Level: 2/3
Tuning: Open G

The precise author of "A Closer Walk" is unknown. Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests it dates back to southern African-American churches of the nineteenth century, possibly even prior to the Civil War, as some personal African American histories recall "slaves singing as they worked in the fields a song about walking by the Lord's side." Songs with similar chorus lyrics were published in the 1800s, including "Closer Walk with Thee" with lyrics by Martha J. Lankton and music by William Kirkpatrick, which was published in 1885.

It is performed as either an instrumental or vocal, and is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. The title and lyrics of the song allude to the Biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight" and James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." This arrangement is in the key of G and played in an Open G tuning. The song does not have a chorus. To make it interesting in concert I added a second section. This is a basic blues progression but with a Buddy Boy Hawkins touch when I play the C chord. I think you'll enjoy learning and playing this as an instrumental.