Easy Folk Songs for the Guitar with Downloadable MP3s

Hank Aberle

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780486493480
• eBook ISBN: 9780486796666
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Folk Music

This original collection presents more than 20 popular folk songs that have been specially arranged for beginning guitarists. The timeless melodies are supplemented with a helpful tutorial on guitar basics that offers tips on identifying the strings, tuning, and basic chord patterns and strums.
These arrangements of Skip to My Lou, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Oh! Susanna, Down in the Valley, Barbara Allen, and other tunes include advice for following the time signatures, strumming patterns, and other suggestions. Best of all, each song features a free MP3 download for students to listen to and play along with. The recordings will familiarize beginning guitarists with the pieces' melodies and tempos, and provide practical guidance for playing these beloved folk songs.

The G7 Chord

John Henry

                Additional Verses

        2.    Well, the captain said to John Henry,

                “Gonna bring that steam drill ’round.

                Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.

                Gonna whop that steel on down, Lord, Lord,

                Gonna whop that steel on down.”

        3.    John Henry said to the captain,

                “Lord, a man ain’t nothin’ but a man,

                But before I let your steam drill beat me down,

                I’ll die with my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord,

                I’ll die with my hammer in my hand.”

                (Optional) Additional Verses

        4.    John Henry was driving on the mountain,

                And his hammer was flashing fire,

                And the last words I heard that poor boy say,

                “Gimme cool drink of water ’fore I die.”

        5.    John Henry said to his shaker,

                “Shaker, why don’t you sing?”

                “I’m a-throwin’ nine pounds from my hips on down,

                Just listen to that cold steel ring.”

        6.    John Henry said to his shaker,

                “Shaker, why don’t you pray?”

                “ ’Cause if I miss this little piece of steel,

                Tomorrow be your burying day.”

        7.    John Henry, he drove fifteen feet,

                The steam drill only made nine;

                But he hammered so hard that he broke his po’ heart,

                And he laid down his hammer and he died.

        8.    They took John Henry to the graveyard,

                And they buried him in the sand;

                And every locomotive comes a-roaring by says,

                “There lies a steel driving man.”

The F Chord

Be sure to “barre” the first finger across the first and second strings.

This will take both practice and patience.

Barbara Allen

Additional Verses

2. ’Twas in the merry month of May,

The green buds were a-swellin’;

Sweet William on his deathbed lay

For the love of Barbara Allen.

3. He sent a servant unto her,

To the place she was dwellin’,

Saying, “You must come to his deathbed now,

If your name be Barbara Allen.”

4. Slowly, slowly she got up,

Slowly, slowly she came nigh him;

And the only words to him she said,

“Young man, I think you’re dying.”

5. As she was walking o’er the fields,

She heard the death bell knellin’;

And every stroke ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Holding the Guitar
• Identifying the Strings / Tuning
• The Right Hand
• Playing a Chord (The D Chord)
• Skip to My Lou (The A7 Chord)
• He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
• Oh, My Darling Clementine
• The Streets of Laredo
• The G Chord
• On Top of Old Smokey
• Sweet Betsy from Pike
• Frankie and Johnny (The D7 Chord)
• Down in the Valley
• Froggie Went A-Courtin’
• Alternate Strum
• Blue Tail Fly
• Oh! Susanna
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Down By the Riverside
• Jesse James (The C Chord)
• The Midnight Special
• Red River Valley
• Michael Row the Boat Ashore (The E Minor Chord)
• The Drunken Sailor
• Pretty Peggy-O
• The Wayfaring Stranger (The A Minor Chord)
• The Cruel War is Raging
• John Browns Body (The B7 Chord)
• Worried Man Blues (The E and A Chords)
• Patrick on the Railway (The E7 Chord)
• Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill (The D Minor Chord)
• John Henry (The G7 Chord)
• Barbara Allen (The F Chord)
• Railroad Bill