Black Mountain Rag
Black Mountain Rag
Jam Along
Chord Chart
A x2
B x2
C
Demo Videos
Practice Videos
Jam Along
Bryce
About This Song
Black Mountain Rag is a classic showcase tune strongly associated with the legendary flatpicker Doc Watson, and more recently with Billy Strings. It's typically played in D and follows a straightforward 1-4-5 progression (D-G-A), making it one of the more accessible instrumentals in the bluegrass repertoire and a great choice for newer players joining their first jam sessions.
The tune features three distinct parts that build on each other melodically, with the signature syncopated rhythm that gives it its distinctive drive. While the chord progression is simple, the melody itself has some quick position shifts and string crossings that reward practice—it's easier to follow along with rhythm than to nail the lead breaks, but both are achievable goals for developing players.