Cuckoo's Nest — Mandolin Tab

Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of D · 120 BPM · 4/4 time · Folk-English · Beginner

Chords used in this arrangement: D, A, C, G.

Cuckoo's Nest was a well-understood bit of bawdy slang in English folk tradition, which is part of why this tune shows up absolutely everywhere: Cotswold morris dances, country dance collections, bawdy song sheets, you name it. It dates back to at least the early 18th century, and by the time it crossed the Atlantic it had been programmed into a Connecticut chime clock and was turning up at New England contra dances. One researcher even floated the idea that the tune originally went by the name "Come Ashore Jolly Tar (with) Your Trousers On"!

This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart — printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise.