Learn “Boil Them Cabbage Down” – A Beginner Clawhammer Banjo Lesson
Introduction
Hello wherever you are in the world! My name is Ben Dorning, the creator of Banjo Adventures, an online space where beginner and new banjo players are learning clawhammer banjo step by step.
If you’ve come here from my YouTube channel – thank you for watching and supporting my journey as a banjo teacher. If you’ve just stumbled upon this lesson, welcome! In this post we’ll learn the classic tune “Boil Them Cabbage Down” clawhammer style, using my simple teaching method that helps beginners decode banjo tab quickly and start making music right away.
Why Start With “Boil Them Cabbage Down”?
This is one of the best first clawhammer banjo songs for beginners.
It uses just a couple of simple chords.
The rhythm is repetitive and easy to feel.
It’s fun, toe-tapping, and sounds like “real banjo music” from the very beginning.
By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to play the rhythm, add the chords, and even bring in the melody. If you haven’t already watched my YouTube video for this lesson be sure to check it out before carrying on. If on the other hand you have already watched it then skip the video below.
Step 1: Understanding the BAR METHOD
In the video lesson I introduce a technique I call The BAR METHOD. Most songbooks print two to four measures per line on a page, which can look overwhelming. Instead, I like to “stretch out” the music and then break each measure into smaller bars.
Each measure of clawhammer playing contains two bum-ditty patterns.
Splitting them in half gives us 16 easy-to-follow bars instead of 8 dense measures.
Into each bar we can embed the chords (harmony) and the lyrics.
This way, instead of a wall of confusing tab, we get a clear roadmap that shows exactly how rhythm, chords, and melody fit together.
Boil Them Cabbage Down Tab stretched out across the full width of the screen. Overwhelming and confusing to look at
Exercise 1: Chords and Rhythm
Slowly play through the bars using just the chords and bum-ditty rhythm.
Don’t worry about hitting the “right” string yet – just use your clawhammer motion and strum any string.
Sing or speak the lyrics as you play.
👉 This stage is about feeling the music in your body rather than reading every detail. When you do this, you’ll start to hear and feel the melody emerging naturally.
The beachside rollercoaster represents the adventure our ears take when we play a tune with chords.
Step 2: Adding the Melody
The melody is the skeleton of the song. The lyrics often carry it, but on banjo we need to know which strings to strike.
In this arrangement:
Each bar shows the correct string (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th).
You’ll use your usual downstroke clawhammer motion.
We don’t need the 5th string at this stage, so it’s left out for simplicity.
Exercise 2: Playing the Melody
Play through the tune, striking the correct strings as shown.
Stay relaxed and keep the bum-ditty rhythm steady.
Don’t stop for mistakes. If you miss a string, keep going. Rhythm comes first, accuracy comes with time.
👉 Remember: Play through your mistakes. That’s how you build flow and confidence.
The melody is the strings that you strike down with your bum-ditty motion. The correct string is identified with the oval shape.
Free Download – Beginner Clawhammer Tab
To make this even easier, I’ve created a free, printable banjo tab for “Boil Them Cabbage Down.”
Beginner-friendly layout.
Printable A4 PDF Download
Perfect for practice at home.
Click below to download your free copy in A4 format:
Keep Learning With Me
If you enjoyed this lesson and want to keep building your clawhammer skills, I’d love for you to join the Banjo Adventures membership. It’s a friendly community where I post new beginner lessons, tabs, and practice materials each month.
For just £15/month, you’ll get:
A growing library of lessons and tabs.
Structured beginner pathways so you always know what to learn next.
Support and encouragement from a community of learners around the world.
No pressure – you can stick with the free resources as long as you like. But if you’re ready to go further, you’ll find everything you need inside.
Final Thoughts
“Boil Them Cabbage Down” is more than just a simple folk tune – it’s a perfect gateway into the joy of clawhammer banjo. With rhythm, chords, and melody all working together, you’re becoming your own one-person band.
Keep practicing, keep playing through mistakes, and most importantly, keep having fun.
Happy Frailing,
Ben
