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Groundhog Banjo Tabs

Traditional

Groundhog Banjo Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #bluesy, #old time, #folk music, #medium-tempo

This song is written by Doc Watson and appears on the American Folk Singers and Balladeers compilation (1964) and the Essential Doc Watson (1973) album. The profundity, and beauty of the musical abilities of this extended family, is legendary among traditional American music followers. Watson's family standards are featured here, including 11 previously unreleased performances. A modern story. "This is beautiful music, one of old-time music's best collections ever recorded." — Victory Analysis. Compiled by Jeff Place and Ralph Rinzler.

Learn how to play Groundhog on Banjo with this selection of tablatures:

  • Banjo Groundhog Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    This is Jim Mills's great version of the traditional tune, Groundhog. It's not super fast, and has a nice grooving, bluesy feel to it.

    Learn
  • Banjo Groundhog Bluesy Style

    Bluesy Style

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

    This is an up-the-neck rendition of the melodic with some cool bluesy melodic licks thrown in to keep it funky.

    Learn
  • Banjo Groundhog Backup

    Backup

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

    The chords go by fairly quickly in this song, so this backup arrangement of Groundhog is great for practicing rolling through fast chord changes.

    Learn



Practicing Tips

Learning Overview


The 'Groundhog', a distinctive bluegrass banjo composition, is nestled comfortably within the realms of the old-time folk music tradition, it comes replete with medium-tempo rhythms and bluesy inflections. Designed for intermediate banjo players, this learning resource provides Scruggs, Bluesy, and Backup Styles tablature structures to enhance your musical versatility.


Practice Tips


One of the game-changing features of the Tunefox platform is the Lick Switcher. This functional tool allows the introduction of new lick vocabulary to the song, immediately altering the song structure and interpretation. Exploring different variations through the Lick Switcher is not just easy but also eclectic; you can customize the arrangement to suit your personal musical preference. You can tap a particular measure to discover what licks are hidden within.


Additionally, the Arrange slider proves to be a great accomplice in setting a custom difficulty level with pinpoint accuracy. By sliding it to the left, the tablature clears of numerous 'fill-in' notes, demonstrating a simplified, core arrangement of the music. On the other hand, sliding it to the right fills the arrangement with extra notes to reveal the full song.


Changing the tempo to align with your comfort level is another useful practice tip. Using the Tempo slider can incredibly boost your capacity to match the rhythm. Through constant practice, you can gradually increase the tempo, pushing your boundaries with every new session.


Honing your bluegrass skills isn't complete without the joy of playing along with backing tracks. This provides a near-real experience of jaming with co-musicians. If the Speed Up function is utilized properly, it can gradually increase the playback tempo; this function allows you to progressively practice at higher speeds. Starting at a comfortable pace and gradually inching towards a higher tempo can dramatically enhance your overall proficiency with the song.


Remember that the journey of learning a song is as enjoyable as performing it. Discover new ways to interpret this tune, experiment with blending styles and make your rendition of 'Groundhog'. Happy learning!