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Cripple Creek

beginner

Traditional · Key of A · 4/4 time

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Tablature

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Key

A

Tempo

120 BPM

Speed

Medium-Fast

Tuning

Standard

About This Tune

A beloved old-time tune that crosses over into bluegrass. Features hammer-ons and pull-offs that build essential left-hand technique.

History & Background

An Appalachian fiddle tune dating back to at least the 1800s, named after the gold-mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado. It's one of the first tunes many banjo players learn, and the flatpicking arrangement translates those characteristic licks to guitar. Doc Watson's versions made it a flatpicking standard.

traditionalold-timeessentialhammer-ons

Practice Metronome

120
BPM

Cripple Creek default: 120 BPM · Adjust tempo for practice

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Download the full tablature as a PDF — print it out or view on your tablet at the music stand.

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Quick Reference
Difficulty
beginner
Key
A
Tempo
Medium-Fast (120 BPM)
Time Signature
4/4
Tuning
Standard