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Mandolin tablatures for Old Joe Clark

Traditional

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #old time, #instrumental, #fiddle tune

This is a jam standard! Make sure to learn this at the easiest level so you get the basic melody. You'll need to adjust the green difficulty slider for that. Once you get comfortable playing this at the easier level, you can raise the difficulty level bit by bit with the slider or use the Tunefox Tutor to guide your progression. Learn the Bluegrass arrangement first. The Low octave arrangement requires quite a bit more stretching for the fret hand.

Old Joe Clark is an American folk song composed in the early 19th century. The song tells the story of an old man named Joe Clark who lives deep in the mountains of Kentucky. The bluegrass arrangement of the song is characterized by a bouncy, cheerful tempo, an upbeat melody utilizing the mandolin's unique percussive attack, and a toe-tapping backbeat. The low octave arrangement instead features a laid-back, slower tempo, a mellow melody, and a relaxed, low-register sound for the mandolin.

  • Mandolin Old Joe Clark Bluegrass

    Bluegrass

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      A
    • Tempo
      110 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    This is the classic version of Old Joe Clark. It can be simplified with the slider, or you can crank up the difficulty and play the full fledged fiddle tune version of this song. Mak...

    Mandolin Old Joe Clark Bluegrass
    Learn
  • Mandolin Old Joe Clark Low Octave

    Low Octave

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      A
    • Tempo
      120 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    Time to get low. Playing in the lower octave can unlock new ideas and sounds. It also comes with more challenge in the fretting hand. Take it slow, and play it clean!

    Mandolin Old Joe Clark Low Octave
    Learn



Practicing Tips

Learning Overview: 'Old Joe Clark' is a tune that combines the folkish charm of old times with the spicy rhythm of a fiddle tune. Learning this song offers beginners and advanced learners alike a fantastic opportunity to familiarize themselves with bluegrass mandolin tablatures, exploring different styles including Beginner, Bluegrass, Low Octave, Intermediate, and Advanced Styles. Its melody is an embodiment of an instrumental harmony, making it a must-learn repertoire for mandolin enthusiasts.


Practice Tips: To excel at playing 'Old Joe Clark,' make sure you fully utilize the features of the Tunefox platform. The Lick Switcher is one key feature you need to take advantage of. It offers new lick vocabulary, enabling you to interpret the song in diverse and interesting ways. You can add your personal touch to the arrangement by changing the licks for individual measures. Just tap on the measure to discover the licks hidden there.


Use the Arrange slider to customize the difficulty level. If you slide it to the left, most of the "fill-in" notes will be removed, resulting in a simplified arrangement on the tablature. If you swipe it right, you'll see a fuller version of the song. Another helpful tool is the tempo slider to adjust the pace of the song.


Another enjoyable practice method is to play along with backing tracks. It's a great way to prepare for your next jam session. Select specific measures, repeat them, and increase the tempo gradually with the 'Speed Up' function. Starting at a comfortable speed, the tempo will increase slightly for each subsequent playthrough.


Remember, the most crucial aspect of learning bluegrass is to interact with the music and experiment! Engaging with the song in multiple ways will boost your interpretation and understanding of 'Old Joe Clark.' So don't hold back, give it a try and play around with the tune.


Old Joe Clark lyrics

Old Joe Clark's a fine old man Tell you the reason why He keeps good likker 'round his house Good old Rock and Rye Fare ye well, Old Joe Clark Fare ye well, I say Fare ye well, Old Joe Clark I'm a going away Old Joe Clark, the preacher's son Preached all over the pain The only text he ever knew Was High, low, Jack and the game Old Joe Clark had a mule His name was Morgan Brown And every tooth in that mule's head Was sixteen inches around Old Joe Clark had ayellow cat She would neither sing or pray She stuck her head in the butermilk jar And washed her sins away Old Joe Clark had a house Fifteen stories high And every story in that house Was filled with chicken pie I went down to Old Joe's house He invited me to supper I stumped my toe on the table leg And stuck my nose in the butter Now I wouldn't marry a widder Tell you the reason why She'd have so many children They'd make those biscuits fly Sixteen horses in my team The leaders they are blind And every time the sun goes down There's a pretty girl on my mind Eighteen miles of mountain road And fifteen miles of sand If ever travel this road again I'll be a married man