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.
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.
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.
In this excerpt from a Cigar Box Nation TV episode, A. J. Gaither and Ben “Gitty” Baker discuss two great tenor guitar tunings for 4-string cigar box guitars: “Arkansas Tenor” (low E, A, D, G) and “Chicago Tenor” (D, G, B, E). Both allow you to use partial 6-string guitar chords – Ben even shows you how to use 6-string chord forms with both of these tunings.
In this excerpt from a Cigar Box Nation TV episode, A. J. Gaither and Ben “Gitty” Baker discuss two great tenor guitar tunings for 4-string cigar box guitars: “Arkansas Tenor” (low E, A, D, G) and “Chicago Tenor” (D, G, B, E). Both allow you to use partial 6-string guitar chords – Ben even shows you how to use 6-string chord forms with both of these tunings.
Cigar Box Nation TV is a presentation of CigarBoxNation.com, the online home and rallying point of the cigar box guitar revolution. It is sponsored by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, the general store for all things cigar box guitar and homemade/handmade music – instruments, kits, parts and gear.
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”.
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!
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.
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!
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!
Today we bring you free tablature for the popular Civil War tune, “Johnny Comes Marching Home” for Cigar Box Guitars tuned to Open G (GDG). This arrangement can also be adapted to other popular 1-5-1 tunings.
An Irish-American bandleader from the Union Army named Patrick Gilmore first penned the lyrics for this classic during the height the American Civil War. It was written as a musical voice for the general sentiments of longing and heartache of a population who wanted nothing more than to see their relatives and friends return from the war.
At the time he used a pen name, a popular trend among composers of the era to enhance the romanticism of their musical compositions. Indeed, the piece was popular on both sides of the war, and was even popular in England. Like many songs of the era, the melody borrowed heavily from another source. Gilmore was said to have heard a soldier humming a tune during the early days of the war and he tweaked it to suit his purposes. Maintaining popularity well into the 1900’s, the melody is also used as the base for the popular Irish Tune “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”, notably performed by Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers and more recently by The Dropkick Murphys.
Below are two tabs for this classic. The first presents just the melody and the second presents chords that help enhance the song.
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…
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″.
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
Copyright 2014 by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
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″.
Whiskey in the Jar
0 2 4 4 4 5 4 2 4 5 5 5 7 5 2
A-a-s I was going over the Cork and Kerry Mountains,
4 5 5 5 7 8 8 8 5 4 4 8 4 5 4
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'.
2 4 4 4 5 4 2 2 4 5 5 5 7 5 2
I first produced my pistol and I then produced me rapier,
2 4 5 5 7 8 8 7 5 4 4 8 4 5 4
Sayin' stand and deliver for you are a bold deceiver.
Chorus
2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 3 4
Rasha-ring and um dur and um da, whack for the daddy-o
5 5 4 5 7 8 5 4 2 1 2 0
Whack for the daddy-o there's whiskey in the jar.
Additional Verses
Well I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in my pockets and I took it home to Jenny.
She sighed and she swore that she never would betray me,
But the devil take the women, for they never can be easy.
Chorus
I went unto my chamber, all for to take a slumber
I dreamed of gold and jewels, and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water,
And sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter.
Chorus
It was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel,
up stepped a band of footmen, and likewise Captain Farrell.
I first produced me pistols for she'd stolen away me rapier,
but I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken.
Chorus
They put me into prison without a judge or jury,
For robbin' Captain Farrell in the mornin' so early.
But they couldn't take my fists, so I knocked down the sentry,
And bid a fond farewell t that cold penitentiary.
Chorus
If there's anyone can aid me, it's me brother in the army,
If I can find his station in Cork or in Kilarney.
And if he'll go with me, we'll go rollin' in Kilkenney,
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than me old miss sportin' Jenny.
Chorus
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a' rollin'
And others take delight in the hurlin' and the bowlin'.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courtin' pretty fair maids in the mornin' so early.
Chorus
To learn more about this traditional Irish song, check out this Wikipedia article.
Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
Copyright 2014 by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
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”
