John Ryan's Polka: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Sean Ryan · Key of D · 132 BPM · 2/4 time · Irish Polka · Beginner
Also known as The Keadue Polka, The Dum Dum Polka, The Forty Pound Float, The Titanic.
Chords used in this arrangement: D, G, A7.
John Ryan's Polka goes by more names than most musicians can keep track of - "The Keadue Polka," "The Dum Dum Polka," "The Forty Pound Float," even "The Titanic". I originally knew it as 42 pound float! Probably the best story about the song is that the fiddler Josie McDermott recorded it without knowing the title, so it got named after the little village of Keadue, near where he lived. The composer, Seán Ryan of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, wrote it sometime in the 20th century, which also means it couldn't have been played on the actual Titanic, a small historical hiccup that didn't stop James Cameron from featuring it in his 1997 blockbuster anyway.
This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the John Ryan's Polka PDF.
John Ryan's Polka: questions and answers
What key is John Ryan's Polka in?
John Ryan's Polka is in D major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in John Ryan's Polka?
The chords in this arrangement are D, G, A7. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is John Ryan's Polka played?
This recording is at 132 BPM in 2/4 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is John Ryan's Polka a good tune for beginners?
Yes. John Ryan's Polka is rated beginner, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.
Can I download John Ryan's Polka as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/john-ryans-polka-2.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
Is John Ryan's Polka known by any other names?
Yes. It is also called The Keadue Polka, The Dum Dum Polka, The Forty Pound Float, The Titanic. The same melody often travels under several titles in different regions and collections.
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- Briar Picker Brown (D, 120 BPM)
- Banks of the Ohio (D, 120 BPM)
- Quince Dillons High D (D, 120 BPM)
- Frieze Britches (D, 120 BPM)
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