Fun Song Tutorials
Cripple Creek is a staple of any banjo player’s musical repertoire — grab the SIMPLY SONGS + TAB bundle and uncover fresh ways to play this classic tune. While you’re at it, consider exploring other excellent beginner-friendly banjo numbers; my recommendations are Boil Them Cabbage Down and Oh! Susanna, both perfect for building confidence and expanding your playing skills.
Cripple Creek
£4.00
Cripple Creek — CLAWHAMMER BANJO TAB PDF
With its lively repeated phrases and clear verse-and-chorus shape, Cripple Creek makes an engaging tune to play on clawhammer banjo. This Cripple Creek clawhammer banjo tab offers two progressive arrangements for complete beginners and more confident beginners. The SIMPLY SONGS version provides an approachable starting point with a clear melody and highlighted chord movement, while the Standard TAB develops the tune with fuller clawhammer rhythm, ornamentation and additional musical detail.
Arrangement details
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Open G (gDGBD)
Key: G
Time signature: 4/4 in the Standard TAB
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Complete beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner
SIMPLY SONGS techniques: Simplified single-note melody with clearly highlighted chord movement
Standard TAB techniques: Slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, fifth-string drone notes and full chord strikes
Chords: G, C and D7
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: 3 PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement and concentrate on keeping the short melody phrases even as the harmony moves between G, C and D7. The Standard TAB preserves the same recognisable verse and chorus while introducing slides between the second and fourth or fifth frets, pull-offs, hammer-ons, fifth-string rhythm and fuller closing chords. Progress phrase by phrase, adding the ornaments only after the underlying melody and chord movement feel secure.
Two arrangements included
Start with the SIMPLY SONGS version—a clear, approachable and easy-to-read banjo tab with larger notation and a simplified arrangement. It is designed for beginners, visual learners and players who find traditional banjo tablature difficult to read.
When ready for an extra challenge, progress to the Standard TAB, which provides a more complete clawhammer banjo arrangement with additional notes, techniques and musical detail.
Together, the two versions provide a clear path from understanding and playing the essential tune to developing a richer arrangement.
Your digital download includes:
One easy-to-read SIMPLY SONGS banjo tab
One complete Standard clawhammer banjo tab
Both arrangements supplied as a digital PDF download
Banjo tabs suitable for complete beginners through to confident beginners
Your PDF download will be emailed automatically after purchase. Please double-check that your email address is spelled correctly before completing your order.
Boil Them Cabbage Down
£4.00
Boil Them Cabbage Down — CLAWHAMMER BANJO TAB PDF
With its lively melody, steady 4/4 pulse and compact verse-and-chorus form, Boil Them Cabbage Down is well suited to clawhammer banjo. This clawhammer banjo tab offers an approachable starting point for complete beginners through the clear SIMPLY SONGS arrangement. The Standard TAB then develops the tune with chord brushes, fifth-string rhythm, hammer-ons and drop-thumb movement, giving more experienced learners a natural next step while retaining the familiar melody.
Arrangement details
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Open G — gDGBD
Key: G major
Time signature: 4/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Complete beginner to beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner to intermediate
Chords: G, C and D7
SIMPLY SONGS techniques: Single-note melody playing using open strings and the first two frets
Standard TAB techniques: Chord brushes, fifth-string drone notes, hammer-ons and drop-thumb movement
Lyrics included: Verse, chorus and five additional verses
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: 4 PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement and concentrate on keeping the short melody phrases steady as the harmony moves between G, C and D7. The Standard TAB preserves the same verse and chorus while filling out the rhythm with chord brushes and recurring fifth-string notes. Its hammer-ons and thumbed inner-string notes can then be introduced gradually, allowing you to build a fuller clawhammer texture without losing the recognisable melody or its clear 4/4 pulse.
Two arrangements included
Start with the SIMPLY SONGS version—a clear, approachable and easy-to-read banjo tab with larger notation and a simplified arrangement. It is designed for beginners, visual learners and players who find traditional banjo tablature difficult to read.
When ready for an extra challenge, progress to the Standard TAB, which provides a more complete clawhammer banjo arrangement with additional notes, techniques and musical detail.
Together, the two versions provide a clear path from understanding and playing the essential tune to developing a richer arrangement.
Your digital download includes:
One easy-to-read SIMPLY SONGS banjo tab
One complete Standard clawhammer banjo tab
Both arrangements supplied as a digital PDF download
Banjo tabs suitable for complete beginners through to intermediate players
Your PDF download will be emailed automatically after purchase. Please double-check that your email address is spelled correctly before completing your order.
Oh! Susanna
£4.00
Oh! Susanna — CLAWHAMMER BANJO TAB PDF
With its bright melody, steady 4/4 rhythm and familiar verse-and-chorus movement, Oh! Susanna works naturally as a clawhammer banjo arrangement. This clawhammer banjo tab offers complete beginners an approachable way to find the essential melody through the SIMPLY SONGS version. Players can then progress to the more detailed Standard TAB, adding fuller chord sounds, fifth-string rhythm and recognised clawhammer techniques while keeping the tune clear and familiar.
Arrangement details
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Open G — gDGBD
Key: G major
Time signature: 4/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Complete beginner to beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner to intermediate
Chords: G, D7 and C
SIMPLY SONGS techniques: Single-note melody playing using open strings and the first two frets
Standard TAB techniques: Hammer-ons, pull-offs, drop thumb, fifth-string drone notes and fuller chordal playing
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download — 4 PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement by concentrating on the clear single-note melody and the movement between the open strings, first fret and second fret. The Standard TAB develops the same recognisable tune with denser rhythmic playing, fuller sounds through the G, D7 and C chord movement, and marked hammer-ons, pull-offs and drop thumb. Moving between the two versions allows you to retain the melody and steady 4/4 pulse while gradually introducing the additional clawhammer detail.
Two arrangements included
Start with the SIMPLY SONGS version—a clear, approachable and easy-to-read banjo tab with larger notation and a simplified arrangement. It is designed for beginners, visual learners and players who find traditional banjo tablature difficult to read.
When ready for an extra challenge, progress to the Standard TAB, which provides a more complete clawhammer banjo arrangement with additional notes, techniques and musical detail.
Together, the two versions provide a clear path from understanding and playing the essential tune to developing a richer arrangement.
Your digital download includes:
One easy-to-read SIMPLY SONGS banjo tab
One complete Standard clawhammer banjo tab
Both arrangements supplied as a digital PDF download
Banjo tabs suitable for complete beginners through to intermediate players
Your PDF download will be emailed automatically after purchase. Please double-check that your email address is spelled correctly before completing your order.