The Rocky Road to Dublin
A song in the key of Ddor
About “The Rocky Road to Dublin”
The Rocky Road to Dublin is a traditional Irish song written in the key of Ddor. This tune is part of the rich tradition of Irish folk music and is commonly played in traditional music sessions around the world.
Musical Characteristics
- Rhythm: song - a traditional Irish dance tune with its own unique character
- Key Signature: Ddor - each key signature brings its own character and challenges
- Time Signature: 4/4 (common time)
- Typical Tempo: 100-120 BPM (moderate)
Learning “The Rocky Road to Dublin”
This song can be learned using the sheet music and tablature provided above. The notation includes fingering for fiddle, flute, and whistle, while the tabs are arranged for banjo and mandolin players.
Use our LoopTube feature with the accompanying YouTube video to master this tune!LoopTube allows you to slow down the audio to a comfortable learning pace, making it easier to catch every note and ornament. Even better, you can set specific start and end points to loop challenging phrases repeatedly until you've mastered them. This is invaluable for learning complex passages, ornaments, or rhythmic patterns that are essential to authentic Irish traditional music performance.
Playing in Sessions
“The Rocky Road to Dublin” is a valuable addition to any session musician's repertoire and fits well in traditional Irish music sessions. When playing this song, pay attention to the characteristic ornaments and rhythmic patterns that give it its distinctive sound. The key of Ddor is more challenging but rewarding to master on most traditional instruments.
Composer & Origin
This tune is attributed to words by D.K. Gavan. A contributor to the rich tradition of Irish music composition.
Other Compositions by words by D.K. Gavan
Similar Tunes
If you enjoy “The Rocky Road to Dublin”, you might also like other songs in the key of Ddor. Browse our collection to find more tunes in this rhythm and key signature, or explore other traditional Irish songs.
Traditional Irish Music Resources
Learning traditional Irish music opens up a world of cultural heritage and musical expression. Whether you're playing fiddle, flute, whistle, banjo, or mandolin, understanding the ornaments, rhythms, and phrasing that make Irish music distinctive is essential for authentic performance.