Greensleeves
One of the oldest melodies people still play — over 400 years old, instantly recognisable, and public domain, so we can teach every note of it.
The chords & what each one does
Chords labelled with their Roman numeral(the chord's role in the key) and its job. Numbers, not letters — so you can move the whole thing to any key.
Why it works
Greensleeves swings in 6/8 — two gentle pulses per bar — with the melody's signature dotted-eighth + sixteenth “snap” giving it that lilt.
Listen for the G♯: the tune raises the 7th note whenever it heads home to Am. Next to the natural G in the G-chord bars, that clash of old modal colour and modern minor is exactly why it sounds ancient and fresh at once.
Part B starts high on G and floats down using the same rhythm as Part A — learn A and you've half-learnt B.
Structure
Public domain: the interactive lesson in the tool has the complete Part A + Part B melody as playable note-for-note tab — with note values, finger badges and an A–B loop for drilling either part.
Hear it & see it on the fretboard
Open the interactive tool and its Learn a Song tab to hear these chords, watch them light up on the neck, and play the progression in time. Want to check a key by ear? Try the key finder, and brush up on chord progressions.
More song breakdowns
Educational analysis only. We don't reproduce lyrics, sheet music or recordings — chord progressions, keys and scales are shared facts of music theory. Song and artist names are used for identification and commentary; ThunderFret is not affiliated with or endorsed by any artist.
Reading only gets you so far — open the interactive fretboard and watch these ideas light up on guitar and piano.
Enter the toolFrequently asked
What key is Greensleeves in?
A minor (often described as Dorian in older sources). Guitar arrangements almost always use A minor with the E major (V) chord's G♯ pulling each phrase home.
What chords does Greensleeves use?
Am, C, G and E — i, III, VII and V in A minor.
Is Greensleeves public domain?
Yes — the melody is over 400 years old, so it can be taught and played note-for-note freely.