Downloadable Tabs and Videos
I’m now offering pdf files of tabs and mp3 files for selected banjo solos. Short video downloads will be up soon. Just add the tabs you want to the shopping cart and check out. After paying you will be redirected to a download page with links to all the tabs and mp3s purchased. You will also be sent an email with links to the same files.
Old Friends Banjo Tabs and MP3s
ANGELINE THE BAKER BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This really lovely tune has become a jam session standard. Here it is played in the key of D as it is most often heard.
Angeline the Baker Banjo Tab & MP3
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BILL CHEATUM BANJO TAB AND MP3 – The ever popular jam tune.
Bill Cheatum Banjo Tab & MP3
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BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Great tune that is on everyone’s jam session list. Here is my attempt and playing it. I added a high break for the B part to make it a little more interesting.
Blackberry Blossom Banjo Tab & MP3
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BULLY OF THE TOWN BANJO TAB AND MP3 – You don’t hear this tune all that often but it is a good one. Here it is arranged for the key of D.
Bully of the Town Banjo Tab & MP3
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COTTON EYED JOE BANJO TAB AND MP3 – A popular dance and tune in Texas and makes a fun banjo arrangement.
Cotton Eyed Joe Banjo Tab & MP3
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DIXIE HOEDOWN BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Written by Jesse McReynolds, this is one of my all-time favorites and one of the early tunes I learned to play. It makes a great twin banjo tune as Wayne and I did on the CD.
Dixie Hoedown Banjo Tab & MP3
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DOWN YONDER BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This was one of my Dad’s favorites and is a perennial favorite of earlier generations.
Down Yonder Banjo Tab & MP3
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GEORGIA BOYS BANJO TAB AND MP3 – I learned this fine old tune from the playing of Texas Shorty and Gerald Jones. It works well with the old time musicians under several titles.
Georgia Boys Banjo Tab & MP3
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HOME SWEET HOME BANJO TAB AND MP3 – I play this with a drop C tuning (fourth string from D to C) as Earl Scruggs recorded it but with a few extra chords and a little different arrangement.
Home Sweet Home Banjo Tab & MP3
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LIBERTY BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Arranged here in the traditional fiddle key of D so I could play along at jam sessions. For a simple tune it is somewhat challenging on the banjo because of the key.
Liberty Banjo Tab & MP3
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MOLLY BLOOM BANJO TAB AND MP3 – A melodic tune that is one of my early originals written around the age of 18 or so. Fiddle players seem to enjoy it also.
Molly Bloom Banjo Tab & MP3
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OH SUSANNAH BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Wayne had a request from his granddaughter to do this tune so we worked it up during the session. Come out great.
Oh Susannah Banjo Tab & MP3
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PRETTY LITTLE DOG BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Wayne taught me this tune just before we recorded it. It seems to me to be a Clinch Mountain Backstep sort of tune. I liked it a lot.
Pretty Little Dog Banjo Tab & MP3
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SOLDIER’S JOY BANJO TAB AND MP3 – The grandfather of all old-time tunes. I have a different approach to this tune that uses a lot of pull-offs influenced by banjoist Billy Faier. Because of the pull-offs it requires the tempo to be somewhat moderate.
Soldier’s Joy Banjo Tab & MP3
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TEMPERANCE REEL BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Yet another tune that is played both in the bluegrass and old-time camp.
Temperance Reel Banjo Tab & MP3
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TEXAS GALES BANJO TAB AND MP3 – I believe we all probably learned this from Doc Watson. I don’t play a solo but my back-up is given here.
Texas Gales Banjo Tab & MP3
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TRADITIONAL FAMILY BREAKDOWN BANJO TAB AND MP3 – My tribute to the American Family in Breakdown form. Inspired by the tune Old Joe Clark, I have recorded it several times and play it on shows quite often.
Traditional Family Breakdown Banjo Tab & MP3
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WHISKEY BEFORE BREAKFAST BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This can be a finger twister for the key of D.
Whiskey Before Breakfast Banjo Tab & MP3
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YEAR OF JUBILO BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Wayne believes this and an old mistrial tune. I think it was also used as the theme song of the Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy radio show of the 1930s and 1940s. It’s a cutie here in the key of D.
Year of Jubilo Banjo Tab & MP3
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BUY THE WHOLE OLD FRIENDS 20 TUNE SET BANJO TAB AND MP3 – These include tabs for my banjo solos. Wayne’s clawhammer tab not included.
Old Friends 20 Tune Set Banjo Tab & MP3
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Old Bones Banjo Tabs and MP3s
ANGEL ON THE RUNNING BOARD – I capo the 5th string to Bb and play in the key of Bb. It’s not as hard as it might seem.
