Playing Tab List
Tablature (or tabulature, or tab for short) is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches.
Tablature is common for fretted stringed instruments such as the dulcimer, guitar, or lute, as well as many free reed aerophones such as the harmonica. Tablature was common during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and is commonly used in notating many genres of music.
Given the nature of old-time music as an aural tradition, there is no such thing as a “definitive” version of most tunes. Tablature ensures the essential melody of a tune is captured, along with any stylistic interpretations noted by the tab author. You are then encouraged to use tabs as a starting point and impart your own individual stamp upon them as they become more familiar to you.
This book was created with one purpose in mind: to make dulcimer club meetings more fun for all playing levels. At club meetings, informal jam sessions are important for passing along tunes, tricks, and knowledge as well as for just having a good time. Embellish the tunes to suite your own playing level.(This Tab Book is available to NGFDA membership at cost, and is not otherwise available for copy or sale.) | ||||
Tuning |
Pg # | Song Title | Song Type | Tradition |
DAA | 12
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 l0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 |
Amazing GraceBanks of the Ohio
Brother John Chopsticks Come Let Us Gather Dona Nobis Pacem Golden Slippers Holy Manna I’ll Fly Away Liza Jane Music Alone Shall Live Rock of Ages Simple Gifts Sourwood Mountain Waltzing Matilda We’re Floating Down the Stream of Timc Will the Circle Be Unbroken Sweet By and By |
religiousballad
round semi-classical round round reel religious religious reel round religious religious reel international religious religious religious |
Englishold-time
French Renaissance old-time Sacred Harp Gospel old-time Gospel Shaker old-time Australia Ritchie Family Carter Family Gospel |
DAG | l920
2l 22 |
Hey Ho Nobody HomeBachelor’s Hall
Over the River, Charlie Scarborough Fair |
roundballad
play party ballad |
EnglishRitchie
Ritchie Family English |
DAD | 2324
25 26 27 28 29 30 3l 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 |
Cripple CreekAsh Grove
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho Farther Along Moonlight on the Water Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss Goin’to Boston Lady Mary Michael Row the Boat Ashore My Own House (Mine Home) Mississippi Sawyer Ragtime Annie Sail Away Ladies Soldier’s Joy Southwind Whiskey Before Breakfast Wildwood Flower |
reelair
religious religious waltz reel play party ballad chant waltz reel ragtime reel reel waltz/air reel ballad |
old-timeWelsh
Spiritual Gospel old-time old-time Ritchie family Ozark Georgia Sea Islands Scottish old-time New England Georgia Sea Islands old-time Irish Irish Carter family |
DAC | 404l
42 43 44 45 46 |
Black NagClinch Mountain Backstep
Greensleeves Shady Grove Ha Tikva Nonesuch Shalom Chaverim |
jigreel
air reel intemational English country dance round |
EnglishAppalachian
English Appalachian Israeli English Israeli |
DGD | 4748
49 50 |
Four Leaf Clover WaltzScotland the Brave
Skye Boat Song Tombigbee Waltz |
waltzmarch
waltz waltz |
GeorgiaScottish
Scottish Alabama |