How to Play “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” on Dulcimer Guitar

One of Gordon Lightfoot's most haunting songs, a little musical history, and a surprisingly simple way to play it.

Some songs have a way of sticking around. And “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is certainly one of them.

Originally written and recorded by Gordon Lightfoot in 1976, the song tells the true story of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a freighter that sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, taking all 29 crew members with it.

It's a pretty remarkable piece of songwriting. No big chorus, no dramatic changes. Just a story that unfolds over seven verses, with a melody that somehow manages to stay with you long after the song ends.

And over the years, some pretty incredible musicians have put their own spin on it.

Tony Rice recorded a version, and more recently, the Punch Brothers included it on their Hell on Church Street album. Their arrangement is actually what got me interested in trying this one on the dulcimer guitar.

If you haven't heard their version, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Four Chords. One Very Good Song.

Here's what makes this song particularly fun to learn.

Unlike songs with multiple chord progressions to remember, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” follows the same four chords all the way through:

D – Am – C – G

That's it!

Once you've got that progression under your fingers, you've essentially learned the foundation of the entire song.

In the video, I start with a simple one-finger approach. If you're relatively new to dulcimer guitar, this is a great place to begin.

From there, we'll get into some more interesting chord shapes, different ways to approach the rhythm, and a few tricks for keeping things interesting when you're playing the same progression over and over.

Because seven verses is a lot of opportunities to get creative. Or get bored. Let's aim for the first one.

Watch the Lesson

Learn “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” on Dulcimer Guitar

We'll cover the beginner-friendly version first, followed by some more advanced techniques, including tremolo picking, dynamics, and alternative chord voicings.

And don't worry if some of the more complicated chords give you trouble. You can always mix the one-finger versions in with the others.

The Instrument I'm Playing

For this lesson, I'm playing our Chromatic Boondocker Celtic Rosewood + Spruce Electric/Acoustic Dulcimer, designed exclusively for Inglewood Instruments by Jaromin Guitars.

It's a pretty good-looking instrument, if I do say so myself.

It has a maple body, a Celtic-engraved spruce top, a rosewood fretboard, and a built-in pickup with volume and tone controls for when you want to plug in.

And because it's chromatic, you've got access to those extra notes that come in handy for songs like this one.

You can follow along on other dulcimer guitars, too, although some of the chord shapes will be a little different depending on your instrument.

CHECK OUT THE CHROMATIC BOONDOCKER ry

Every Boondocker purchased through Inglewood Instruments also comes with our 5 Days to Play Challenge, which includes video lessons, chord sheets, and a practice guide to help you get started.

Give This One a Try

One of the things I've come to appreciate more over the years is the history behind the songs we play. Where they came from, who else has recorded them, and how different musicians have interpreted the same piece of music.

This one has quite a history.

So grab your dulcimer guitar, give the lesson a watch, and see what you can do with those four chords.

And if you've got a favourite version of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, leave a comment on the video. I'd love to know which one you keep coming back to.

Enjoy your playing!