Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains: Mandolin Tab

Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of Am · 120 BPM · 4/4 time · Old-timey · Beginner

Also known as Napoleon Crossing the Rocky Mountains.

Chords used in this arrangement: Am, C, G, Em, A, D.

There's a great story behind Bonaparte crossing the Rocky Mountains. A Kentucky fiddler known as "Uncle John" used to proudly announce he was playing "Napoleon Crossing the Rocky Mountains," and when a teacher corrected him, pointing out that Napoleon crossed the Alps, not the Rockies — he took it in stride. The next time someone brought it up, he just shrugged and said, "some folks say Napoleon never crossed the Rockies, that he crossed the Alps, but historians differ on that point." That deadpan response pretty much became old-time folklore. The tune itself is actually the same melody as "Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine," a march with roots in the British Isles that traveled to Appalachian fiddle tradition and got its geography cheerfully rearranged along the way. In Am it has a nice moody pull to it — keep that march feel steady and let the B-part's C# give you a little lift before it settles back into the minor.

This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains PDF.

Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains: questions and answers

What key is Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains in?

Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains is in A minor. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.

What chords are used in Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains?

The chords in this arrangement are Am, C, G, Em, A, D. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.

How fast is Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains played?

This recording is at 120 BPM in 4/4 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.

Is Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains a good tune for beginners?

Yes. Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains is rated beginner, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.

Can I download Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains as sheet music?

Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/bonaparte-crossing-the-rocky-mountains.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.

Is Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains known by any other names?

Yes. It is also called Napoleon Crossing the Rocky Mountains. The same melody often travels under several titles in different regions and collections.

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