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Banjo tablatures for Lonesome Road Blues

Earl Scruggs

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #vocal song, #up-the-neck, #up-tempo, #banjo tune, #old time

The Lonesome Road is a song with Nathaniel Shilkret's music and Gene Austin's lyrics, done in 1927. The song is also called "Lonesome Road", "Lonesome Road Blues" among some other catchy titles. It was written in the style of an African-American folk song. Both the lyricist and the composer were extremely popular recording artists. Gene Austin estimated that he sold 80 million records, and Nathaniel Shilkret's son was very popular recording artists. Joel Whitburn mentions performances in Numbers 10, 12, 3, and 10 by Austin, Bing Crosby, Ted Lewis, and Shilkret (see the collection of recordings below). No credible sales figures can be used to confirm or refute any of the above projections. Austin, supported by Shilkret directing the Victor Orchestra, initially recorded it on September 16, 1927. There were more than two hundred "Lonesome Road" recordings, including versions by Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby (recorded on December 12, 1938), Ted Lewis, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Ace Cannon, Chris Connor, and Dick Dale. In the final of the 1929 part-talkie film version of Edna Ferber's novel Show Boat, the structure was used especially as a replacement for Ol' Man River. Stepin Fetchit's done it onscreen as the Joe deckhand. Bass-baritone Jules Bledsoe, who had played Joe in the musical's original stage version, provided the singing voice of Fetchit. The autobiography of Shilkret contains a brief account of the motivation in the film to use the song.

  • Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    A classic Scruggs arrangement of Lonesome Road Blues heard on "Foggy Mountain Banjo," which is the bible of Scruggs-style banjo.

    Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Scruggs Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    This arrangement of Lonesome Road Blues starts high and ends up low. It features a lot of a great melodic licks stolen from Bela Fleck and others.

    Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Melodic Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Backup

    Backup

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

    Even though it starts out with vamping, this arrangement of Lonesome Road Blues features a lot of great rolling up-the-neck and down-the-neck backup.

    Banjo Lonesome Road Blues Backup
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Practicing Tips

If you're passionate about brushing up on your banjo skills, then 'Lonesome Road Blues' learning resource is just for you. Focusing on bluegrass banjo tablatures in Scruggs, Melodic, and Backup Styles, this tool is an exceptional asset for intermediate learners. Developed with keywords like vocal song, up-the-neck, up-tempo, banjo tune, and old time, this resource is your ticket to basking in the bliss of banjo tunes.


Learning becomes effortless with the Tunefox platform. Use the Lick Switcher for adding new licks to your vocabulary and re-interpreting the same song in a brand new way. Want to customize the licks for individual measures? Go ahead, tap the measure and uncover the licks hidden there. Redefine the way you perceive the melody and change the banjo arrangement as per your preferences.


Managing your learning difficulty level is a breeze too with the Arrange slider. Just slide it to the left and see how 'fill-in' notes disappear, leaving you with a simple, core arrangement in the tablature. Or perhaps, swipe to the right and let those extra notes beautify the arrangement in the tablature, thereby discovering the entire song.


Changing the tempo is also easy with the tempo slider. It can help you cover the nuances of rhythm and speed. However, that's not where the fun stops...


Playing along with backing tracks can turn your learning experience into an enjoyable activity. Repeat your chosen measures, go slow, and then, use the 'Speed Up' function to gradually increase the playback tempo. That's the best strategy to move from lower speeds to higher ones without feeling overwhelmed. And remember, use the 'Speed Up' function when you feel comfortable with the current speed.


In conclusion, keep in mind that practice makes perfect. Start slowly and progress according to your own pace. The aim is to enjoy every step of the learning journey!


Lonesome Road Blues lyrics

I'm going down this road feeling bad
I'm going down this road feeling bad
I'm going down this road feeling bad, lord, lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

Down in the jailhouse on my knees
Down in the jailhouse on my knees
Down in the jailhouse on my knees,Great God
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain

They feed me on corn bread and beens
They feed me on corn bread and beens
They feed me on corn bread and beens, O lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain

I ain't got no shoes on my feet
I ain't got no shoes on my feet
I ain't got no shoes on my feet, Lord God
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain

It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot, Great God
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain

I'm going where the climate suits my clothes
I'm going where the climate suits my clothes
I'm going where the climate suits my clothes, O lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain

I'm goin' if I never get back
I'm goin' if I never get back
I'm goin' if I never get back, LOrd God
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

* Refrain