Old Joe Clark

Focus

“Old Joe Clark” is a US folk tune dating back to the late-19th century. With about 90 stanzas of playful lyrics, it survived oral tradition for several decades before being written down in 1918. Subsequently, it grew in popularity, and is now one of the most commonly heard tunes at bluegrass, old time, or country music jams across the nation. Typically, a fiddle player will take the lead and pass the solo around the group, then occasionally someone might shout a favorite stanza over top of the melody. Beginners will enjoy this tune for it’s accessibility, and more advanced players can keep it interesting by adding their own embellishments and variations. Most notably, “Old Joe Clark” is played on A major scale in the Mixolydian Mode.

Key:

A Mixolyidan

Difficulty:

Beginner

Prevalence:

High. This is an incredibly common tune in the US, as fiddlers, banjo players, mandolin pickers, and guitarists know it by heart.

Mixolydian Mode explained:

The key of A major has three sharps, F# and C#, and G#. To convert the mode from major to mixolydian, simply drop the G# a half step to G-natural. (Alternatively, you could look at it as an A major scale that begins on G).

Practice this scale first to get an ear for the mode. Again, it’s simply an A major scale with a G-natural.

A Mixolydian Scale

Now for the tune!

Old Joe Clark

Sample Lyrics:

“Old Joe Clark he had a house, 18 stories high

Every story in that house was filled with chicken pie.

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, fare thee well I say,

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, I’m a-going away.”

Listen:

Check in again soon for a video of yours truly playing the tune as written.