Big Spike Hammer banjo tabs
Back-
Tablatures
Scruggs Style
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Difficulty
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Key
G -
Tempo
120 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
This is a classic jam song popularized by the Bluegrass Album Band. J.D. Crowe played banjo on this track, and it's absolutely fantastic picking!
Learn -
Difficulty
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Scruggs Style-2
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Difficulty
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Key
C -
Tempo
120 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
Step up to the challenge of learning this in a different key. Much of the right hand rolls are similar or the same as the J.D. Crowe arrangement. So if you've learned this here on tunefox in G, that should make this transition a lot smoother for you.
Learn -
Difficulty
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Melodic Style
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Difficulty
-
Key
G -
Tempo
120 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
This melodic arrangement of Big Spike Hammer is fairly complex as it moves to many places around the neck. Play with the metronome for cleanliness.
Learn -
Difficulty
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Backup Style
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Difficulty
-
Key
G -
Tempo
120 bpm -
Tuning
gDGBD
The backup for Big Spike Hammer is fairly straightforward. It's very much based on what J.D. played on the original recording.
Learn -
Difficulty
More about Big Spike Hammer
Big Spike Hammer is a popular song that was co-written by one of bluegrass's favorite songwriters, Pete Gable. The famous songwriter was also responsible for writing songs like Coleen Malone (Hot Rize), Tennessee 1949, and Blue Virginia Blues, which are just a few of his amazing works. He became close with young J.D. Crowe in the 60s through the Detroit radio station. J.D. had moved there with Jimmy Martin. During their stay there, Pete became connected to the bluegrass community. The Osborne Brothers recorded Big Spike Hammer in 1965 and the song really took off in 1983, when the Bluegrass Album Band recorded it on their album, California Connection.
Learn 4 different versions of Big Spike Hammer, which are all shown on this page. We recommend that you get started with the Scruggs style version, where you’ll learn basic roll pattern and left hand articulations like slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. Next, move on to the Melodic arrangement to learn how to play the melody for Big Spike Hammer using scales and up the next positions. Lastly, you can check out the Backup arrangement, which shows you how to play behind others while they are soloing. There are many Scruggs, melodic and bluesy licks in these 4 banjo Big Spike Hammer tablatures, which can be used to personalize each arrangement into your liking. To change measure into different arrangement, just click on the "Original Measure" text above the measure and select a different lick. You can also click the "Shuffle licks" button at the bottom of the page to randomly change all of the licks in the tablature and create a wholly unique arrangement of this song. There are a number of fantastic learning tools in Tunefox to help you memorize, learn by ear, and improve your speed. These special features are found in the "Tools" menu at the bottom right of your screen. The "Hide Notes" tool will hide a number of the notes in the tab so you can use your ears to learn parts of the melody of the Big Spike Hammer. Next, try out the "Memory Train" tool, which will hide more and more notes each time the song or measure loops. This will help get you off of the tab you’ve been working with so you can play it by memory. The "Speed Up" feature gradually speeds up the song so you can hone your technique and challen...ge yourself to go faster. Each arrangement of Big Spike Hammer 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.
Big Spike Hammer lyrics
Vs.
Can't you hear the rhythm of my big spike hammer,
Lord, it's bustin' my side.
I've done all I can do to keep that woman,
Still she's not satisfied.
Ch.
Hey Hey, Della Mae
Why do you treat me this way,
Hey Hey, Della Mae
I'll get even someday.
....
This spike hammer that I swing for a doller'n a half a day,
It's all for my Della Mae.
Ch.
Vs.
Well, I've been lots of places and not much I ain't done,
Still alot of things I'd like to see.
This spike hammer that I swing or the woman that I love,
Yeah, one's gonna be the death of me.
Ch.
Big Spike Hammer, Big Spike Hammer