Mr. Bojangles
by Jerry Jeff Walker • Lesson #307 • Jun 21, 2020
Video lesson
Licensed Song Sheet 2 pages
Follow along with my print-friendly guide for this song! It’s available for purchase at Musicnotes.com, the web’s leading provider of licensed sheet music.
On the fence? Here's a guide I made showing the purchase & print process, including answers to common questions about my song sheets.
Buy at Musicnotes.comEditor’s notes
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!
Timestamps for this lesson:
- 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
Capo Notes
Capo 2 to play along with Jerry Jeff Walker
Capo 7 to play along with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
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!
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
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
-
July 24, 2024
Must-Know Strumming Patterns in 6/8 Time
-
July 13, 2024
"Wondering Why" by Red Clay Strays
-
July 8, 2024
Viewing Notes in a Certain Area of the Fretboard
-
June 21, 2024
"Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits
-
June 14, 2024
"Have a Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt
-
June 6, 2023
"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff
-
June 1, 2024
Introduction to Reggae Strumming & Rhythm
-
May 20, 2024
What Types of Play-Along Covers are Most Helpful?
-
May 10, 2024
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell
-
May 1, 2024
Tour of My New "KeyMaster" Web Tool
-
April 24, 2024
13 Must-Know Riffs with Droning Strings
-
April 18, 2024
"Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens