Learn the classic American folk standard “Wildwood Flower” with this step-by-step traditional country and bluegrass guitar lesson. Originally recorded by the legendary Carter Family, “Wildwood Flower” has become one of the most iconic flatpicking songs for anyone wanting to master old-time country guitar, bluegrass rhythm, and melody-based lead breaks. In this lesson here at Country Guitar Online, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of how to play “Wildwood Flower” in the key of G—even though the tune is most commonly played out of the C position—so you can expand your arranging skills and build confidence playing in different keys. This lesson is perfect for guitar players searching for beginner-friendly bluegrass songs, traditional country guitar tutorials, Carter Family guitar arrangements, and flatpicking melodies that sound great at jams.
Inside the lesson, you’ll find full video instruction, on-screen guitar tabs, and tips for mastering the melody with clean country-style flatpicking technique. Country Guitar Online members can also download a print-friendly PDF tablature of the entire arrangement to help with practice away from the screen.
Once you’ve learned the tune, you can sharpen your timing by playing along with the practice video included below from my girlfriend Soonka’s YouTube Channel. If you’re looking for easy bluegrass guitar songs, classic country guitar lessons, or timeless folk melodies to add to your repertoire, this “Wildwood Flower” tutorial is a great place to start.
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | A Part – Measures 1 through 5 |
| 03:25 min | A Part – Measure 6 plus repeat Measures 1 to 5 |
| 05:08 min | A Part – Measure 7 (second ending) |
| 05:39 min | Practice the A Part |
| 06:16 min | B Part – Measure 8 through 11 |
| 11:51 min | B Part – Measure 12 through 16 |
| 17:09 min | Practice the Entire Arrangement |
After you’re done here