The ULTIMATE “Up On Cripple Creek” Chords & Guitar Lesson

Here’s a tune that's a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one. 

It’s a perfect example of Americana rock, with a rootsy, funky style. 

Below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Up On Cripple Creek” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Up On Cripple Creek? 

“Up On Cripple Creek” was originally written by Robbie Robertson of the Canadian-American group known as The Band. The song blends storytelling, humor, and American rhythm & blues roots. The lyrics sing about a truck driver traveling to a place called Cripple Creek to see a woman named Bessie.  

Although The Band members were Canadian and from the northern U.S., they were fascinated with the sounds of the American South and brought this influence to their music. 

“Up On Cripple Creek” was recorded at the famous A&R Studios in New York City, with John Simon producing. One of the most interesting elements about the song is the use of a Hohner clavinet, played by Garth Hudson. This gives the track its funky, bouncing rhythm and makes it instantly recognizable. It was also a precursor to the clavinet being used extensively in rock music and later funk.

Levon Helm sang the lead vocal and played drums at the same time. His groove anchored the group and is a defining characteristic of their sound. It’s often considered one of the Band’s most playful and groove-oriented tracks, in contrast to some of their more somber or epic storytelling songs like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

Check out this clip of Helm playing and singing the drums. His groove is legendary:

“Up On Cripple Creek” was released as a single in late 1969 and became one of The Band’s bigger hits, reaching number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also helped show the world that they were capable of making successful tunes not just as studio musicians or as a backup group, but as artists themselves. They did all this without sacrificing their rootsy style. 

The song’s title, “Cripple Creek,” refers to a real place in Colorado, famous historically for gold mining, though Robertson admitted that the lyrics were more inspired by the name’s sound and rhythm than a literal depiction of the town. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Up On Cripple Creek?

The tuning for "Up On Cripple Creek” is standard tuning.  The Band kept things simple. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

 All right! 

Now that you know the tuning for “Up On Cripple Creek,” let’s next talk about…

Up On Cripple Creek Chords

To play “Up On Cripple Creek”, as recorded by The Band, you only need to know 5 main chords they are A, D, E, F#m, and G. These chords are a blend of open chords and bar chords. If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/barchords

Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes might show up on the fretboard.

A can be played in a standard open position from the 5th string down like this:

D is played from the 4th string down like so:

E is a big-sounding chord using all 6 strings like this:

F#m is a bar chord played in 2nd position like so:

Finally, we have G, which can be played using all 6 strings as well, like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Up On Cripple Creek hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “Up On Cripple Creek” on guitar is going to require an intermediate skill level. The song only has 5 chords. However, there are a few bar chords, and the rhythm is quite funky. Getting the groove and feel right is where most of the time will be spent. So, take your time with this one. 

What key is Up On Cripple Creek in?

“Up On Cripple Creek”, as recorded by The Band, is in the key of A major. The primary scale would be the A major scale, which is built using the notes A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#. 

Let’s take a closer look at how all these chords relate in the key of A major. Starting with…

A

Notes: A, C#, E

Function: This is the I chord, the tonic of A major. It’s the “home” chord, around which everything else revolves. Progressions in A major often begin or end here.

D

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: This is the IV chord, built on the fourth degree of the A major scale. It can create a sense of movement away from the I chord without changing keys. It can also set up the dominant (E) or a move back to the tonic (A).

E

Notes: E, G#, B

Function: This is the V chord, the dominant of A major. Its primary role is to create tension that resolves to the tonic (A). The G# note is the leading tone, which pulls strongly toward A, giving chord progressions forward motion. 

F#m

Notes: F#, A, C#

Function: This is the vi chord, a minor chord built on the sixth degree of A major. It’s sometimes referred to as the relative minor. It also shares the notes A and C# with the tonic (A), making transitions between them very smooth and natural. 

G

Notes: G, B, D

Function: This is the only non-diatonic chord of the bunch, meaning it doesn’t naturally occur in the A major scale. Using this chord creates tension and also a bluesy/rock vibe. In “Up On Cripple Creek,” this chord is used as a passing chord from F#m → G → A back to “home”. 

Together, these chords make up some of the most common sets of chords in popular music.

Millions of songs use them…

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown. 

Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Up On Cripple Creek?

The main underlying groove for “Up On Cripple Creek” is a swampy 16th note rock feel. In 4/4 time, 16th notes divide each beat into four equal parts, creating a quicker, more flowing rhythm. The counting for 16th notes in a measure looks like this:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure. The "e," "&," and "a" divide each beat into four evenly spaced subdivisions.

When counted out loud, it sounds like: 

"One-ee-and-a, Two-ee-and-a, Three-ee-and-a, Four-ee-and-a."

This is the funky feel that's like a motor to the song.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Up On Cripple Creek” is some of The Band’s best work. From Garth Hudson’s funky clavinet riff to Levon Helm’s unshakeable groove and vocals, every part works together to capture that rootsy, Americana vibe The Band is famous for. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard for lead and rhythm, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan