We've put together tabs of some of our favorite Doc Watson tunes for your learning and playing pleasure. These were arranged to preserve Doc's interpretation, but are simplified in regards to technique. They typically represent the simplest break in a recording and avoid advanced licks.
You'll find much more tab in the instruction books and videos on our Learning page.
To view and listen to a tab, just
click on the title.
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Beaumont Rag
This is a transcription of Doc's arrangement from Doc
Watson and Son. Doc plays it with a 12-string on this album.
Fiddlers Dram
Doc frequently uses this tune in medleys. It's short and fairly easy.
Gimme Back
My Fifteen Cents
This song appeared on the album Down South and
is a fun tune to play. We includes the lyrics.
June Apple
This fiddle tune appears on the In Nashville
- Good Deal! album.
Old Joe Clark
This arrangement was taken from the track that appears on the album Home
Sweet Home.
Peartree
This is one of Gaither Carlton's (Doc's father-in-law) fiddle tunes that Doc
said "set many square-dancing feet in motion." A good version is
on the Memories album.
Rainbow
This is one of our favorites. It was heard first on the In
Nashville - Good Deal! album and re-released on the Foundation
Instrumental Collection CD.
Red Rocking Chair
This traditional tune was recorded by Doc and Merle on their Red Rocking Chair album. This tab was taken from Doc's instrumental break.
Salt Creek
This tune appears on several of Doc's Albums, usually in a medley with another
tune. This is a generalized, simplified arrangement.
Twinkle Twinkle
This old fiddle tune is featured on Doc & Merle Watson's Guitar Album. It's a three-part tune with some challenging fingering, but a lot of fun!
Stone's Rag
This tune appeared in the album Riding the
Midnight Train. Our arrangement is simplified from what Doc does and stays
close to the tune.
Whistlin'
Rufus
This one appeared on Doc Watson and Son in
a medley. It's a fairly long fiddle tune, but pretty straightforward.
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