Old Joe Clark, Part 1

This lesson is part of the course Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky.

Get immediate access to this lesson and all of the lessons in this course when you subscribe.

Start Course
Browse Courses

About This Course

Learn the tunes and techniques of some of the legends of old-time banjo, taught by one of the icons of contemporary old-time music.

Try a Sample Lesson

Mississippi Sawyer

Wade Ward’s solo version of the square dance tune “Mississippi Sawyer” is a little different than the way it would be played for a square dance, in that it drops a beat at the end of each part. It’s played in double-D tuning: aDADE, where the fourth string is D, third string is A, second string is D, first string is E, and fifth string is A. Bruce shows you the tuning, gives you advice on getting in tune. Then he starts showing you the first part of “Mississippi Sawyer,” which starts with a D chord shape at the fifth fret and a simple bum-ditty pattern. Bruce walks you through each phrase slowly, giving you lots of chances to play along with him as you learn the tune. You’ll learn a basic version of the A part of “Mississippi Sawyer” in this video.

Try a sample lesson

The Old-Time Banjo Subscription Includes:

45 in-depth lessons in old-time banjo styles
44 complete tunes as played by old-time banjo legends like Wade Ward, Matokie Slaughter, Hobart Smith, Pete Steele, and Frank Jenkins
Detailed tablature for all lessons
Play-along tracks, with downloadable MP3s, so you can practice what you’re learning
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action

$20/Month For One Course

Additional courses only $10/month each! • Save 20% with an annual subscription

Start Course

Get started now!
Use promo code BruceLand at checkout

and get your first month free or $20 off an annual subscription.

Old Joe Clark

Old Joe Clark, Part 1

Old Joe Clark, Part 2

Old Joe Clark, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Old Joe Clark, Part 1

The fiddle tune “Old Joe Clark” is one of the most popular in the fiddling world and there are many versions. Wade Ward’s version is very distinctive and is illustrative of how “Old Joe Clark” is played in the Round Peak area of Virginia, with, for example, an E chord in the B part instead of the G chord that is used in most other versions. “Old Joe Clark” is played in the key of A, and Bruce tunes his banjo up to A tuning (aEAC#E), which is the same as G tuning, but tuned up a whole step. After playing the whole tune through, Bruce slowly breaks down the A part, which includes reverse double thumbs, rolls, and a cool sliding double stop.

“Old Joe Clark” Tab (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Sally Ann, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Old Joe Clark, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Sally Ann, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Old Joe Clark, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Sally Ann, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson