Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: A Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Expert
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 11/17/2009 - 2 Member Comments
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here is the quintessential fiddle tune for guitar, "Black Mountain Rag", in the original fiddle key of A (Capo 2). This version is very heavily influenced by Don Reno's incredible performance with Buck Ryan on "Fiddler On The Rocks" — In many places, it is a note-for-note copy of part of Don's breaks. Also borrowed from that recording is the tempo — a nearly unbelievable 165 bpm (330 in 2/2 time), which is the primary reason for the expert status (you can't pull off a whole lot of super fancy fretwork at that speed unless you're Django Reinhardt or something ;). That is FAST!!! I wouldn't try it at that speed at your average jam. Other than the speed, it's a fairly straight forward tune, a lot of common Reno guitar licks plus a few of my own crazy licks that I threw in there. Straight up and down picking, always down on the downbeat and up on the offbeat, no pull-offs or hammer-ons; typical Reno guitar style. So warm up your fingers and prepare to burn up your pick!
Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: D Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Expert
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 11/17/2009 - 3 Member Comments
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: This is a version of Don Reno's famed flatpick number, "Country Boy Rock & Roll", which is generally deemed to be the first bluegrass recording *featuring* Lead Flatpicked Guitar. This version has two breaks, the first one being played by a single guitar (with 1 guitar and a bass backing up) and inspired by a break I saw on a video of Don flatpicking this tune with Bill Harrell. It is, unlike the original recording (also in D), played without a capo and instead using many rather difficult closed positions. The second break is unusual, being twin guitars with a second guitar playing harmony to the first one's lead, which is exactly the same as the first break.
The lead breaks are fairly difficult, as stated before, as they have a lot of closed positions and playing out of barre chords. The harmony break is a little more difficult than the lead. Have fun!
Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: D Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 9/7/2009
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Cumberland Gap, a two-part fiddle tune in D in the form AABBA2A (repeat). Played in C position capoed up 2. With Rhythm Guitar & Bass rhythm track.
Genre: Bluegrass Key: C Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Expert
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 1/2/2010
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here is a fine old fiddle tune, probably a product of the times when pop music (from the teens/twenties) was influencing old time fiddling, as evidenced by the chord structure of the tune. It's more of a "rag" than a "blues", but... Presented here are three breaks, the first being the "basic" melody, although there are as many versions of the tune as there are people playing it. The second one is dropped an octave and departs from the melody somewhat. The third break is similar to the first, but has a few different licks in it. Some of the picking patterns in this tune are fairly difficult, which is why I rated it "expert". An excellent tune to jam & improvise upon. Has a Rhythm Guitar & Bass rhythm track. Have fun!
Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: A Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 8/14/2009
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here is a blazing fast version of the old fiddle number, "Fire On The Mountain". This version has a little Joe Maphis influence (who recorded a version of the tune under the title "Fire On The Strings"). I rate it "intermediate" because the fingerings, IMO, are not overly difficult but at the speed TABedit plays it back at (the speed I like to play it at) it's fairly difficult.
Genre: Bluegrass Key: C Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 1/24/2009 - 1 Member Comments
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: This is a transcription of Don Reno's first break of I Don't Love Nobody, from Rural Rhythm's "Strictly Instrumental" by Don Reno & Red Smiley. It's an old fiddle tune in the key of C that Don really tears up (many fiddlers now play this tune in A).
Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: G Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 8/20/2009
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here's a transcription of some of the breaks to "Lady Hamlet", from "The Golden Guitar of Don Reno". Not a super difficult song, but there are a few stretches up on the first string, which you could avoid by going up the neck some (I prefer the stretches). An altogether haunting tune, IMHO. If anyone happens to know from where/when this tune comes from or who wrote it, please message me or comment on this tab; I am very interested!
Genre: Bluegrass Style: Unknown/None Chosen Key: D Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 9/7/2009 - 1 Member Comments
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: This is a somewhat crazy version of "Peacock Rag". The first repeat is pretty good, essentially the melody with some licks thrown in to add some notes. The second repeat has all kinds of crazy stuff that I put in, it sounds good to me but some people might not like the chromatic licks. So be careful what jams you play this at! Key of D, uncapoed. Has a swing guitar rhythm track.
Genre: Bluegrass Key: C Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 12/12/2009
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here is a medley of 5 songs done by the original Skillet Lickers, that wild, wacky & superb old time string band from Georgia that recorded in the 20's & 30's. The 5 songs are (in the same order as on the tab, which is no order in particular): Hell's Broke Loose In Georgia, Four Cent Cotton, Georgia Waggoner, Dixie, & The Darktown Strutters' Ball. Hell Broke Loose In Georgia & Four Cent Cotton are both simple, pentatonic songs which I absolutely love, but other's might find boring (go figure :P). The second is the SL's take on the old fiddle tune "[Tennessee] Waggoner". Dixie, of course is well known by all and makes a great bluegrass tune. The last is a pop song from the late teens, and was often done by swing groups (Django Reinhardt did it) and dance bands, and the Skillet Lickers did a nice, hot, advanced OT version of the tune. The guitar break is hot licks that contain the melody, not too hard (none of the songs here are very hard), and definitely not a swing version! Has a Rhythm Guitar & Bass rhythm track. Have fun!
Genre: Bluegrass Key: F Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Expert
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 1/1/2010
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: Here is a blazing Don Reno original guitar instrumental (one of the few pieces I know written specifically for bluegrass flatpicking guitar), "Tarnation". Unusual for bluegrass guitar, it is in the uncapoed key of F major, and also has a unique chord progression. Has some nice licks that can be used in other songs, and is really fun to play. At the speed it's normally played at, it's fairly difficult. The first break of this tune is almost note for note like Don's break, but the other two are mostly my variations. A good tune to improvise upon. Has a Rhythm Guitar & Bass rhythm track. Have fun!
Genre: Bluegrass Key: G Tuning: EADGBE (Standard) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by KI4PRK, updated: 12/12/2009
Download: TABLEDIT
Notes: The classic fiddle tune, Turkey In The Straw, arranged for flatpicking guitar. There are 4 breaks. The first is the easiest, and is based loosely upon Don Reno's recording of the tune ("The Golden Guitar Of Don Reno). The second break is my standard break to the tune, and in the first part is a "perpetual motion" take on the tune consisting of 8th notes for the whole break. Also, for all breaks except the first, there is a slightly modified chord progression, which was "invented" by a fiddler friend & I and we like to play it this way; it can be easily modified to the standard version. The 3rd break is just another variation on the basic melody. The 4th break is the same as the 2nd, but features twin guitars. The 2nd part is not tooo hard, so give it a try with your flatpicking pal! Has a Rhythm Guitar & Bass rhythm track. Have fun!
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