Shane Speal shows you how to play Albert King’s Born Under a Bad Sign on 3-string Open GDG slide guitar.
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“Down To The River To Pray” 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Lesson [VIDEO]
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In this post containing a short video, you’ll learn how to play the old gospel tune Down To The River To Pray on your 3-string cigar box guitar.
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“Freight Train” – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan shows you how to play the song “Freight Train”.
This one has a little more advanced chord progression, but it’s a great song to add to your toolbag.
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“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen – Tablature for One-String Diatonic Canjos
This free One-String Diatonic Canjo tab is for Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. If you haven’t used this type of tablature before, each number indicates a fret on the fretboard of your instrument, as shown in the diagram above.
You may also wish to listen to the song while learning it, if you don’t know the tune too well.
2 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 I've heard there was a secret chord 2 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 That David played, and it pleased the Lord 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 But you don't really care for mu-sic, do you? 2 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth 4 8 8 5 8 8 9 The minor fall, the major lift 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 The baffled king compo-sing Hal-le-lu---jah 2 4 5 5 5 4 2 2 Hal-le-lu-jah, Hal-le-lu-jah, 2 4 5 5 5 4 2 3 2 1 2 1 0 Hal-le-lu-jah, Hal-le-lu-------------jah 2 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 Your faith was strong but you needed proof 2 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 You saw her bathing on the roof 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 Her beauty and the moonlight over--threw you 2 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 She tied you to a kitchen chair 4 8 8 8 5 8 8 9 She broke your throne, she cut your hair 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 And from your lips she drew the Hal-le-lu---jah 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 Maybe I have been here be-fore 2 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 I know this room, I've walked this floor 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 I used to live alone before I knew you 2 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 I've seen your flag on the marble arch 8 8 8 5 8 8 9 Love is not a victory march 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 It's a cold and it's a broken Hal-le-lu---jah
“I Still Miss Someone” by Johnny Cash – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan Russell shows you how to play the classic Johnny Cash song “I Still Miss Someone” on the cigar box ukulele.
A number of other big-name performers have also recorded the tune, including Emmy Lou Harris, Stevie Nicks, Don King, Flatt & Scruggs and even Jimmy Buffett.
“If I Needed You” – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson by One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan Russell shows you how to play the old folk/country song “If I Needed You” on the cigar box ukulele. This one was written by Townes Van Zandt and has been recorded by Emmy Lou Harris and other well-known performers.
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“Iko Iko” (Jock-a-Mo) – Tablature for One-String Canjo
Iko Iko was first released in 1953 by Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters, under the title “Jock-A-Mo”. It wasn’t until 1965, when the Dixie Cups covered it as “Iko Iko” that it made the charts.
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“In the Pines” – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan shows you how to play the song “In the Pines”.
This is a great old folk/bluegrass/mountain song, a plaintive tale of longing and regret. Believed to have originated in the 1870’s, it has been recorded many times over the years, by artists such as Lead Belly, Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, Dave Van Ronk, Joan Baez, The Oakridge Boys, Dolly Parton and even Nirvana did a version.
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“Open A” AEA Tuning on your Cigar Box Guitar: 4 Methods, with String Sizes & Sound Clips
Everything you need to know about using the “Open A” A-E-A tuning on your 3-string cigar box guitar.
This article gives you the exact strings to use to achieve this tuning on a cigar box guitar (or other instrument) that has a scale length in the range of 24.5 to 25.5 inches.
“Open D” DAD Tuning on your Cigar Box Guitar: 4 Methods, with String Sizes & Sound Clips
Everything you need to know about using the “Open D” D-A-D tuning on your 3-string cigar box guitar.
After the GDG “Open G” tuning, the next most popular on 3-string cigar box guitars is probably DAD “Open D”. This tuning actually shows up, in part, on standard 6-string guitars, in the alternate “DADGAD” tuning. The lower-pitch versions of this tuning really have a low, bassy feel because of that big low D string, so it can be a very interesting option for cigar box guitar builders. Continue reading ““Open D” DAD Tuning on your Cigar Box Guitar: 4 Methods, with String Sizes & Sound Clips”
“Open E” EBE Tuning on your Cigar Box Guitar: 4 Methods, with String Sizes & Sound Clips
The Open E tuning is not seen as often as the more popular GDG and DAD tunings, but it is a great alternative for cigar box guitar players, especially if you are playing a lot of blues. Shane Speal used this tuning on his recent album Holler!, on the track Big Leg Woman/Swing the Hammer.
“Open G” GDG Tuning on your Cigar Box Guitar: 4 Methods, with String Sizes & Sound Clips
Of all of the three-string cigar box guitar tunings, the most popular is probably the G D G open G tuning. Featured on many how-to-play videos on YouTube and CigarBoxNation.com, this tuning has become the de facto standard for 3-string slide blues.
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” by Willie Nelson – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan shows you how to play the song “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”, a fairly recent release by Willie Nelson.
Willie released this on his “Heroes” album in 2012, and it kind of sums up his long, often “smoky” career.
“Stack-o-Lee” – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson by One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan Russell shows you how to play the old song “Stagger Lee” (also known as Stack-o-Lee, Stag-o-Lee and other titles) on the cigar box ukulele This classic number is part blues, part cajun and part history, and has been performed Mississippi John Hurt, Dr. John and many more musicians. Five basic uke chords are used in this lesson, and while the progression is not what would be considered “standard”, it is still a nice easy one to play.
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“Take ’em Away” by Old Crow Medicine Show – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
In this video lesson, Dan shows you how to play the song “Take ’em Away” by the Old Crow Medicine Show on the cigar box ukulele.
Like many popular songs, this one is a “three-chorder” – just C, F and G being needed to play it.
“Take a Whiff on Me” (Cocaine Habit Blues) – Cigar Box Ukulele Lesson from One-hand Dan Russell
This old American blues/folk song was recorded by Alan Lomax and first published in 1934. It has been recorded and released by a number of folk singers over the years, including The Byrds, Old Crow Medicine Show, Woodie Guthrie, Jerry Garcia and even the Flying Burrito Brothers!