Arkansas Traveler banjo tabs
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Tablatures
Scruggs Style
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Difficulty
-
Key
C -
Tempo
100 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
This arrangement features some essential Scruggs-style roll patterns, especially in the B section of the song. Check out the preview measure below to learn the MTMT roll.
Learn -
Difficulty
-
Melodic Style
-
Difficulty
-
Key
C -
Tempo
100 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
An intermediate level version of Arkansas Traveler. Typically, the song is in D, but it's fun to put your capo on the 2nd fret and play it out of C position.
Learn -
Difficulty
More about Arkansas Traveler
Composed in the 19th century by Colonel Sanford C. 'Sandy' Faulkner(1806–1874), "The Arkansas Traveler" reigned as the unofficial state song of Arkansas from 1949 to 1963. It became the official state song in 1947, when a committee came together to pen down the current official lyrics. The song is traditionally known to have had several versions of lyrics, which are much older than the copyrighted song. However it being a state song, the official lyrics were copyrighted and it can be found on the website of the Arkansas Secretary of State. The melody is catchy and it's one that many are accustomed to hearing when growing up because of its popularity in children's music under the name "I've Got a Baby Bumblebee."
Here are 3 killer arrangements of Arkansas Traveler for you to share with friends at your next jam. The Scruggs style arrangement will get you started learning slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. Once you’re feeling confident with that try your luck with the Melodic style solo, which will teach you how to play the melody for Arkansas Traveler using up the neck scales. Finally, the Backup arrangement will show you how to play this song with others and sound like a pro doing it. In every Tunefox tablature arrangement you'll find measures where you can switch out licks to see different options to use for your improvisation. This feature is called the Lick Switcher. How do you find the Lick Switcher? Look for text that says "Original Measure" over different measures in the Arkansas Traveler tab you are learning and click on that text. It'll open up the Lick Switcher where you can select a substitute measure for that spot in the song. You'll find that there are... different styles of licks like Scruggs, Melodic, Bluesy, and more. Want to see a completely different version of this song? Click on "Shuffle Licks" on the bottom of tool panel to randomly shuffle the licks in the song. You'll also find some useful tools which will help you to learn how to play Arkansas Traveler on banjo. For example, you can use the "Hide Notes" feature, which will hide some notes for you so you can learn parts of the melody by ear. The "Memory train" tool will progressively hide notes each time you play through a section or the entirety of a song. Take your speed to the next level with the "Speed Up" feature. This tool will automatically increase playback speed each time you loop the song. Each arrangement of Arkansas Traveler for banjo features real-sounding backing tracks. Use these backing tracks to polish up the solo you’re working on. You can mix the banjo, band, and metronome up or down so that you have several options for your practice. Members can export their arrangements into PDF, allowing them to print and bring them to their next jam session.
Arkansas Traveler lyrics
Oh, once upon a time in Arkansas
An old man sat in his little cabin door
And fiddled at a tune that he liked to hear
A jolly old tune that he played by ear
It was raining hard, but the fiddler didn't care
He sawed aways at the popular air
Though his rooftop leaked like ...y
And stopped to hear him a-fiddling away
The cabin was afloat and his feet were wet
But the old man still didn't seem to fret
So the stranger said Now, the way it seems to me
You'd better mend your roof said he
But the old man said as he played away
I couldn't mend it now, it's a rainy day
The rtaveler replied that's all quite true
But this I think is the thing for you to do
Get busy on a day that is fair and bright
Then patch the old roof till it's good and tight
But the old man kept on a-playing at his reel
And tapped the ground with his leathery heel
Get along said he for you give me a pain
My cabin never leaks when it doesn't rain