Cherokee Shuffle

April 13, 2025May 8, 2016 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0071

Cherokee Shuffle is an old traditional fiddle tune that’s become a popular tune for bluegrass flatpickers to play on acoustic guitar. The first version of this tune was recorded by fiddler Tommy Magness in the 1930’s. Tommy Jackson is generally credited with transforming Magness’s rendition into “Cherokee Shuffle” in the key of A. In this lesson, we’ll slow down this tune and play along with interactive guitar tablature note for note. Be sure to use the AB Looping and playback speed controls on the video player!

Flatpicking Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Song Overview
01:10 min	Important Tips
02:54 min	Tablature Play Along – Slower Speed
06:00 min	Practice Along – Faster Speed
07:48 min	Extra Pointers

Backing Tracks

Member Content

Cherokee Shuffle Guitar Tablature Chord Progression Woodtone Strings

19 Comments

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John-72 (@guest_217)

#217

nice arrangement on this one

Brandon (@guest_218)

#218

Great lesson!

Montana (@guest_219)

#219

beautiful playing

Aaron P (@guest_220)

#220

Thanks Devin, I’m really enjoying all the flatpicking tunes. I’m more of a song based learner so this is helping me out a lot!

Mark (@guest_223)

#223

I like the new tablature play along you’re adding to the videos now. Pretty slick.

Rick (@guest_242)

#242

Wow very nice guitar lesson website

gazfootpodiatry(@gazfootpodiatryyahoo-co-uk)

#691

This sounds like josh Williams version . Sound nice

Author

Devin(@devin)

#692

Reply to gazfootpodiatry

Thanks! Yep, you’re right on…I learned this song listening to his version. Of all the arrangements out there, I really liked his take on the song. His smooth picking style reminds me of Bryan Sutton in a way.

mark.keating(@mark-keatingroadrunner-com)

#739

I’ve been trying to learn this song for years, and my mind’s like a one-eyed dog in a smokehouse. I guess I’ll wash off my war paint and try it the Texan way.

Author

Devin(@devin)

#741

Reply to mark.keating

Might as well throw on a cowboy hat and give it a try! Yeah, this is a tough one…has some odd timing here and there. Great song though. Good luck!

davegartner(@davegartnershaw-ca)

#1011012

Been playing Cherokee Shuffle for years
I really like your version
was definitely worth learning

Jon(@jonathanhembreygmail-com)

#2011648

This is a great song. Now to get it up to speed!

Joseph(@josephmanguiano1gmail-com)

#4027224

This one sounds very nice. By far, it’s probably the most challenging one I’ve seen, but good country and Bluegrass deserves all the time and practice it needs to sound right. Thanks again Devin! Will be working on this one for now…

John(@wjssavhotmail-co-uk)

#15056078

What a great lesson

Allen Gibbs(@allen-g)

#15090188

What model martin are you playing ? I’m going to get one, lol.. he sounds awesome

Author

Devin(@devin)

#15090218

Reply to Allen Gibbs

Thanks! This one is a Martin D-15… an older model where it was made with mahogany backs and sides. I believe the newer ones are called D-15M. Great sounding guitars for sure!

George Lange(@georgeanddoris66hotmail-com)

#15095247

Great song. I’m learning way more here on this website for sure. I’d like to learn this song and play faster as well

sandro donda(@sandro-donda)

#15095254

Great DEVIN

Michael Graham(@jambongris)

#15095419

Learning this actually makes me feel like I am making progress. More lessons like this would be appreciated.