Angel On the Running Board Banjo Tab & MP3
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ARRIBA FRANCIE – This Latin number was written by my very, very good friend Slim Richey for his wife Francie. It offers a really attractive alternative to the usual banjo fair.
Arriba Francie Banjo Tab & MP3
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BLUE DAYS, BLACK NIGHTS – Lots of great licks if I do say so myself.
Blue Days, Black Nights Banjo Tab & MP3
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CINDY – I play this great old tune in the key of D with the capo at the 7th fret a la Doug Dillard. It gives the banjo and really sprightly sound. I love it.
Cindy Banjo Tab & MP3
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DARLING PAL OF MINE BANJO TAB & MP3 – A great old Carter Family song that I play in the key of A without a capo (5th string to A). It opens lots of possibilities for playing without a capo. There are others in this set that are in unusual keys for the bluegrass banjo. Give them all a try.
Darling Pal of Mine Banjo Tab & MP3
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HICKORY HOLLOW – This banjo blazer was written by an early banjo hero of mine Doug Dillard. I tried my best to capture the excitement of his early recording of this tune – I didn’t quite make it but still like the results.
Hickory Hollow Banjo Tabs & MP3s
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LITTLE RABBIT – I play this tune in the D tuning of f# D F# A D. I heard old time player Tom Paley’s recording of this years ago and have always wanted to do it.
Little Rabbit Banjo Tab & MP3
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LONG DISTANCE ROMANCE – Written by my rancher friend Jack Douglas, this arrangement offers plenty of opportunities for some different licks over standard changes.
Long Distance Romance Banjo Tab & MP3
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MILES AND MILES OF TEXAS – Popularized by the western swing band Asleep At The Wheel, I try to throw in the few swing sounding things I have.
Miles and Miles of Texas Banjo Tab & MP3
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OLD BONES – This is a jazzy sounding free spirited solo on this one. I played it with all down strokes of the thumb pick to emulate a guitar feel.
Old Bones Banjo Tab & MP3
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STOMPIN’ IN THE FLATLAND TAB & MP3 – This barn burner of a banjo tune was written by former South Plains College student Nathan Dennis. Played in the key of D, it shares a great duet refrain with the mandolin.
Stompin’ In the Flatland Banjo Tab & MP3
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SWEET DIXIE – I used to play this tune when I worked for Jimmy Martin many years ago. It was written by another banjo hero Bill Emerson. I added a harmony part so you can have fun playing this with your friends at jam sessions.
Sweet Dixie Banjo Tab & MP3
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WAIT TIL THE SUN SHINES NELLIE – I play this in the key of Bb without a capo. It works really well and I love the way it turned out.
Wait Til the Sun Shines Nellie Banjo Tab & MP3
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BUY THE ENTIRE OLD BONES 13 TUNE SET – Buy the entire 13 tune set for only $15 Includes Tabs and MP3s! – All tunes and MP3s collected into a zip file for easy downloading.
Old Bones 13 Tune Set Tabs & MP3s
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Assorted Banjo Tabs and MP3s
ACE OF SPADES BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This tune was taught to me by Joe Carr. I believe he learned it from Benny Thomasson. Here presented in the key of G but most often played in A. I use a capo at the second fret.
Ace of Spades Banjo Tab and MP3
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BAKER’S BREAKDOWN TAB AND MP3 – This fiddle tune comes from the bow of the one and only Kenny Baker. I learned it from the old Bill Monroe recording which featured Kenny on fiddle. It is arranged here in the melodic style (string crossing) popularized by Bill Keith. The tune is an A A B B tune with the A part in the key of G and the B part in the key of D, not unlike “Flop Eared Mule.” It repeats basically the same tune in both parts with some small differences. It requires some fingering challenges, but well worth the effort. This is a great one to add to your jam sessions – new but similar.
Baker’s Breakdown Tab and MP3
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BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This is a challenging but beautiful tune in the key of C. In the Texas tradition unlike the Eastern or Bluegrass playing, both parts follow the same progression where an F chord is introduced in the B section in other traditions.
Billy in the Lowground Tab and MP3
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BITTER CREEK BANJO TAB AND MP3 – A quintessential fiddle tune in the key of G. As arranged here it covers a large range of the banjo (the fiddle and mandolin were created as melody instruments and can produce a two plus octave range without a position change. The banjo and guitar are designed more as chordal instruments and as such to play melodies of a great range requires huge position shifts). It’s a fun, challenging, and rewarding arrangement of this not oft heard tune.
Bitter Creek Banjo Tab and MP3
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BLUEGRASS MEDLEY BANJO TABS & MP3s – Includes tabs and mp3 files for Blue Ridge Cabin Home, Will the Roses Bloom Today, Little Girl of Mine from Tennesee & Pain in My Heart
Bluegrass Medley Banjo Tab & MP3
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CHEROKEE SHUFFLE TAB & MP3 – Great jam tune! You need to know it. The fiddle and mandolin players will love you.
