How to Play – Page 2 – The How-To Repository for the Cigar Box Guitar Movement!

I’ll Tell Me Ma – Tablature for One-String Canjo

Learn the popular English children’s song, “I’ll tell me Ma” on your One-String Canjo! Continue reading “I’ll Tell Me Ma – Tablature for One-String Canjo”

Jack White builds a Diddley Bow in about 1 minute

“Who says you need to buy a guitar?”

In this video clip from Dave Grohl’s “It Might Get Loud” documentary, Jack White builds a diddley bow in a cow pasture. He spends just over a minute doing it, and the last step is to tack on a single coil pickup and plug in to the amp stack he has standing by. He ends with the line quoted above. Why indeed? Continue reading “Jack White builds a Diddley Bow in about 1 minute”

Keep on the Sunny Side – Traditional

As performed by the Carter Family and in O Brother Where Art Thou. View the full text of this entry by clicking the “Read More” link below for the formatted canjo tab…

Arrangement courtesy of C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, intended for playing on American Canjo Company™ brand one-string canjos with dulcimer-style fretting, with fret numberings as shown below. The open unfretted string is notated as “0″.

Keep on the Sunny Side

0       1 3    4   5 4    3   1    3  0
There’s a dark and a troubled side of life,
3       5 8      8   9 8  5  3 5  4
There’s a bright and a sunny side too.
4      5  6    4    4   8    5   4   5
Though we meet with the darkness and strife
3   4  4  5    3  2 0 1  2   3
The sunny side we a-l-so may view.
Chorus
8    8  8   8  5   3    4 3    3  3   3  1  0
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
3    3  4   5  5  6    5  4     8  8    9    8  8  4  5
Keep on the sunny side of life, it will help us ev’ry day,
5  5    4    3   3   1   0    3  4  5    5  6   5  5  4    4  3
It will brighten all the way, if we keep on the sunny side of life.

To learn more about this classic American song, and to find more verses, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply

Let It Be – The Beatles

Let It Be by The Beatles, arranged for one-string canjos. This is one of the most well-known and best-loved of the Beatles’ songbook, instantly recognizable by classic rock and roll fans all over the world.
This arrangement is presented by the American Canjo Company and C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply.

Use this link to download the high-resolution PDF version: Beatles – Let It Be Canjo Tab PDF

Be sure to check out all of the unique handmade canjos available from the American Canjo Company!

Marine’s Hymn – Tablature for One-String Canjo

0    2   4     4  4 4 4 8 4
From the Halls of Montezuma
0  2   4      4  3 1 0
To the Shores of Tripoli;

0  2    4     4   4   4     4 8 4
We will fight our country's battles

0  2   4    4  3     1   0
In the air, on land ,and sea;

8     7  5     3   5     3   4 5 4
First to fight for right and freedom

8    7 5    3   5 8 5 4
And to keep our honor clean;

0  2   4     4  4     4   4 8 4
We are proud to claim the title

0  2 4 4  5      7  8
of United States Marine.

Mary Had a Little Lamb – Traditional

This well-known children’s song got its start as a poem written in 1830, which was inspired by a true event. View the full text of this entry by clicking the “Read More” link below for the formatted canjo tab…

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Version 1 – Low)

2 1  0   1 2  2   2     1  1   1     2  4   4
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
2 1  0   1 2  2   2    2     1      1   2     1  0
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Version 2 – High)

5 4  3   4 5  5   5     4   4  4     5  8   8
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
5 4  3   4 5  5   5    5     4      4   5    4   3
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.

To learn more about this beloved children’s song, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply

My Country ‘Tis of Thee – Traditional

This was one of the unofficial national anthems of the United States before the Star Spangled Banner was officially adopted in 1931. Ironically, the tune to this song is the same as that of the British national anthem.

View the full text of this entry by clicking the “Read More” link below for the formatted canjo tab…

My Country ‘Tis of Thee

3  3    4   2   3  4     5     5    6  5 4 3    4  3    2 3
My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing!
8    8     8  8  6    5     6    6  6   6  5      4      
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
5    6   5 4 3 5   6   8     9 6 5   4   3
from ev--er--y mountainside, let freedom ring!

Additional Verses

My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; 
Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.

To learn more about this classic spiritual song, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply

Red River Valley – Traditional – Canjo Tablature

Red River Valley

A classic song from the American West, conjuring up images of lonesome cowboys on the prairies and love lost.

3    4    5  5   4    3   4   3   1 3
From this valley they say you are going.

0  3    5    3    5      8    6   5     4
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,

8   6    5   5   4   3  4   5   8  6
For they say you are taking the sunshine

1    1   0    3     5   4   5   4 3
That has brightened our pathway a while.

To learn more about this classic American song, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by Ben Baker

Scotland the Brave – Tablature for One-String Canjos

Below we present the melody of “Scotland The Brave”, arranged for Diatonically Fretted One-String Canjos, along with the first verse and Chorus.

0    0    1   2     0  2  4
Hark when the night is falling
8     8    7   8     4   2  0
Hear! Hear the pipes are calling,
3   5  3   2    4  2  0
Loudly and proudly calling,
1    4     5   4   3 2 1
Down thro' the glen.
0     0     1   2     0   2   4
There where the hills are sleeping,
8   8    7   8     4 2  0
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
3    5  3   2  4    2  0   1   0   1    0   2 4
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.

