The How-To Repository for the Cigar Box Guitar Movement!
How to Build and Play Cigar Box Guitars and other Homemade Instruments
When it comes to learning to play the cigar box guitar, you can’d do better than going to the King of the Cigar Box Guitar, Shane Speal. Here is the first of Shane’s series of how-to-play videos.
For more info about Shane Speal, visit his site: <a href=”http://www.shanespeal.com” target=”_blank”>www.ShaneSpeal.com</a>.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to easily play some of the most famous and recognizable blues riffs and turnarounds on your cigar box guitar, this video series is for you! Shane Speal sits down with his video camera and a 3-string cigar box guitar (tuned to Open G GDG), and walks you through five of the best-known blues riffs that we’ve all heard hundreds of times. Each lesson is just a few minutes long – you’ll be belting out the blues in no time!
Lesson 1: The Classic Blues Lick
Lesson 2: Variations on the Classic Blues Lick
Lesson 3: The Peach Rundown
Lesson 4: The Nasty Pull-off Lick
Lesson 5: The Grinding Lick
Here’s a video lesson for you, where the King himself Mr. Shane Speal walks you through how to tune your guitar and play it like Seasick Steve!
In this video, Glenn Watt walks you through reading the style of tablature he creates for 3-string cigar box guitars. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of tablature and want to get started playing the songs in our CBG tablature library here at CigarBoxGuitar.com, this video is for you!
Here is one of guitar god Jimi Hendrix’s best known recordings, Voodoo Child, as arranged and tabbed by Glenn Watt.
You can view the printable tablature sheet by clicking on the link or image below. You can also watch the video below where Glenn shows you how to play the song on his 3-string cigar box guitar tuned to Open G “GDG”.
Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix – Tablature for 3-string Cigar Box Guitars
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the popular song Wagon Wheel, as performed by The Old Crow Medicine Show and Darius Rucker (and also by just about every cover band, karaoke and open mike performer to ever grab a microphone).
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!
Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: Wagon Wheel Cigar Box Guitar Tablature PDF
Wayfaring Stranger as presented in this tablature has been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Emmy Lou Harris, Joan Baez and more. It was also performed by Jack White in the movie Cold Mountain. It is a sad and plaintive tally of life’s troubles, but with a hopeful refrain that looks ahead to rewards in the next life.
While it is possible to play this in a lower register without needing to move up the fretboard so much, we present this higher version here because it seems to sound better when played on a CBG.
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!
You can also view the video below to have Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker show you how to play this tablature.
Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: Wayfaring Stranger Cigar Box Guitar Tablature Sheet
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic Christmas song We Three Kings of Orient Are.
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!
If you need some help with this style of tablature, here’s a video where Glenn Watt shows you how to read it
Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: We Three Kings of Orient Are Cigar Box Guitar Tablature PDF
In this post you’ll find 2-string bass tablature for the Christmas carol, We Three Kings of Orient Are. Continue reading “We Three Kings Of Orient Are 2-String G-Bass Tablature”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic Christmas song We Wish You a Merry Christmas. According to Wikipedia, carolers in England were singing this 400 or so years ago, so this one has pedigree!
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!
If you need some help with this style of tablature, here’s a video where Glenn Watt shows you how to read it
Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: We Wish You a Merry Christmas Cigar Box Guitar Tablature PDF
Learn how to play We Wish You A Merry Christmas on your 2-string bass with the free tablature in this post. Continue reading “We Wish You A Merry Christmas 2-string G-Bass Tablature”
Easily play the tune from the classic holiday song White Christmas on your 3-string cigar box guitar using this free tablature.
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic Christmas song White Christmas, made famous by Bing Crosby in the movie of the same name. Continue reading “White Christmas (Bing Crosby) 3-string Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
With the free tablature in this post, you’ll learn how to play one of the most beloved Christmas tunes, and the world’s best selling single, White Christmas, on your 2-string bass. Continue reading “White Christmas 2-String G-Bass Tablature”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody for the classic Christmas song White Christmas, written by Irving Berlin and made famous when sung by Bing Crosby in the film of the same name.
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody for the classic Christmas song White Christmas, written by Irving Berlin and made famous when sung by Bing Crosby in the film of the same name.
This tablature is arranged for 4-string cigar box guitars tuned to Open G “GDGB”.
Continue reading “White Christmas 4-string Open G GDGB Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the well-known children’s song Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!
If you need some help with this style of tablature, here’s a video where Glenn Watt shows you how to read it
Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: Will The Circle Be Unbroken .
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the bass line for the country-spiritual song “Wings Of A Dove“, by Bob Ferguson. Continue reading “Wings Of A Dove By Bob Ferguson | 2-String Bass Tablature”