Log In My Account Join Upgrade Premium VIP Beta Tester Free Trial
Menu Search Join VIP Beta Tester Premium
 

Home ❯ Songs ❯ Johnny Cash ❯

← Prev Song Next Song →

Folsom Prison Blues

by Johnny Cash • Lesson #72 • May 28, 2017

Editor’s Notes

Let’s learn how to play Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash! In video lesson I’ll teach the chords, strumming pattern, tabs for the intro, and even how to strum with alternating bass notes. Note, this song will need a capo on the 1st fret if you want to play along w/ the Cash album version. Otherwise, you can leave the capo behind and play it in the key of E. Best of luck!

Free Video Lesson

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 Playthrough
  • 0:44 Chords needed
  • 1:41 Verse structure w/ simple strum
  • 2:50 Intro riff
  • 3:40 Strumming w/ alternating bass notes
  • 5:43 Farewell

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.com

Save 50% on this song sheet by applying the July 2024 code at Musicnotes checkout: TXB8387VDD (click to copy). Thanks for being a Premium supporter!

Song Notes Premium includes a 50% discount code you can use when buying any of my licensed song sheets. For the current month's code, upgrade to premium or log in.

Lyrics with chords

Capo 1st fret to play along with Johnny Cash’s album version

See my sheet music for the lyrics with chords.

Capo 1st Fret (optional)

If you want to play along with the Johnny Cash recorded versions of this song, you’ll need to add a capo to the 1st fret (and use the chords shown above). Otherwise, this is by no means required! You can play without a capo using the notation above and it will sound just fine – you’ll simply in a different key (which is fine).

Chords used

Here are the guitar chords used during this song. If you haven’t learned the B7 shown below, it is a good introductory version of the B chord that will get you a lot of mileage. Don’t let it scare you away if you’re just learning it for the first time – it will open the doors to other songs in the key of E.

e –––0––––0––––2––––  –––0–––
B –––0––––2––––0––––  –––3–––
G –––1––––2––––2––––  –––1–––
D –––2––––2––––1––––  –––2–––
A –––2––––0––––2––––  –––2–––
E –––0––––––––––––––  –––0–––
     E    A    B7        E7

Intro riff

Here is how you can play the riff heard at the beginning of the song, as well as in in between some of the verses and at the end (as you switch from the B7 to the E). I’ve included two ways to play it – one in open position, and another an octave up the fretboard (which frees you up for a bit of soloing, if you please).

See my sheet music for intro tab.

Strumming Pattern

To achieve the alternating bass note (boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom-chicka) that Johnny Cash is known for, use the following tab as a reference. This said, I strongly recommend viewing the video linked below to watch a demonstration of this. If you can, use your thumb to mute the lower E string on the alternating beats when it is not played – this will help accentuate the bass line. Also, note that the B7 chord position ties directly into the riff you use in the intro.

See my sheet music for strumming pattern diagrams.

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 233 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

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

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

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

View

Capo Captain

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

View

Key Master

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

View

Blank Tabs

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

View

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

    Learn how to strum any song in 6/8 time! Here's a collection of 8 must-know strumming patterns in that time signature, from beginning to advanced.

  • July 13, 2024

    "Wondering Why" by Red Clay Strays

    Let's learn how to play this easy-going, Southern-Rock hit! Plenty of strumming & rhythm tips, including a capo'd acoustic version if you want to avoid barre chords.

  • July 8, 2024

    Viewing Notes in a Certain Area of the Fretboard

    In my FretMonster web tool, you can now adjust the visible range of frets where notes appear. Great for less distraction while practicing. Check out this video tour!

  • June 21, 2024

    "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits

    A mega-lesson for this classic song! Learn a strummed version, how to incorporate the melody notes, and two ways to play it fingerstyle.

  • June 14, 2024

    "Have a Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt

    Learn how to play Hiatt's 1987 classic! Just like his live performances, I'll teach it using capo 5 and the Key of C chord family.

  • June 6, 2023

    "And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff

    Learn Nathaniel Rateliff's amazingly powerful song from 2020! I include a few different strumming & riff options to make sure you're covered.

  • June 1, 2024

    Introduction to Reggae Strumming & Rhythm

    Let's dive into playing reggae on the guitar! I'll walk you through the basics, from off-beat accents to muted strums — with a few fun song exercises included.

  • May 20, 2024

    What Types of Play-Along Covers are Most Helpful?

    Most of my song lessons feature backing tracks or play-along covers — and I'd love your feedback about which aspect of these is most helpful!

  • May 10, 2024

    "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell

    Let's dive into Glen Campbell's all-time classic from 1968, originally written by Jimmy Webb. I teach this with capo 5th fret, using easier-to-manage Key of C chords.

  • May 1, 2024

    Tour of My New "KeyMaster" Web Tool

    My new interactive web tool lets you see and hear the notes, chords, and common progressions in all of the most common keys. Super helpful!

  • April 24, 2024

    13 Must-Know Riffs with Droning Strings

    A handy roundup of all the songs I've taught that use droning strings... with a quick breakdown of each riff!

  • April 18, 2024

    "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens

    Learn how to play Cat Stevens' 1971 classic! I include campfire-friendly chords and strumming, and a step-by-step breakdown of the intro fingerstyle riff.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

Browse All My Lessons

By lesson type

By technique

By musical genre

By decade

By musical key

By popular artist

← back to homepage