Greetings:

I first learned Tell Old Bill from one of Dave Van Ronk's Folkways LPs, and I later heard him do it once in person. By that time I had seen Sandburg's version in print, and noticed that Van Ronk's was somewhat different. Perhaps that was Bob Gibson's influence. In any event, I do it my own way in the key of E on a standard tuning 6-string guitar. Instead of plaing E position chords, I capo up two frets, but with the capo stopping only the 1st through 5th strings, thus leaving the 6th string open. I then use D position chords, with the uncapoed 6th string available as a bass E note. Essentially, I get the effect of a drop D tuning capoed up two frets without dropping the 6th string.

--- Steve