The fingerstyle guitar tab (chord melody) for “Sloop John B” is available for download as a PDF.
Sloop John B
“Sloop John B” is a traditional Bahamian folk song rooted in late-19th-century maritime culture, later documented by Carl Sandburg. Its narrative of a disastrous voyage reflects sailors’ complaint songs, blending humor with weariness drawn from real seafaring life.
The song entered American popular music through The Kingston Trio and reached global fame with The Beach Boys’ 1966 Pet Sounds recording. As the guitar became central to folk revivals, its portability helped carry the song from docks and porches into classrooms and concert stages.
Video
In the video below, I perform the piece as transcribed.
Sloop John B – Tab
The guitar tablature below is a fingerstyle arrangement of the piece.
Download “Sloop John B” (2 Pages) as a PDF
$4.99Add to cart