{title: Wagon Wheel}
{artist: Old Crow Medicine Show / Bob Dylan}
{album: O.C.M.S. (2004)}
{key: G}
{tempo: 150}
{difficulty: beginner}
{tags: duet,old-crow,bluegrass,singalong,must-know}
{video: youtube:1gX1EP6mG-E}
{credit: Old Crow Medicine Show - 'Wagon Wheel' (Official Video, 2006). (c) Nettwerk Records. Written by Bob Dylan / Ketch Secor.}

{c: The most-played song at every kitchen party, jam session, and open mic in North America since 2004. Dylan wrote the chorus in 1973; Ketch Secor (Old Crow) wrote the verses 25 years later as a teenager.}
{c: Four chords. That's it. G - D - Em - C, on repeat for the entire song.}
{c: Lyrics copyright Special Rider Music / Old Crow Medicine Show. Chord skeleton below. Lyrics widely available — buy the OCMS album, support the artists.}

{c: ===== THE WHOLE SONG IS ONE PROGRESSION =====}
{c: Verse and chorus use the SAME four chords in the SAME order.}
{c: Two beats per chord (count: 1-2 G, 1-2 D, 1-2 Em, 1-2 C — repeat forever).}

[G]________ [D]________ [Em]________ [C]________
[G]________ [D]________ [C]________ [C]________

{c: ===== STRUMMING =====}
{c: D-DU-UDU on each chord, or just steady downstrokes if you're a beginner.}
{c: Tempo is moderate-fast — feels like rolling wheels.}
{c: Capo: most singers use capo 2 or 4. Try capo 2 first.}

{c: ===== DUET ARRANGEMENT =====}
{c: One voice leads the verse, both join on the chorus.}
{c: For M/F harmony: melody on top, third below on the chorus. Standard country harmony — the F voice typically gets the higher line.}
{c: Trade verses for variety — Verse 1 (M), Verse 2 (F), Chorus together.}

{c: ===== WHY THIS SONG IS THE LITMUS TEST =====}
{c: If you walk into a folk jam, this is the song that gets called when someone says "let's do something everyone knows." Learn it cold. The four-chord loop never changes — perfect for new players. The 7yo will know the chorus inside a week.}
{c: Some folk-purist players are sick of it. They'll grumble. Play it anyway — this is for kitchen-party joy, not for cred.}

{c: ===== HOW TO LEARN IT =====}
{c: 1. Get the four chords clean (G, D, Em, C — if those aren't comfortable yet, finish chapter 1 first).}
{c: 2. Strum the loop without singing for two minutes straight.}
{c: 3. Add the chorus melody — one phrase per chord change.}
{c: 4. Add the verses (lyrics available everywhere).}
{c: 5. Play it with another human within a week. That's the point.}