How to Play Keep on the Sunny Side on Banjo - Clawhammer Tab & Lesson
About This Song
Keep on the Sunny Side is one of those songs that just makes you feel good. The Carter Family made it famous with their 1928 recording, and it became their signature theme song on the radio. It's been a staple of old-time and country music ever since. You might also recognize it from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
For banjo players, this is a wonderful beginner song. It uses just three chords (G, C, and D), and the melody is cheerful and singable. The verse and chorus have distinct characters, which makes the song feel satisfying and complete. It's a great one to have in your back pocket for when you want to play something uplifting.
Keep on the Sunny Side Clawhammer Banjo Tab
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How to Play Keep on the Sunny Side - Step by Step
Get the Chord Progression Down
We’re in standard open G tuning (gDGBD), and this song uses three chords: G, C, and D. The song has a verse and a chorus, each with its own feel. The verse spends most of its time on G with brief visits to C and D, which makes it very manageable. The chorus has more movement but follows a logical pattern. Take your time getting comfortable with the chord changes before diving into the melody.
Learn the Verse Melody
The verse melody is gentle and flowing. It starts on the G chord and moves along at an easy pace. You’ll notice the melody uses a lot of open strings, which gives your fretting hand some breathing room.
Play through the verse slowly and try to hear the words in your head as you play. This is a song most people know, so letting the lyrics guide your rhythm will help the melody feel natural. The verse resolves back to G, which sets up the chorus nicely.
Learn the Chorus Melody
The chorus is where the song really opens up. “Keep on the sunny side” is the hook, and the melody reflects that bright, uplifting feel. The chorus spends more time on the C chord than the verse does, which gives it a different character.
Notice how the last few measures of the chorus walk through G, C, G, D, and back to G. That’s a satisfying resolution that brings the whole thing full circle.
Add the Embellishments
You’ll see a few embellishments marked throughout the tab. Hammer-ons (H) are where you strike an open string and then hammer a fretted note down on top of it. Pull-offs (P) are the reverse: strike a fretted note and pull your finger off to sound the open string. Slides (sl) glide from one fret to another in a single motion. All three add a nice rhythmic bounce and a little vocal quality to the arrangement.
Don’t try to add all of them at once. Pick one or two spots where they appear in the tab and practice those measures until the move feels smooth. Then add more as you get comfortable. The song sounds perfectly fine without any of them, so treat them as seasoning you add to taste.
Make It Your Own
Keep on the Sunny Side is a song that rewards a relaxed, easy approach. Don’t rush it. Let the melody breathe, keep your rhythm steady, and enjoy the cheerful feel of the tune. Once you have the basic arrangement down, you can experiment with adding or removing embellishments to suit your style. This is a song you’ll come back to again and again.
Practice Tips
- 1
Learn the verse and chorus separately before combining them. The verse has a different feel from the chorus, and getting each one solid on its own will make the full song much easier.
- 2
Focus on the G to C chord change first. That transition happens often and needs to feel smooth. Practice switching back and forth until it becomes second nature.
- 3
Once the basic melody is comfortable, start adding the hammer-ons one at a time. They give the tune its bounce, but the song sounds great even without them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tuning is Keep on the Sunny Side played in?
Keep on the Sunny Side is played in standard open G tuning (gDGBD). This is the most common tuning for clawhammer banjo and works perfectly for songs in the key of G.
Is Keep on the Sunny Side hard to play on banjo?
It's a great beginner song. The chord progression uses just G, C, and D, and the melody is straightforward and easy to remember. If you can play basic bum-ditty rhythm and switch between those three chords, you're ready for this one.
What are the chords for Keep on the Sunny Side?
Three chords: G, C, and D. The verse starts on G and moves through C and D, and the chorus follows a similar pattern. The final measures of the chorus end with a clear G, C, G, D, G progression.
Who originally wrote Keep on the Sunny Side?
The song was written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn (lyrics) and J. Howard Entwisle (music). It was originally a Christian hymn. The Carter Family popularized it with their 1928 recording, and it became their signature song.