7 Easy Bluegrass Songs on Guitar

7 Easy Bluegrass Songs on Guitar Sign up successful 1. Keep on the Sunny Side â€" The Carter Family Keep on the Sunny Side is one of the most famous bluegrass songs. The version I  am showing you is in the key of C. It is played with a standard bluegrass-strumming  pattern:  Down Down Rest Up Down Up,  then immediately repeat. Below are  the chords used in the song and how they are played to the lyrics. C F C Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side G Keep on the sunny side of life C F C It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way G C If well keep on the sunny side of life 2. Foggy Mountain Top A.P. Carter Here is another very popular bluegrass tune. It can be played  quickly  with a Down Down  strumming pattern while counting, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. There is a new chord  introduced. G C G If I was on some foggy mountain top D7 Id sail away to the west G C G Id sail all around this whole wide world D7 G To the girl I love the best C G If I had listened to what momma said D7 I would not have been here today G C G A lying around this old jail-house D7 G A weeping my sweet life away 3. On Top of Old Smokey â€" The Weavers On Top of Old Smokey is a slower song, played in ¾ time. It can be played with a Down  Down Up Down pattern, while counting to three. It features the G7 chord. C F C On top of old Smokey all covered in snow G7 C I lost my true lover by courting too slow F C But courting is pleasure but parting is grief G7 C For a false hearted lover is worse than a thief F C A thief he will just rob you take what you have G7 C But a false hearted lover will take you to your grave F C A grave will decay you turn you into dust G7 C And there just isn’t one girl a poor boy can trust 4. Man of Constant Sorrow â€" Dick Burnett This is a song originally written by Dick Burnett, but made famous by The Cinch  Brothers, and later made even more famous by the motion picture Oh Brother  Where Art Thou. The following is a simplified version that can be played with a  Down Down pattern. D A D In constant sorrow all through his days D G I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow A D Ive seen trouble all my day G I bid farewell to old Kentucky A D The place where I was born and raised A D The place where he was born and raised D G For six long years Ive been in trouble A D No pleasures here on earth I found G For in this world Im bound to ramble A D I have no friends to help me now A D He has no friends to help him now 5. Kentucky Girl â€" Larry Sparks Kentucky Girl is a nice song that only features two chords. It can be played much  like “Keep on the Sunny Side.” The pattern is Down â€" Down â€" Down Up â€" Down. G D7 Kentucky girl are you lonesome tonight G Kentucky girl do you miss me D7 Does that old moon shine on the bluegrass as bright G As it did on the night you first kissed me D7 In a valley neath the mountain so high G The sweetest place in all the world D7 In a cabin with vines on the door G Is where I met my Kentucky girl 6. Old Doc Brown â€" Hank Snow (Just a Closer Walk with Thee) “Old Doc Brown” is a song that is played very slowly and has spoken word over it  rather than traditional singing lyrics. It’s a classic. It was first performed by Hank  Snow, but later popularized by Johnny Cash.  It shares the same chords as “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” which is a very old hymnal song that  bears no author. I chose this song because there are a few new chords introduced. A E A I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus, keep me from all wrong A A7 D A E7 D A I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to thee A E A Just a closer walk with thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea A A7 D A E7 D A Daily walking close to thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be 7. Nine Pound Hammer Flatt Scruggs “Nine Pound Hammer” is another fast-paced, classic bluegrass song. It can be played  with the Down â€" Down â€"Rest â€" Up â€" Down pattern that we have seen before. The chorus is as follows. G Roll on buddy C7 Dont you roll so slow G D Well, tell me how can I roll roll roll G When the wheels wont go G Roll on buddy C7 Pull you load of coal G D Tell me how can I pull G When the wheels wont roll G Its a long way to Harlan C7 Its a long way to Hazard G D Just to get a little brew brew brew G Just to get a little brew G And when I die C7 You can make my tombstone G D Out of number nine coal D Out of number nine coal Please keep in mind that these seven easy bluegrass guitar songs can be expanded upon greatly. These are  merely open chord versions of the songs. The best way to learn is by sitting with a guitar teacher, so that he or she can go through the strumming patterns and fills. All chord photos are from JustinGuitar.com. Want to learn even more bluegrass guitar songs and techniques? Working with a private guitar teacher is the best way to improve your skills. Search for your guitar teacher now! Matthew K. teaches guitar, piano, and music theory lessons in Brooklyn, NY. He studied music composition at Mercyhurst University, and he has been teaching lessons for four years. Matthew is available to teach in-person lessons as well as online via Skype. Learn more about Matthew here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher