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With its gently flowing 3/4 rhythm and clear, singable melody, On Top Of Old Smokey is naturally suited to clawhammer banjo. This clawhammer banjo tab provides two progressive ways to approach the tune. The SIMPLY SONGS arrangement offers beginners a clear starting point for finding the melody and following the chord movement, while the Standard TAB develops it with fuller chord sounds, fifth-string drone notes and additional rhythmic detail.
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Open G — gDGBD
Key: G major
Time signature: 3/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner
Techniques: Single-note melody, chord brushes, fifth-string drone notes and a fifth-fret C barre chord
Chords: G, C and D7
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: Four PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement by concentrating on the steady three-beat pulse and the melody’s movement from open-position notes to frets 5 and 7. The highlighted chord sections help show where the harmony moves from G into the fifth-fret C position before returning through D7 to G. Once that movement feels comfortable, the Standard TAB adds chord brushes and fifth-string drone notes between the melody notes, creating a fuller clawhammer texture while preserving the tune’s familiar rhythm and shape.
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.
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 and confident-beginner players
Your PDF download will be emailed automatically after purchase. Please double-check that your email address is spelled correctly before completing your order.
With its gently flowing 3/4 rhythm and clear, singable melody, On Top Of Old Smokey is naturally suited to clawhammer banjo. This clawhammer banjo tab provides two progressive ways to approach the tune. The SIMPLY SONGS arrangement offers beginners a clear starting point for finding the melody and following the chord movement, while the Standard TAB develops it with fuller chord sounds, fifth-string drone notes and additional rhythmic detail.
Style: Clawhammer banjo
Tuning: Open G — gDGBD
Key: G major
Time signature: 3/4
SIMPLY SONGS difficulty: Beginner
Standard TAB difficulty: Confident beginner
Techniques: Single-note melody, chord brushes, fifth-string drone notes and a fifth-fret C barre chord
Chords: G, C and D7
Lyrics included: Yes
Digital format: Digital PDF download
Length: Four PDF pages across both arrangements
Begin with the SIMPLY SONGS arrangement by concentrating on the steady three-beat pulse and the melody’s movement from open-position notes to frets 5 and 7. The highlighted chord sections help show where the harmony moves from G into the fifth-fret C position before returning through D7 to G. Once that movement feels comfortable, the Standard TAB adds chord brushes and fifth-string drone notes between the melody notes, creating a fuller clawhammer texture while preserving the tune’s familiar rhythm and shape.
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.
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 and confident-beginner players
Your PDF download will be emailed automatically after purchase. Please double-check that your email address is spelled correctly before completing your order.