Shenandoah is a beautiful and poignant traditional American folk song that dates back to the early 19th century or earlier. The song appears to have originated with Canadian and American fur traders’ traveling down the Missouri River in canoes. My arrangement for C6th lap steel was equally influenced by the classic solo guitar version by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith and the gorgeous vocal version by Jo Stafford (with string arrangements by Paul Weston) on her 1950s LP “American Folk Songs.” “Shenandoah” is arranged for 6-string steel here but works equally well on 8-string steel guitar tuned to C6th/Fmaj7, for an even lusher sound.

C6^th Tuning (low to high)

C, E, G, A, C, E

C6^th / Fmaj7 Tuning (low to high)

F, A, C, E, G, A, C, E