The Songs of Doc Watson

This book was conceived and designed for Doc Watson music-lovers. Doc himself typed out the original list of songs that he would like to see in the book. A few deletions and additions were made because of copyright problems. Even so, the final collection is superlative. In it you will

find the same wide variety of songs that you would hear at any Doc Watson concert.


In addition to words, melody and chord names, more than half the

book is filled with guitar transcriptions in both tablature and standard music

notation. Most every song has both the basic accompaniment pattern

together with at least one guitar instrumental break.


Realizing that Doc’s fans include guitar players of all degrees of

accomplishment, we have included something for those who just barely play

and for those who will one day produce their own guitar method book.


As if that weren’t enough, each song includes an introduction by Doc,

where he “recollects” and reminisces about the occasion on which he first

heard a particular song, who sang it, how, and where. Doc gives his own

verbal interpretation of each song and tells why he likes it.


There is a general introduction to the book by Doc, and also one by

Ralph Rinzler. There’s a section on how to read tablature and understand

various symbols used in the guitar transcriptions. Of course, there are lots of

photographs; a discography too.


Finally, so that you get the full flavor of Doc, there are a few banjo

pieces-complete.