How To Play Yankee Doodle On Clawhammer Banjo (Free Tab PDF Included)
Created By Ben Dorning
Banjo Teacher and Creator Of
www.banjoadventures.com
If you're new to the banjo, you might enjoy myComplete Beginner’s Guide to Learning Banjo, where I walk through everything you need to know to start your banjo adventure.
Yankee Doodle is one of those timeless tunes that almost everybody recognises. It has a simple melody, a catchy rhythm, and best of all, it works brilliantly as a fresh challenge for intermediate clawhammer banjo players.
In this lesson, I'll show you how to play Yankee Doodle using my Simply Songs approach. Rather than getting lost in complicated tablature or advanced techniques, we'll focus on the core ingredients that make the tune instantly recognisable and enjoyable to play, before coming up with some decorative ideas.
Watch The Full Video Lesson
You can follow along with the complete step by step video tutorial below. I've included plenty of close up views and on screen tablature to help you get the tune under your fingers as quickly as possible.
Download The Free Yankee Doodle Banjo Tab
If you'd like a copy of the tablature used in the video, you can download the free Simply Songs PDF below.
The Simply Songs format is designed to help adult beginners start playing real music as quickly as possible. Each arrangement focuses on four simple ingredients:
Rhythm
Harmony
Melody
Lyrics
By keeping things simple and enjoyable, you'll spend less time feeling overwhelmed and more time actually playing your banjo.
Why Yankee Doodle Is A Great Banjo Tune To Learn
Yankee Doodle is one of my favourite songs for beginner moving onto intermediate players because it ticks all the right boxes.
The melody is easy to recognise.
The structure repeats itself throughout the tune.
The rhythm sits comfortably within a basic clawhammer pattern.
And perhaps most importantly, it sounds like a real song almost immediately.
Many beginners make the mistake of chasing difficult tunes too early. Building momentum with simple songs like Yankee Doodle often leads to much faster progress and a lot more enjoyment along the way.
A Little Bit Of History
Yankee Doodle dates back to the 1700s and eventually became one of the best known songs associated with American history. Over the years it has been played on countless instruments, including fiddle, guitar, and of course, banjo.
Its simple and memorable melody has helped it remain popular with musicians and learners for generations.
Ready To Go Further?
If you're enjoying these free banjo lessons and would like a complete step by step learning path, you may enjoy becoming a member of Banjo Adventures.
Inside the apprenticeship you'll find structured lessons, downloadable resources, unlimited feedback, and a friendly community of adult learners all following the same roadmap.
Whether your goal is to play around the campfire, relax in the garden, or finally become the banjo player you've always wanted to be, I'd love to help you get there.
More Beginner Friendly Banjo Lessons
If you enjoyed Yankee Doodle, you might also enjoy some of these other beginner friendly tunes:
Happy frailing,
Ben
