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Banjo tablatures for Dark Hollow

Bill Monroe

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #vocal song, #medium-tempo

"Dark Hollow" is a folk song or tune originally recorded by folk artist-musician Bill Browning in 1958. It is incorporated as the B-side of his single "Borned with the Blues." Even though it is normally credited to Browning, the melody has some musical similarities to the customary "East Virginia Blues/East Virginia" and "ComeAll You Fair and Tender Ladies," likely Browning's motivation. "Hollow" is seen as the mainstream highlight of Browning's short profession. However, it didn't arrive at the pinnacle of its prominence until Grateful Dead in the mid-1970s recorded it. They Started performing acoustic fronts of the tune in 1970. Electric covers before long followed in 1973 pursued by progressively acoustic covers in 1980. Altogether, Grateful Dead performed "Dark Hollow" around 30 times. Their adaptation shows up on History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice), and the live recording.

  • Banjo Dark Hollow Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      100 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    A classic jam tune. This arrangement of Dark Hollow uses hammer-ons to accent the vocal inflections and give you a more "real" sounding melody.

    Banjo Dark Hollow Scruggs Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Dark Hollow Scruggs Style-2

    Scruggs Style-2

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      D
    • Tempo
      100 bpm
    • Tuning
      aDGBD

    There is definitely some Scruggs style challenge for your right and left hand here, but if you practice slow and steady you will win the race.

    Banjo Dark Hollow Scruggs Style-2
    Learn
  • Banjo Dark Hollow Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      100 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    Dark Hollow played melodic style features a lot of descending scale patterns to create a tasteful and fun version of this song.

    Banjo Dark Hollow Melodic Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Dark Hollow Backup

    Backup

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      100 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    This backup version of Dark Hollow teaches the use of 7th chords when playing down-the-neck. This sounds great behind a vocalist, but also will work well behind fiddle solos!

    Banjo Dark Hollow Backup
    Learn



Here are 4 killer arrangements of Dark Hollow 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 Dark Hollow 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.

Use the Tunefox Lick Switcher to explore improvisation and creativity inside the Dark Hollow tablatures. The Lick Switcher will allow you to create your own arrangement using pre-built licks that are handmade by professional musicians. To use the Lick Switcher, click on the text above specific measures that says "Original Measure" and select between a variety of new licks for that measure. You'll find that there are different style licks such as Scruggs, Melodic, Jazz, and more. At the bottom of your page you'll also find a button that says "Shuffle Licks." Click this button and watch the licks randomly shuffle throughout the song.

Be sure to check out all of the great learning tools that Tunefox has to offer such as "Hide Notes", "Memory Train", and "Speed Up". These tools can be found in the "Tools" menu at the bottom right of your screen. Want to learn some of Dark Hollow by ear? Use "Hide Notes" to hide some or all of the notes in the tablature. Once you’re finished learning with the tab use the "Memory Train" tool to commit the song to memory. Then practice with "Speed Up" to improve your technique and speed in no time.

Each Tunefox banjo Dark Hollow tab contains real-sounding backing tracks. These backing tracks allow you to practice the arrangement you’re learning with with an entire band and you can change volume of the band, banjo and metronome to suit your liking.

Once you’ve settled on an arrangement of Dark Hollow using the Lick Switcher, export your arrangement to a PDF file so you can print it out and take it with you. This is a member-only feature.

Dark Hollow lyrics

Bill Browning

I'd rather be in some dark hollow
Where the sun don't never shine
Than to be all alone and far away from home
It would cause me to lose my mind

CHO:
So blow your whistle fright train
Carry me father on down the track
Well I'm going away, I'm leaving today
I'm going but I ain't coming back

I'd rather be in some dark hollow
Where the sun don't never shine
That to be alone in some big city
In a small room with you on my mind

CHO

Instrumental

CHO

Ref: The Seldom Scene
Recorded Live at the Cellar Door Rebel CD-1103