8    8   7  8  4    2  0
Towering in gallant fame,
8   8    7  8   4    2  4
Scotland my mountain hame,
8    8   7    5     8   7     5   8  7   5  4 3 2 1
High may your proud standards glo-ri-ous-ly wave,
0    0  1  2    0 2  4
Land of my high endeavour,
8    8  7   8  4    2 0
Land of the shining river,
3    5  3  2     4   2 0
Land of my heart for e-ver,
1   0    1   0    
Scotland the brave.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Tablature for One-String Canjos

Here we have the basic melody as arranged for Diatonically Fretted One-String Canjos as well as the lyrics for the most well-known portion of the song.

0    8  5   4  2   4    1
Take Me out to the ball game
0    8  5   4    2   4
Take me out with the crowd
5   4  5    2  3    4   5     3  1
Buy me some peanuts and crack-er-jacks
5 5     5    7  8 9  7   5   4
I don’t care if I ne-ver get back
2  1    0     8     5    4   2   4    1
So It’s Root, Root, Root for the home team
1  0    1     2   3    4 5
If they don’t win it’s a shame
5   7    8    8    8     7       5      4
For It’s one, two, three strikes you’re out
2  4   5   7    8
At The Old Ball Game

The Wearing of the Green – One-String Canjo Tablature

“The Wearing of the Green” is an old street ballad that originated in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1796.

The melody has been used in many different songs and ballads over the years, and can be adapted as easily as swapping out the lyrics, making this a versatile song to have in your songbook.

Examples include: “The Rising of the Moon” and “The Orange and the Green” but there are many others.

0 1 2  2  2     1   2   4   4    2   2    1      1 2   1       
O - Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that's going round?
4   5   3    8  7  5    4  2     0  2    0  0 1    0    
The Shamrock is forbid, by laws, to grow on I-rish ground!
0 1 2    2   2 1       2   4     4    2   2  1   1    2  1
N-o more St. Patrick's day we'll keep his co-lor last be seen;
4    5       3 8   7  5   4 2      0   2  0    0  1   0
For, there's a bloody law a-gainst the Wearing of the Green!

VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 1 – Introduction

This is the first in a four-part video series introducing the Canjo. In this series Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker will discuss and show you all aspects of the Canjo, from its history and importance, to its construction and makeup, to how to play it.

This video, Part 1, focuses on introducing the canjo and talking about how it is made, its historical origins, and what makes it special.

Part 2 covers more specifics on the anatomy of a canjo, and also discusses the special diatonic fretting method Gitty uses, as well as how to tune it. This part ends with a brief look at the American Canjo Company and its mission to revitalize the instrument.

Parts 3 and 4 cover How to Play the canjo, with Part 3 being more basic techniques, and part 4 showing you more advanced methods you can use to expand your playing.

VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 2 – Anatomy of a Canjo

This is the second in a four-part video series introducing the Canjo. In this series Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker will go over the various parts of the canjo, the special diatonic fretting method used on American Canjo Company canjos, the special “Blue Note” fret, and much more.

The next video in this series, Part 3, will cover tuning the canjo, reading canjo tablature, and finally show you how to play a could of basic songs.

The final video, part four, will show you more advanced methods you can use to expand your playing.

VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 3 – How to Play, Tune & Read Tablature

In this third part of our four-part video series introducing the Canjo, Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker will dig into the basics of how to play the instrumennt. He first discusses and shows you how to tune your canjo to the “standard” high D note (your canjo may be tuned to a different note depending on the string you used), then discusses how to read the American Canjo Company tab posted here at CigarBoxGuitar.com, and finally shows you how to play two well-known songs from the tab: Camptown Races and When the Saints Go Marching In. Numerous diagrams help illustrate the how-to concepts being presented.

The final video, part four, will show you more advanced methods you can use to expand your playing.

VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 4 – Advanced Playing Techniques

This is the fourth and final part of our four-part video series introducing the Canjo. In this video, Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker shows you some more advanced techniques you can use to spice up your playing. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, vibrato, tremolo, slides and bends are all discussed and demonstrated.

When the Saints Go Marching In – Traditional

This great old spiritual song was first recorded in 1938 by Louis Armstrong and has been sung and recorded countless times since then. It is very easy to play on the canjo! View the full text of this entry by clicking the “Read More” link below for the formatted canjo tab…

When the Saints Go Marching In (Version 1 – Low)

0  2    3   4      0  2   3    4   0  2    3   4      2  0   2    1
Oh when the saints go marching in, oh when the saints go marching in
2  2    1 0    0  2  4  4    4  3    2    3   4      2  1   1    0
Oh lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!

When the Saints Go Marching In (Version 2 – High)

3  5    6   8      3  5   6    8   3  5    6   8      5  3   5    4
Oh when the saints go marching in, oh when the saints go marching in
5  5    4 3    3  5  8  8    8  6    5    6   8      5  4   4    3
Oh lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!

To learn more about this classic spiritual song, and to find more verses, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply