Whiskey in the Jar ✧
A traditional Irish story-song with a rising verse and a lively, familiar refrain.
ReadyPress space to play or pause
0:000:32
Sheet music
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
Verse · opening
Verse · answer
Chorus
D whistle · D major · 2/4 · 90 BPM · + upper octave
Closed holeOpen holeHalf hole+Upper octave
Verse · opening
Verse · answer
Chorus
About this tune
Whiskey in the Jar tells of a highwayman, a robbery and a betrayal. It belongs to a broadside ballad tradition and survives with different place names, characters and melodic details.
The rising verse leads to a strongly recognizable refrain. This tab follows the traditional song melody, without the instrumental introductions and riffs of later rock arrangements.