Hold Fast To The Right Chords

KeyD CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays454

Hold Fast To The Right by The Carter Family is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of D. It uses the chords D, A and G. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
D
Text
16
Speed
  			                D 
    Kneel down by the side of your mother, my boy, 
                     A                           D 
    you have only a moment, I know. 

    But stay till I give you my parting advice. 
           A                              D 
    it is all that I have to bestow. 

          G                              D 
Hold fast to the right, hold fast to the right, 
        A                                       D 
wherever your footsteps may roam. 
              G                                    D 
And forsake not the way of a salvation, my boy, 
               A                                            D 
that you learned from your mother at home. 

             D 
    You leave us to seek your employment, my boy, 
                 A                                     D 
    by the world you have yet to be tried. 

    But in the temptations and trials you meet, 
                       A                                 D 
    may your heart to the Saviour confide. 

          G                              D 
Hold fast to the right, hold fast to the right, 
        A                                       D 
wherever your footsteps may roam. 
              G                                    D 
And forsake not the way of a salvation, my boy, 
               A                                            D 
that you learned from your mother at home. 

        D 
    I gave you to God in your cradle, my boy, 
                   A                                        D 
    and I've taught you the best that I knew. 

    And as long as His mercies permit me to live, 
                A                                  D 
    I shall never stop praying for you. 

          G                              D 
Hold fast to the right, hold fast to the right, 
        A                                       D 
wherever your footsteps may roam. 
              G                                    D 
And forsake not the way of a salvation, my boy, 
               A                                            D 
that you learned from your mother at home. 

                   D 
    You will find in your satchel, a Bible, my boy, 
                  A                               D 
    it's the book of all others the best. 

    It will help you to live and prepare you to die, 
                   A                                   D 
    and will lead to the gates of the blest . 

          G                              D 
Hold fast to the right, hold fast to the right, 
        A                                       D 
wherever your footsteps may roam. 
              G                                    D 
And forsake not the way of a salvation, my boy, 
               A                                            D 
that you learned from your mother at home. 
    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

--
Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
No microphone? You can still tap any string above to hear its exact reference pitch.

Metronome

100 BPM Andante