Home ❯ Songs ❯ Jerry Jeff Walker ❯

Mr. Bojangles

by Jerry Jeff Walker • Lesson #307 • Jun 21, 2020

Add to My Favorites

Adding to my favorites…

Added (View All Favorites | Remove)

Added (removing…)

Song Sheet with Lyrics 2 pages

A printed arrangement with the lyrics, chords, and other guitar parts taught in my video lesson. Available for purchase through Musicnotes.com.

Have questions? Read this help page to learn how buying & printing works, with answers to many common questions about my song sheets.

Buy at Musicnotes.com

About this lesson

Hey friends - here’s a guitar lesson teaching you how to play Mr. Bojangles, originally written and released by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968. This tutorial will give you the chords, strumming patterns, and chord progressions that will also work for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1970 cover, if you’re more familiar with that one. This song is in the key of C, and uses a very common descending bass-note walkdown in 3/4 time. Nothing too complicated – but even for the more difficult chords (F and D7/F#), I’ll show you some hints to simplify things. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 Lesson overview
2:10 Capo & chords shapes
8:59 Strumming patterns
14:41 Chord progressions
18:46 Full playthrough (capo 2)
23:49 Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, and Key West

Lesson Discussion

Get My Practice Guide

If you’d like the grab-and-go practice guide that shows the chord voicings, strumming patterns, and additional notes & guidance to help you capture the nuance of this song, you can download it here. It requires membership to Song Notes Premium. Note, this does not include the full lyrics for the whole song – if that’s what you want, get my licensed song sheet (linked above).

Slow Playtrhough

Here’s a video of me slowly playing each section of the song, in order (intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus). I include tabs on screen so you can follow along. My first playthrough is without singing, and then I’ll repeat it all and include singing for context. The video begins with me counting in four full measures (to help you get into the groove). Enjoy!

Hear Jerry Jeff Play It

Live in New Orleans:

Live on TV (1969):

Live in a Van (2014):

Album recording (1968):

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Recently Added

Featured Courses

Travis Picking Essentials

An overview of all techniques needed to get started with Travis-style fingerpicking! Alternating Bass notes, filler notes, melody, the "pinch", and more.

13 lessons

View

Practical Music Theory

A general overview of must-know theory concepts. The goal here is practical, easy-to-understand explanations — all of which provide clarity to your everyday guitar playing.

14 lessons

View

Guitar for Beginners

A guide to getting started with guitar! Everything you need to know to begin your journey. Choosing a guitar, other gear you'll need, fretting notes & chords, learning your first songs, and more.

14 lessons

View

Beginner Chord Guide

A guide to the must-know chords you'll need when getting started with guitar! The quickest way to learn major chords, minor chords, the chords in each key, and more.

22 lessons

View

Blues Starter Kit

A guide to must-know elements of beginner blues guitar! I'll walk you through the essential topics, showing you fun things to play along the way.

18 lessons

View

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learn to read tabs, chord charts, fretboard diagrams, strumming patterns, and more! This course explains how to understand all of these must-know notation styles.

6 lessons

Walk Ups & Walk Downs

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

JamBox

Play-along practice tracks, showing chord changes on screen, to help make practice more fun!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!

Recent Lessons

August 7, 2026

[Updated] Practice Guide for "Brown Eyed Girl"

I've created a brand new Practice Guide to accompany my popular Brown Eyed Girl lesson! Enjoy an updated visual companion helping you with chord shape finger positions, various ways to play the melodic intro riff, strumming, and much more.
July 31, 2026

"Ohio" by Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Learn to play this CSNY protest classic from 1970! Features an iconic rock riff, which I'll teach you to play a few different ways. I also include strumming tips for the chorus, along with options for standard and Drop-D tunings.
July 17, 2026

Travis Picking Essentials: 10 New Pages of PDF Guides!

This week I finished a batch of 5 new PDF guides for my in-progress Travis Picking Essentials course... and they're ready for you to download and print!
July 16, 2026

[Updated] How I Learned to Travis Pick with John Prine ft. Clay Pigeons

I totally overhauled my 7 page PDF guide for this lesson! Plus, I recorded six zoomed videos showing the step-by-step exercises I recommend.
July 3, 2026

"Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin (full song lesson)

Learn to play each seciton of Led Zeppelin's 1969 classic! For each section, I teach several easier ways to play things – allowing you to strum & sing without worrying about copying Jimmy Page in all cases.
June 21, 2026

Dad-Inspired Songs for Father's Day

To fathers past, present, or future — here's a roundup of songs I've taught that celebrate Dad! Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, and many other artists included.
June 12, 2026

"Ramble On" Acoustic Bassline Groove (Led Zeppelin)

Learn a strummed version of this iconic Led Zeppelin bassline, made playable on an acoustic guitar! Includes a fun variation that allows continuous strumming throughout.
June 6, 2026

Melody, with Chords: "Love Me Tender"

Learn to play Love Me Tender's melody and chords at the same time! This lesson uses Key of C chords (capo 2), which simplify things in several helpful ways.
June 5, 2026

"Love Me Tender" as played by Elvis Presley

Learn to sing & strum this all-time classic! I'll teach you the alternating bass note approach that Elvis uses in his 1956 recording, with plenty of helpful tips included.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage

Mr. Bojangles

Song Sheet with Lyrics 2 pages

About this lesson

Lesson Discussion

Get My Practice Guide

Slow Playtrhough

Hear Jerry Jeff Play It

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Travis Picking Essentials

Practical Music Theory

Guitar for Beginners

Beginner Chord Guide

Blues Starter Kit

Reading Music for Guitarists

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

JamBox

Key Master

Capo Captain

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons