Fun Song Tutorials
Soldiers Joy is a fantastic tune to play in that wonderful old-time Double C tuning. Pick up a copy of the SIMPLY SONG + TAB bundle and learn Soldiers Joy in a few different ways. If you want to explore more tunes that move beyond standard G tuning, try Cluck Old Hen and Shady Grove — both are played in that moody, sombre sawmill tuning.
Soldiers Joy
£4.00
Soldiers Joy — CLAWHAMMER BANJO TAB PDF
Bring the lively, strongly pulsed character of Soldiers Joy to your clawhammer banjo with two progressive arrangements in Double C tuning. This clawhammer banjo tab offers beginners an approachable starting point through the clear SIMPLY SONGS format, while the Standard TAB adds fuller rhythmic and technical detail for developing players. Together, the two versions allow you to establish the essential melody and chord movement before progressing to a richer arrangement featuring hammer-ons and fuller voicings.
Arrangement details
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Double C — gCGCD
Key: C major
Time signature: 4/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Confident Beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Intermediate
Techniques: Hammer-ons, fuller chord voicings and recurring fifth-string notes in the Standard TAB
Chords: C, F and G
Lyrics included: Yes, including additional verses
Digital format: Four PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement by concentrating on the spacious melody, the words beneath the notes and the movement through C, F and G. Its coloured sections make the changing harmony easier to follow. The Standard TAB develops the same recognisable verse and chorus material with denser rhythmic patterns, fuller voicings and several marked hammer-ons. Build each phrase from the simplified version first, then introduce the additional Standard TAB detail without losing the tune’s steady 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 beginner-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.
Cluck Old Hen
£4.00
Cluck Old Hen — Clawhammer Banjo Tab PDF
Bring the lively, rhythmic character of this modal tune to your banjo with the Cluck Old Hen clawhammer banjo tab. The approachable SIMPLY SONGS arrangement presents the essential melody in clear, oversized notation, while the Standard TAB develops it with a fuller rhythmic texture and additional clawhammer techniques. Together, the two progressive versions provide a welcoming starting point for beginners and a satisfying next step for players ready to strengthen their timing and coordination.
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: G modal tuning (sawmill)
Key: G modal
Time signature: 4/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: intermediate - Advanced
SIMPLY SONGS techniques: Simplified single-note melody using open strings and frets 3 and 5
Standard TAB techniques: Hammer-ons, pull-offs and rhythmic fifth-string drone notes
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: 3 PDF pages across both arrangements
In the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement, concentrate on keeping the short repeated phrases steady while moving cleanly between the open notes and frets 3 and 5. The Standard TAB builds upon the same recognisable melody with a denser clawhammer rhythm, regular fifth-string notes, 0–3 hammer-ons and 3–0 pull-offs. Practising each phrase first in the simplified version will help you retain the tune before adding the extra rhythmic movement and ornamentation.
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 beginner-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.
Shady Grove
£4.00
Shady Grove — CLAWHAMMER BANJO TAB PDF
With its flowing melody and distinctive modal character, Shady Grove makes an expressive and rewarding tune for clawhammer banjo. This Shady Grove clawhammer banjo tab gives newer players an approachable way into the melody through the clear SIMPLY SONGS arrangement, followed by a fuller Standard TAB for confident beginners ready to add ornamentation and rhythmic detail. The two progressive versions allow you to establish the essential tune first and then develop a richer clawhammer arrangement.
Arrangement details
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: G Modal tuning (gDGCD)
Key / tonal centre: G modal
Time signature: 4/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Complete beginner to beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner
SIMPLY SONGS techniques: Single-note melody and basic fretting
Standard TAB techniques: Hammer-ons, pull-off, fifth-string drone notes and fuller chordal strikes
Chords shown: G and F in SIMPLY SONGS; G(m) and F in Standard TAB
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: 3 PDF pages across both arrangements
Learning guidance
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement and concentrate on following the short melodic phrases cleanly as the harmony moves between G and F. The larger, less crowded tablature makes it easier to see how the words align with the melody. When you move to the Standard TAB, retain that same melodic shape while adding the recurring fifth-string notes, fuller chord sounds, hammer-ons and pull-off. These additions create more rhythmic movement without losing the tune established in the simpler version.
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.