This Banjo TAB for “Wayfaring Stranger” is arranged in the key of A minor. The tuning is a D G B D. Only the fifth string is tuned up.

This old tune is a great one to play solo, as it isn’t a fast tune. The chord plucks and rolls help fill out the sound, so you don’t even need a band.

Banjo TAB – Wayfaring Stranger

Prerequisites

Hammer-ons
Pull-offs
Forward and Reverse Rolls
A minor, F, Dminor, and C major chords up to the 7th frets

History of Poor Wayfaring Stranger

This old folk song dates back to the 19th century. The first publication we have record of is in 1858, but the song definitely goes back even further. It was was known as the Libby Prison Hymn during the time of the Civil War. This is because a dying soldier carved it on the wall at the Libby Prison.