Fast And Easy Big Rock Candy Mountain Chords And Guitar Lesson (Harry "Haywire" McClintock)

Let’s go back in time to 1895…

This song sings of a utopian world free from pain, struggle, and heartache. 

It’s a simple song… it only uses 3 chords.

Below I’ll break down the history and guitar style behind this classic American folk song.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Big Rock Candy Mountain" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Big Rock Candy Mountain?

"Big Rock Candy Mountain" was originally written by Harry McClintock, a.k.a "Haywire Mac". He was a popular American folk singer, songwriter, and labor activist. Although McClintock first wrote the song in 1895, it later became widely known after he performed it at the 1928 American Folk Song Festival.

The lyrics are quite interesting…

It sings of a utopian paradise where everything is perfect—there are "cigarette trees," "lemonade springs," and "ice cream mountains." However, the song also has an undercurrent of cynicism. It was written during a time when McClintock, like many others, was struggling with the harsh conditions of the labor movement, particularly in the aftermath of industrialization. The "Big Rock Candy Mountain" represents a dream of escape from the oppressive labor systems and harsh economic conditions of the time. 

The tune became popular among hobo communities in the early 20th century, symbolizing the hobo's hope for a better life. 

The most famous version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" was recorded by Harry McClintock himself in 1928 for Columbia Records. McClintock’s recording of the song brought it to national attention and cemented its place in American folk music history.

Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists, including The Kingston Trio in the 1950s, bringing it to a new generation of listeners. Its distinct blend of humor, fantasy, and social commentary has made it a timeless classic.

The song was recognized by the Library of Congress as part of the nation's musical heritage. "Big Rock Candy Mountain" has also appeared in multiple films and TV shows, especially in those with a focus on American culture or history. For example, it was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", which paid homage to traditional folk songs and their impactful cultural influence. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Big Rock Candy Mountain?

The tuning for "Big Rock Candy Mountain”, as recorded by Harry McClintock is standard tuning. 

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

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)  

Let’s next take a look at the…

Big Rock Candy Mountain Chords

To play "Big Rock Candy Mountain” as recorded by Harry McClintock you only need to know 3 main chords they are C, F, and G. These chords are all played as (campfire) chords and sound great for mountain music. Here’s how I would play them:

C is played from the 5th string down and using just 3 fingers in the fretting hand like this:

F I would play as the “little F”. This is a smaller F chord (as opposed to a big bar chord) played from the 4th string down like this:

Finally, G I would play in a folk style as well like so:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it faster and in the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

All right, now that you know the "Big Rock Candy Mountain" chords, let’s next talk about…

What key is Big Rock Candy Mountain in?

“Big Rock Candy Mountain" as recorded by Harry McClintock is in the key of C major. All of the chords used in the song fit the diatonic scale of C major. Let’s take a look at how the chords all relate to the key of C major and the C major scale.

Starting with…

C (I): The Tonic

Function: Home base or the "center of gravity" of the key.

Emotion: Stable, calm, and resolved.

Role in Progression: Everything resolves naturally back to the tonic. Other chords "pull" towards it.

F (IV): The Subdominant

Function: A preparatory chord that builds tension or leads to the dominant chord (G).

Emotion: Slightly restless but not as intense as the dominant.

Role in Progression: Often used as a stepping stone between the tonic and dominant chords. It adds movement to progressions like I-IV-I or I-IV-V-I.

G (V): The Dominant

Function: Creates the strongest pull back to the tonic chord (C).

Emotion: Tense and unresolved until it moves back to the tonic.

Role in Progression: The dominant chord is pivotal in establishing a sense of resolution. When paired with a G7 (dominant 7th), its tension is heightened, creating an even stronger resolution to C.

In the key of C major, the chords C, F, and G are three of the most fundamental chords, forming the primary I-IV-V progression.  

The C major scale is built from the following notes: 

C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. 

Here’s a simple way I might play this scale in the 7th position:

From this scale, the diatonic chords (chords built using only the notes of the scale) are as follows:

• C (I): C - E - G (Major)
• Dm (ii): D - F - A (Minor)
• Em (iii): E - G - B (Minor)
• F (IV): F - A - C (Major)
• G (V): G - B - D (Major)
• Am (vi): A - C - E (Minor)
• Bdim (vii°): B - D - F (Diminished)

These three chords form the backbone of millions of songs. They are the foundation for countless folk songs and blues standards as well.

By mastering the relationships between C, F, and G, you unlock the ability to play and understand a wide variety of music in the key of C major!

Let’s now talk about the iconic…

Big Rock Candy Mountain Fingerpicking Pattern

The main rhythmic feel for "Big Rock Candy Mountain" is a steady quarter not pulse. The song is very simple rhythmically. In 4/4 time, there will be 4 quarter notes per measure. This steady pulse drives the entire song. However, as noted in the video above, there are times throughout the song where a 2/4 time signature is used. These measures have just two quarter notes in them before restarting the count back to one.

Counting quarter notes out loud would sound like this:

One, Two, Three, Four

In the 2/4 measures, you would only count: 

One, Two 

Then reset back to beat one again. 

Now, that is the main driving pulse but the guitar part uses more of an eighth note rhythm. This is where each beat is divided into two parts and can be counted like this: 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Here’s the breakdown:

1, 2, 3, 4: The main beats in the measure.

&: The offbeat, halfway between each main beat.

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

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

Here's an example of a picking pattern in the style of “Big Rock Candy Mountain”: 

Conclusion

There ya have it! 

A sneak peek at the brilliant guitar style of "Haywire Mac" taught by “Jonny Mac”...

Keep practicing, and if you want to improve your fingerstyle guitar faster and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fingerstyle cheat sheet PDF guide right here now:   

Jon MacLennan