Doc's Guitar Logo
The Guitar of Doc Watson
Photo of Doc Watson
Doc Watson portrait taken in 1986.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Figen)

Welcome!

Doc's Guitar is dedicated to the guitar and music of Doc Watson. A master at both flatpicking and fingerstyle guitar, Doc's skills are legendary. Doc Watson had a profound influence in traditional, folk and bluegrass music ever since coming to national attention in the early 1960's. His recordings and performances have inspired generations of aspiring guitarists to explore the mysteries of his phenomenal playing.

Here at Doc's Guitar you will find biographical information about Doc, along with a listing of the honors and awards he has received. We also feature a complete discography of Doc's recordings, as well as a listing of instruction books, instruction videos and performance videos. You'll also find our song search page that allows you to look up a tune and see a where you and find that tune in Doc's recordings, instruction books and videos. If you're looking for free tablature of tunes performed by Doc Watson, be sure to visit our free tab page.

Our site has been updated since Doc passed away in 2012. This includes our Memory Book page, where you can share your thoughts, feelings and memories about Doc.

So sit a spell, have a look around and enjoy yourself!

Happy Birthday, Doc!
Celebrating Doc's 100th Birthday
Doc was born on March 3, 2023 and there are a host of shows and events coming up to celebrate his centennial year. These include Merlefest, artists like Billy Strings, and special shows featuring Doc's touring pals Jack Lawrence and T. Michael Coleman.

Special Podcast from Bluegrass Jamalong Artists and Friends Talk about Doc
Two special podcast episodes celebrating Doc's 100th birthday were just released by Bluegrass Jamalong. These are almost 5 hours of interviews with people who worked with, knew or were inspired by Doc, including Jack Lawrence, T. Michael Coleman, John McEuen, Bryan Sutton and many more. Here are links Part 1 | Part 2

New CD
Doc Watson Life's Work - A Retrospective
This 4-CD box set is a career-spanning compilation of Doc's work. It includes 101 songs, all extensive liner notes by author & producer Ted Olson, and an 88-page book insert featuring never before seen photos. This is a must have for all Doc fans and will be treasured for years to come.