Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

Learn these first. The dots are where your fingers go, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little finger); an open circle means play that string open, and × means don’t play it.

About this tune

Your first minor tune. It uses two chords, A minor and E7, and the G♯ in E7 (and in the tune’s first bar) is what gives it its bite. The tune sits in first position and reaches up to the A at the 5th fret on the high E string in the second half: stretch your little finger, or slide your hand up for those notes.

How to practise it

Learn Am and E7. Move the whole Am shape over by one string, towards the thickest string, then lift your ring finger: that’s E7 (strum all six strings).
Strum with Chords only. The minor sound is darker; dig in a little on beats 2 and 4.
Learn bar 1 on its own: A, G♯, A, B, C, C, D. The G♯ is the G string, 1st fret.
In the second half, many notes are the same E repeated in a rhythm. Say the words to get the rhythm, then play it on the open high E string.

A short history

A spiritual retelling the Bible story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho, which fell after the Israelites marched round the city for seven days and blew their trumpets. “Fit” is an old spoken form of “fought”.

It was printed by 1882 and has been sung and played in gospel, folk and jazz ever since. Its minor key and marching beat make it a favourite for swinging.

We’ve set it in A minor, the easiest minor key on the guitar; the kids’ piano version is in D minor.

Where the tune comes from

Melody as on our kids’ piano page for Joshua (Frank Nordberg, Musica Viva, compared with a guitar setting in A minor in German Wikibooks), moved from D minor to A minor. Chords ours.

Quick facts

Tune: Traditional (African-American spiritual, printed 1882)
Key: A minor
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 16 bars
Tempo: Swing, crotchet = 120
Chords: Am, E7
What it teaches: A minor key, and E7 with its G♯
Place in the course: Tune 5 of 10 (Minor keys)

Questions and answers

Which chords are in Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho?

Am, E7. The chord boxes above show where to put your fingers, and each has a Hear it button.

Is Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho free to use?

Yes. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho is a traditional tune that is out of copyright (Traditional (African-American spiritual, printed 1882)). The guitar arrangement and chords here are ours, free for personal and classroom use.

How do I read the TAB under the music?

The six lines are the guitar’s strings, the high E string on top. A number is the fret to press (0 means play the string open). The music above it shows the rhythm, and is written an octave higher than the guitar sounds, as all guitar music is.

How fast should I play it?

Slowly at first. Press Slower to hear it at 70% of the speed, and only speed up when it feels easy. The full tempo is Swing, a crotchet (quarter note) = 120.

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The chords

The music