Cherokee Shuffle Banjo Tab & MP3
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DILL PICKLE RAG BANJO TAB AND MP3 – “Tom’s Thumbnail Theater” was a kid’s TV show from Oklahoma City hosted by Tom Paxton (not the singer/songwriter) I would watch as a child. I do believe this tune was the theme song for that show and it has stuck with me all these years. On the recording is Joe Carr on mandolin, Mike Bubb on bass, and Ron Block on guitar. Mike and Ron have gone to have very bright careers in bluegrass music.
Dill Pickle Rag Banjo Tab and MP3
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DURANG’S HORNPIPE BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This is my favorite fiddle tune recording of mine. Just love it. It’s a great workout for the melodic style in the key of D. I mistakenly slipped in an extra beat and the end of one variation. It is not reflected in the tab. I was momentarily overtaken by the passion of performance.
Durang’s Hornpipe Banjo Tab & MP3
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DUSTY MILLER BANJO TAB AND MP3 – A standard in the Texas Contest Tradition here played in G on the banjo. It is normally played in A on the fiddle. A capo at the second fret will put you in the correct key.
Dusty Miller banjo tab and MP3
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EIGHTH OF JANUARY TAB AND MP3 – One of the most beautiful of the old, old, fiddle tunes. I have always loved to hear this tune and love playing it. It is from Festival Favorites, Volume 1. Here it is played in the traditional key of D. For my arrangement, the fifth string is capoed at the seventh fret to sound an A.
Eighth of January Tab and MP3
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FISHER’S HORNPIPE BANJO TAB AND MP3 – The Picking and Fiddling album of Byron Berline and the Dillards has been an important part of my musical education. Over the years I have worked up a banjo arrangement of many of the tunes on that album and recorded a number of those. This is a tune I learned from that seminal album. Here played in the key of C. It is idiomatically played on the fiddle in either F or D. You can use your capo to simulate both of those keys.
Fisher’s Hornpipe Banjo Tab and MP3
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JAMBOREE BANJO TAB & MP3 – Fun on the banjo with this Uncle Josh instrumental.
Jamboree Banjo Tab & MP3
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JESSE POLKA BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Reportedly this was Pancho Villa’s marching song titled “Jesusita En Chihuahua.” When a polka is called for in a contest, this one gets played often. The arrangement has several parts ranging through the keys of G, C, and D. Here they are all played out of the open G tuning.
Jesse Polka Banjo Tab and MP3
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JOHN HARDY TABS & MP3s – Another great jam tune. Three breaks both low and high versions.
John Hardy Banjo Tab & MP3
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JOHN HENRY BANJO TABS & MP3s – Alan’s drop C tuning variation of the great old favorite. Includes two solos.
John Henry Banjo Tab & MP3
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LONESOME FIDDLE BLUES BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Here is a Vassar Clements fiddle classic. I can’t remember where I first heard it. Most likely from Sam Bush. I first met Sam at a fiddle contest in Independence, MO summer of 1967. He later recorded “Lonesome Fiddle Blues” on the Newgrass Revivals first recording. Courtney Johnson, the banjo wizard, used on that recording a similar arrangement as the one presented here.
Lonesome Fiddle Blues Banjo Tab and MP3
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LONESOME INDIAN BANJO TAB AND MP3 – Here is a tune I first hear on the Dillard’s Back Porch Bluegrass album. Sometimes fiddle tunes in order to get some variation in the playing will repeat the same melody an octave higher to create two parts. That is the case here. It presents a bit of a challenge for the key of D and the banjo. Hope you like my solution.
Lonesome Indian Banjo Tab and MP3
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NINE POUND HAMMER PARIS WORKSHOP & MP3s – This is from a workshop I did in Paris a few years ago. The guitar player and singer is James Field who did just a wonderful job. I have gotten several requests for the tab to this performance and have made all four breaks available.
Nine Pound Hammer Tab & MP3
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ON TOP OF THE WORLD BANJO TAB & MP3 – Great American pop tune by the Carpenters.
On Top of the World Banjo Tab & MP3
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ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL TAB AND MP3 – What a great tune that does not get played very often on the banjo. Here is my version, again from Festival Favorites, Volume 1. My inspiration comes from hearing J.D. Crowe play it at the Sliver Slipper Lounge, in Lexington, Kentucky, December 1968. If he could do it, I thought I could give it a try. Audiences love this tune no matter on what instrument. Now you give it a try.
