (Dm)jewels in the (C)crown of a (Am)Scone coro(G)nation.-C-G
And the (C)streams o' the (F)Shire
Course the (C)county that's (G)dearest tae (C)me. G-C-G
Now the (F)Garry disnae (C)tarry in a (F)melt-swollen (C)spring,
With the (F)Bruar, Tilt and E(C)rochty leachin' (Am)Atholl's high (G)grun'.
From the (C)moors o' (F)lonely (C)Rannoch trickles (Am)peat fae many (G)dark loch,
Through the (C)Tummel's (F)cleft (C)braes by the Northern (G)High(C)ways.
Chorus
Doon the (F)Dochart and the (C)Lochy spillin' (F)doon tae Loch (C)Tay,
Killin tae (F)Kenmore tae Aber(C)feldy just a (Am)raft race a(G)way.
Up the (C)pools o' high (F)Breadal(C)bane slip the (Am)sleek Lyon (G)salmon,
As they (C)funnel (F)their (C)way atween Schiehallion (G)and (C)Tay.
Chorus
As the (F)Bran pours by Loch (C)Freuchie doon the (F)braes tae Dun(C)keld,
So the (F)Almond hurries (C)Sconeward, aye the (Am)Tay's eldest (G)child.
But the (C)Earn will run her (F)own (C)way, giving (Am)way to Tay (G)only,
Ere she (C)flows (F)tae the (C)tide, wi the Farg on (G)her (C)side.
Chorus twice
From (F)Forfar the Dean (C)Water drains the (F)Vale of Strath(C)more,
Doon the (F)lazy loopin (C)Isla to the (Am)Tay by Meik(G)lour.
Now the (C)Isla's early (F)roa(C)min' is in (Am)Highland no' in (G)Lowland,
Where the (C)Ardle (F)and (C)Shee twine in Ericht's (G)compa(C)ny.
Chorus
For the (C)Lochs (Am)o' the (C)Tay
Are the (Dm)jewels in the (C)crown of a (Am)Scone coro(G)nation.-C-G
And the (C)streams o' the (F)Shire
Course the (C)county that's (G)dearest tae (C)me. G-C-G
Now the (F)Garry disnae (C)tarry in a (F)melt-swollen (C)spring,
With the (F)Bruar, Tilt and E(C)rochty leachin' (Am)Atholl's high (G)grun'.
From the (C)moors o' (F)lonely (C)Rannoch trickles (Am)peat fae many (G)dark loch,
Through the (C)Tummel's (F)cleft (C)braes by the Northern (G)High(C)ways.
Chorus
Doon the (F)Dochart and the (C)Lochy spillin' (F)doon tae Loch (C)Tay,
Killin tae (F)Kenmore tae Aber(C)feldy just a (Am)raft race a(G)way.
Up the (C)pools o' high (F)Breadal(C)bane slip the (Am)sleek Lyon (G)salmon,
As they (C)funnel (F)their (C)way atween Schiehallion (G)and (C)Tay.
Chorus
As the (F)Bran pours by Loch (C)Freuchie doon the (F)braes tae Dun(C)keld,
So the (F)Almond hurries (C)Sconeward, aye the (Am)Tay's eldest (G)child.
But the (C)Earn will run her (F)own (C)way, giving (Am)way to Tay (G)only,
Ere she (C)flows (F)tae the (C)tide, wi the Farg on (G)her (C)side.
Chorus twice
Strumming Pattern (Gentle 4/4 River Flow)
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
How to play:
Beat 1: soft bass downstroke (thumb or pick)
Beat 2&: light down-up
Beat 3&4&: smooth rolling down-up-down-up
Keep the right hand loose and fluid — like the flow of the Tay or Isla.
For verses, you can make it more subtle:
↓ (pause) ↓↑
Count: 1 – 2 – 3&4
This “open” rhythm lets the lyrics breathe.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (for All Verses)
A slow, steady arpeggio works best — think of the motion of water, calm and continuous.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = Bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
F Major (easy version)
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
Dm
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Sample Verse (Fingerpicked)
F C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3---------------------|--3---------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|
From Forfar the Dean Water drains the Vale of Strathmore
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Play slowly and evenly — like water flowing under stone bridges.
Let open strings ring to give a natural drone, echoing a Scottish smallpipe sound.
🎵 Bass alternation (optional for motion):
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Fingerpick the verses quietly.
Add a bit of volume and light strumming for the Chorus (“For the lochs o’ the Tay…”).
End softly, returning to fingerpicking.
🎵 Ornaments (for Scottish character):
Use small hammer-ons (e.g. 0→2 on D string for C and F).
A few pull-offs on the high E (1→0) in F or Dm can mimic the ornamentation of Scottish fiddle airs.
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
How to play:
Beat 1: soft bass downstroke (thumb or pick)
Beat 2&: light down-up
Beat 3&4&: smooth rolling down-up-down-up
Keep the right hand loose and fluid — like the flow of the Tay or Isla.
For verses, you can make it more subtle:
↓ (pause) ↓↑
Count: 1 – 2 – 3&4
This “open” rhythm lets the lyrics breathe.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (for All Verses)
A slow, steady arpeggio works best — think of the motion of water, calm and continuous.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = Bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
F Major (easy version)
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
Dm
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Sample Verse (Fingerpicked)
F C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3---------------------|--3---------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|
From Forfar the Dean Water drains the Vale of Strathmore
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Play slowly and evenly — like water flowing under stone bridges.
Let open strings ring to give a natural drone, echoing a Scottish smallpipe sound.
🎵 Bass alternation (optional for motion):
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Fingerpick the verses quietly.
Add a bit of volume and light strumming for the Chorus (“For the lochs o’ the Tay…”).
End softly, returning to fingerpicking.
🎵 Ornaments (for Scottish character):
Use small hammer-ons (e.g. 0→2 on D string for C and F).
A few pull-offs on the high E (1→0) in F or Dm can mimic the ornamentation of Scottish fiddle airs.
