How to play Wildwood Flower on guitar
The most famous beginner song in country guitar. Three chords and the alternating bass that defines the style.
At a glance
- Key C major
- Time 4/4
- Level Improver
- Chords C, F, G7
Why this song is worth learning
Wildwood Flower is where country and bluegrass guitar begins. The right hand alternates between two bass notes and a strum, which produces the steady boom-chuck that drives the whole style. Learning it here, over three easy chords, means you can apply it to hundreds of other songs later.
The chords, as shapes
| Chord | Frets (low E to high e) |
|---|---|
| C | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| F | 1 3 3 2 1 1 |
| G7 | 3 2 0 0 0 1 |
x means do not play that string, 0 means play it open. Tap any shape on the page to hear it.
Play along
Press play. The track counts you in, clicks the beat and lights up the chord you should be holding. Drop the tempo while you are learning and raise it once you can get through without stopping.
Chord order
| Verse | C | C | C | C | G7 | G7 | C | C | C | C | F | F | C | G7 | C | C |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 4 beats per bar.
The bass-and-strum pattern
C — one bar of the pattern
5:3 3:0+2:1+1:0 4:2 3:0+2:1+1:0
F — one bar of the pattern
4:3 3:2+2:1+1:1 5:0 3:2+2:1+1:1
G7 — one bar of the pattern
6:3 3:0+2:0+1:1 4:0 3:0+2:0+1:1
Every note comes straight out of the chord shape, so if you can hold the chord you can play the pattern. Numbers are string:fret, counting string 1 as the thin high E.
How to learn it
- Learn C, F and G7. F can be played as a three-string shape (xx3211) while you build up to the barre.
- On C, pick the fifth string, strum the top strings, pick the fourth string, strum again. That is the pattern.
- Do the same on G7, alternating between the sixth and fourth strings.
- Play four bars of C, then two of G7, keeping the right hand steady through the change.
- Play the whole sixteen bars with the play-along at a slow tempo.
Tips that matter
- The bass notes alternate. Two different strings, not the same one twice. That alternation is the entire character of the style.
- Keep the right hand mechanical. It should not change at all when the chord changes. Only the left hand moves.
- Mute lightly with the palm on the bass notes for a tighter, more authentic sound.
Questions about Wildwood Flower
What chords are in Wildwood Flower?
C, F and G7 in the key of C. Three chords for the whole song.
What is Carter-style picking?
It is an alternating bass and strum pattern, named after Maybelle Carter: a bass note, a strum, a different bass note, another strum. It is the foundation of country rhythm guitar.
Do I need to play the melody as well?
Not at first. The chord and alternating-bass version is a complete accompaniment. Adding the melody on the bass strings underneath the strum is the next step and is considerably harder.
Is Wildwood Flower copyrighted?
The traditional song is in the public domain, having developed from an 1860 parlour song. Specific recorded arrangements may be protected, but the song itself is not.