Orange Blossom Special Tab and MP3
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RAINBOW BANJO TAB & MP3 – Beautiful melody from the playing of dobro great “Uncle” Josh Graves.
Rainbow Banjo Tab & MP3
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RED APPLE RAG BANJO TAB & MP3 – This is a really fun fiddle tune for a jam session with just G, C, and D chords at a pretty good clip. The recording features Joe Carr on mandolin and Ricky Turpin on fiddle.
Red Apple Rag Banjo Tab & MP3
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RUN, JOHNNY RUN BANJO TAB & MP3 – American fiddle tune learned from Alan’s good friend Kenny Baker. Includes tab and mp3 file.
Run, Johnny Run Banjo Tab & MP3
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SAINT ANNE”S REEL BANJO TAB & MP3 – A fiddle favorite in the key of D played in standard G tuning.
Saint Anne’s Reel Banjo Tab & MP3
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SALLY GOODIN’ TAB AND MP3 – This great old standard is a must know tune for a life in bluegrass music. Here is my arrangement of Sally Goodin’. Up to measure 82 is the version presented on the MP3. Following that arrangement are several variations I have played on the different recordings I have made of that tune. An example of my most complete playing of the tune can be found on You Tube – click to view
Sally Goodin’ Tab and MP3
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SOPPING THE GRAVY BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This arrangement of the popular Texas contest tune comes from Slim Richey’s transcription of the great Benny Thomasson. I have also added a few flourishes of my own. It’s a real melodic style workout in the key of D.
Sopping the Gravy banjo tab and MP3
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TALLAHASSEE BANJO TAB & MP3 – Bill Monroe tune that makes a really great banjo tune. Your picking buddies will love it.
Tallahassee Banjo Tab & MP3
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TOM AND JERRY BANJO TAB AND MP3 – A staple of the Texas Contest Fiddle Tradition. This version draws on the playing of Benny Thomasson and Byron Berline. Thanks to Slim Richey for his transcription of Benny’s playing.
Tom and Jerry Banjo Tab and MP3
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TWINKLE LITTLE STAR BANJO TAB AND MP3 – This is not the commonly know children’s tune but a wonderful fiddle tune in the key of G (the chord changes in the A section are the same as the chords to “Earl’s Breakdown.” If you are looking for some licks and ideas to move to that tune, this is full of them). This tune has a wonderfully engaging B section that will attract the attention of any discriminating audience.
Twinkle Little Star Banjo Tab and MP3
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UNDER THE DOUBLE EAGLE TAB AND MP3 – UNDER THE DOUBLE EAGLE TAB AND MP3 – I originally started my musical career as a guitar player. My Dad thought that to call yourself a guitar player you needed to know “Wildwood Flower,” and “Under the Double Eagle.” Here is my arrangement of “Under the Double Eagle” for banjo. The recording comes from my Festival Favorites, Volume 1.
Under the Double Eagle Tab and MP3
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VIRGINIA BOYS BANJO TABS & MP3s – Alan’s musical tribute to Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. In open Bb with standard G tuning. Includes two solos.
Virginia Boys Banjo Tab & MP3
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WHEEL HOSS TAB AND MP3 – A staple of the Bill Monroe fiddle tradition, it also make a great banjo tune. My version here from Festival Favorites, the Southwest Sessions, features twin banjos – I played them both. A trick I learned from Vic Jordon who, I think, learned it from Bobby Thompson, is this – when the lead banjo is in open G, the harmony banjo tunes to a D tuning (F# D F# A D) and capoes at the fifth fret (fifth string tenth fret). This maneuver harmonizes each string as a third – built in harmony. Sometimes, not always, the licks come out with the right hand and left hand fingering being the same, other times similar, many times totally different. It all has to be worked out of course. One more detail, rather than retuning the fifth string, I just capoed it at the 9th fret to sound a B note. It effects the fifth string fingering, so take note. The lead and harmony parts are included in the tab.
Wheel Hoss Tab and MP3
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WILD BILL’S BLUES BANJO TABS & MP3s – A bluesy original tune by Alan with a chord rich B section. Includes two solos.
Wild Bill’s Blues Banjo Tab & MP3
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Banjo Tab Only
APPLE BLOSSOM TAB ONLY – Beautiful Texas style fiddle tune in D reminiscent of Billy in the Low Ground.
Apple Blossom Tab Only
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COTTON PATCH RAG TAB ONLY – Classic Texas contest fiddle tune with many interesting variations.
Cotton Patch Rag Tab Only
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FOUR LEAF CLOVER TAB ONLY – Just what the banjo world needs, another happy banjo tune.
Four Leaf Clover Tab Only
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POWDER CREEK TAB ONLY – Great Roland & Clarence White tune! Learn It.
Powder Creek Tab Only
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