Mel Bay

Transcriptions from Buckley's Banjo Guide of 1868

Author: Tim Twiss
Format: Book with Audio Online
Instrumentation: Banjo

Early American Banjo by Tim Twiss provides complete banjo tablature transcriptions of the instrumental solos that first appeared in standard notation in Buckley's Banjo Guide of 1868. This modern tablature edition of over 100 mid-19th century jigs, waltzes, polkas, hornpipes and reels provides insight to the transition between the African down-stroke technique, which preceded claw-hammer style and the newer, more refined plucking technique.

James Buckley (1803 1872), sometimes referred to as the "Father of the Classical Banjo", was one of the most prolific transcribers of early banjo music. His compositions and arrangements were performed on the minstrel stage, and his scholarly discipline produced a lasting record of banjo music of his era. This repertoire collection includes easy tunes as well as more complex pieces suited for the concert stage. The player will delight in discovering how fresh and unusual some of this music sounds, even todayall in modern banjo tab.

While best experienced on a period reproduction, gut-string fretless banjo in a lower tuning, any 5-string banjo in C tuning (gCGBD) may be used to interpret this collection. Includes access to online audio.

Song List:

• Abraham's Daughter
• Andrew Leavitt's Jig
• Annie Lisle
• Anvil Chorus
• Aunt Dinah's Sauce Pan
• Bandurand Polka
• Ben Cotton's Clog Dance
• Billy Morris's Jig
• Blue Bell Valse
• Bobey Nickle's Jig
• Bolton Clog Hornpipe
• Buckley's Hornpipe
• Budworth Jig
• Bully for All
• Charleston Gals
• Chickahominy Jig
• Chimes on the Bells
• Clog Hornpipe
• Congo Jig
• Contraband Jig
• Dan Bryant's Jig
• Dan Emmett's Reel
• Darling Nelly Gray
• De Old Lame Horse
• Dearest Mae
• Dick Sand's Clog Hornpipe
• Do They Think of Me at Home?
• Don't You Hear de Bulgine?
• Empire Hornpipe
• Excelsior Rondo
• Fandango
• Fisher's Hornpipe
• Frank Converse's Jig
• Fred Buckley's Hornpipe
• G. Swaine Buckley's Celebrated Minor Jig
• General Burnside's Jig
• General Pope's Jig
• Glory Hallelujah
• Hayes' Clog Hornpipe
• Hear Him Johnny, Hear Him
• Jack is the Lad
• Jedediah's Clog Hornpipe
• Jim Lee's Jig
• Joe Murphy's Jig
• John Anderson My Joe
• Johnny Campbell's Jig
• Kate Kearny Waltz
• Kettle Drum Polka
• Ladies in de Parlour
• Lazy Joe
• Les Sylphides
• Let Me Kiss Him for His Mother
• Lon Morris's Jig
• Lor Bres de Ladies
• May-Flower Schottische
• Napoleon W. Gould's Polka
• Nelly Was a Lady
• Niagra Polka
• Nine O'Clock Bell Jig
• No One to Love
• Pacific Scottische
• Pat Malloy's Jig
• Pat the Boy's Jig
• Pea Nut Girl
• Pearl Waltz
• Piccayune Butler
• Ring, Boys, Ring
• Sally Come Up
• Savory's Jig
• Scotch Jig
• Sheridan's Hornpipe
• Snapping Turtle Jig
• Soap Fat Man
• Spalding's Jig No. 1
• Spalding's Jig No. 2
• Spalding's Jig No. 3
• Spalding's Jig No. 4
• Spalding's Jig No. 5
• Star-Spangled Banner
• Storm Galop
• Sugar in de Gourd
• Tenpenny Bit
• The Cure
• The Frolic
• The Jubilee
• The Lily
• Tiger Jig
• Toe de Mark Jig
• Tonawanda Hornpipe
• Turn Up Jack
• Uncle Ned
• Union Jig
• Varginny Tobacco Plant Jig
• Villikins and His Dinah
• Viva la America
• Von Bonhorst Jig
• Waltz
• When I Saw Nellie Home
• Willie, We Have Missed You
• Wood Up Quick Step
• Wrecker's Daughter
• Yorktown Polka