Old Joe Clark is a well-known old time tune from Kentucky. It is played in mixolydian mode in which the 7th note in the scale is lowered a half-tone, giving it what Aubrey Atwater refers to in the video below as that “Old Joe Clark-y” feel. There are loads of variations on this tune and loads of verses too. There is an excellent video on YouTube featuring Aubrey Atwater teaching the song, and I’ve picked it up from the video. It’s not too difficult to play. Some banjo players find the F chord shape to be awkward but I don’t seem to have too much trouble with it. This song also has one of the catchiest, most memorable melodies in the old time songbook, so once you learn it, this one is pretty easy to remember too. Here’s Aubrey Atwater teaching Old Joe Clark…

There are a number of videos on the YouTube machine featuring Ms. Atwater, and they’re all excellent. She also teaches clogging….check this out

She also plays mountain dulcimer with the Atwater-Donnelly Trio. Here’s The Spanish Lady. I love this tune.