Old Joe Clark

Old Joe Clark is a fiddle tune that you’ll find played in both Old-Time and Bluegrass circles. There are lyrics to Old Joe Clark, but it is mostly played as an instrumental.  I will leave it as an exercise to the reader to find lyrics to Old Joe Clark

This version of Old Joe Clark is put together with bits and pieces of Old Joe Clark I’ve learned or found over the years.  The eight note pick up played in the first repeat of part a (beats 2 through 4) can be used as pick up notes to start off Old Joe Clark.  When you finish the tune play the first repeat of part b rather playing the second repeat.  

Lot’s of great OTM recordings exist of Old Joe Clark.  Take a look at these recordings

Arnie Naime and Chris Cooler - 5 Strings Attached Volume 2, Merriweather M02CA (includes singing).

Bradley Kincaid  - Mountain Frolic: Rare Old Timey Classics, JSP Records CD7710

Camp Creek Boys - Old-Time String Band, County Records CD2719

David Johnson - Clawhammer Banjo, Smithsonian Folkways FW31094

Eden Hammons - Eden Hammons Collection, West Virginia University Press Sound Archive Series

Ernest V. Stoneman - The Unsung Father of Country Music, 5-String Productions 5SPH001

Etta Baker - Banjo, Music Maker MMCD 109

Franklin George - Traditional Music for Banjo, Fiddle & Bagpipes, County Records D270

The Fruit Jar Guzzlers - Paramount Old Time Recordings, JSP Records

George Landers - Close To Home: Old Time Music from Mike Seeger's Collection, 1952-1967, Smithsonian Folkways SFW40097     

Download a pdf of Old Joe Clark -> Click OldJoeClark.pdf.