Sweet Betsy From Pike

From Vol. 1
Traditional Treasures

SUGGESTED KEY: Bb

CAPO: Fret 3

CHORD FAMILY: G

TIME SIGNATURE: 3/4

SKILL LEVEL: Advanced

A Little About This Song…

Sweet Betsy from Pike was published anonymously in 1853, but the lyrics are attributed to John A. Stone. It’s an amusing account of two young forty-niners traveling from Pike County, Missouri, to the gold fields of California. You can play a much simpler version, of course, but this arrangement makes the story come to life. You can find twice the number of verses online. Note that you add your thumb in the D chord.
Repeat the refrain after each verse and twice at the end. There’s an optional vamp there… use it to add extra space between some of the verses.