Cotton Eyed Joe is a traditional American folk song with roots in the Southern United States. The song tells the story of a mysterious and elusive character named Cotton-Eyed Joe, whose origins and whereabouts are shrouded in mystery. The lyrics describe various encounters and experiences with Cotton-Eyed Joe, often involving dancing, romance, and mischief. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy fiddle melody make it a popular choice for square dances and other social gatherings.
Over time, "Cotton Eyed Joe" has become a beloved piece of American folk music, with numerous variations and interpretations recorded by various artists. The tab has been adapted from a guitar tab and typically should be transposed up 2 semitones to be closer to the original.
Letter notes
G B C°
(F°# C°#) (G° D°) D° D° (G° D°) D° D°
D° E° D° B G
B A G B A G E
G A G E D G
(F°# C°#) (G° D°) D° (G° D°) D° B
D° E° D° B G A
B A G B A G E
G A G E D D
D E G A B A G D
D E G (C°# A#) (D° B) D
D E G A B D E
G A G E D D G
D E G A B A G D
D E G (C°# A#) (D° B) B G
D E G A B D E
G A G E D (B G)
(F°# C°#) (G° D°) D° D° D° D° D° B
D° E° D° B G A
B A G B A D E G
G A G E D G
(F°# C°#) (G° D°) D° D° B D°
D° E° D° B G A
B A G B A G E
G A G E D G
D E G A B A G D
D E G (C°# A#) (D° B)
D E G A B A G G
G A G E D G
D E G A B A G D
D E G (C°# A#) (D° B) G
A# B E° D° B A# A G
D E F# A G G
C°# D° D° D° D° B C°
D° E° D° B G A
B A G B A G E G
G A G E D G
C°# D° D° D° B C°
D° E° D° B G A
B A G B A G E D
G A G E D G G
Number notation
5 7 1°
(4°# 1°#) (5° 2°) 2° 2° (5° 2°) 2° 2°
2° 3° 2° 7 5
7 6 5 7 6 5 3
5 6 5 3 2 5
(4°# 1°#) (5° 2°) 2° (5° 2°) 2° 7
2° 3° 2° 7 5 6
7 6 5 7 6 5 3
5 6 5 3 2 2
2 3 5 6 7 6 5 2
2 3 5 (1°# 6#) (2° 7) 2
2 3 5 6 7 2 3
5 6 5 3 2 2 5
2 3 5 6 7 6 5 2
2 3 5 (1°# 6#) (2° 7) 7 5
2 3 5 6 7 2 3
5 6 5 3 2 (7 5)
(4°# 1°#) (5° 2°) 2° 2° 2° 2° 2° 7
2° 3° 2° 7 5 6
7 6 5 7 6 2 3 5
5 6 5 3 2 5
(4°# 1°#) (5° 2°) 2° 2° 7 2°
2° 3° 2° 7 5 6
7 6 5 7 6 5 3
5 6 5 3 2 5
2 3 5 6 7 6 5 2
2 3 5 (1°# 6#) (2° 7)
2 3 5 6 7 6 5 5
5 6 5 3 2 5
2 3 5 6 7 6 5 2
2 3 5 (1°# 6#) (2° 7) 5
6# 7 3° 2° 7 6# 6 5
2 3 4# 6 5 5
1°# 2° 2° 2° 2° 7 1°
2° 3° 2° 7 5 6
7 6 5 7 6 5 3 5
5 6 5 3 2 5
1°# 2° 2° 2° 7 1°
2° 3° 2° 7 5 6
7 6 5 7 6 5 3 2
5 6 5 3 2 5 5
