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Red Wing Banjo Tabs

Traditional

Red Wing Banjo Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #old time, #vocal song, #fiddle tune

"Red Wing" is a famous song written in 1907 with music played by Kerry Mills and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway. Mills derived the melody of the verse from a piano composition by Robert Schumann's "The Happy Farmer, Returning from Work" from his Album for the Young, Opus 68, released in 1848. The song talks about the death of her sweetheart by a young Indian girl who died in the war. "Red Wing" is sometimes also known as "Red Wing Polka" (being in 2/4 times); although it sounds like a traditional song, it was actually written as recently as 1907; with music by Frederick Allen (Kerry) Mills (1869-1948) and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway, it is a song that demonstrates the respect with which those who replaced the original inhabitants of the Americas were treated. The original F.A. music plate. It is referred to as An Indian Intermezzo by Mills of New York (its composer). In reality, the melody is taken from a classic piece, Robert Schumann's "The Happy Farmer," something many contemporary writers have done, such as Al Stewart with "Palace Of Versailles" and "Rocks in the Sea," and perhaps most popular Procol Harum with "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." "Red Wing" is lyrically a song in the same vein as "The Ash Grove" or "The Unquiet Grave", but without the latter's supernatural connection. Squaw Red Wing is weeping for her battle-lost love. It has to be said that in addition, this fails a little; "brave and homosexual" doesn't mean the same thing in the 21st century as it did in the 20th generation. "Red Wing" is a lovely song, but one of its most memorable performances is anything but melodic; a Capella is performed in the 1961 movie The Comancheros by an intoxicated John Wayne and Lee Marvin.

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

  • Banjo Red Wing Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    A classic and fun melody to play on the banjo. Once you get the down-the-neck version solid, try to figure it out up the neck!

    Learn
  • Banjo Red Wing Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    Red Wing melodic break demonstrates how you can blend melodic style and single string to create your own creative and interesting solos!

    Learn
  • Banjo Red Wing Backup

    Backup

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

    This rolling backup arrangement of Red Wing teaches how you'd play behind a fiddle player. It's got a good mixture of 16th and 8th notes.

    Learn



Practicing Tips

The 'Red Wing' learning resource provides bluegrass banjo players with versatile tablature in various styles including Scruggs, Melodic, and Backup Styles, catering specifically to intermediate level players. The tune itself encompasses keywords such as 'old time', 'vocal song', and 'fiddle tune', introducing players to diverse stylistic elements of bluegrass banjo playing.


The lessons draw on the robust Tunefox platform's unique features to enrich the learning process. The highlight of this is the Lickswitcher tool, which allows interchangeable licks in individual measures of the song. This fosters a dynamic, flexible approach to learning, allowing learners to experiment with various licks and develop their unique musical style.


The Arrange slider is another valuable tool, enabling users to alter the song's difficulty and tone. This tool gives learners the ability to customize the song based on their current skill level and personal musical preferences, providing a comfortable and individualized learning experience for each user.


A particularly significant tool for auditory learning strategies is the 'Hide notes' slider. This tool allows for the concealing of individual notes, thereby encouraging students to learn the tune by listening to it. This can greatly enhance learners' ear training skills while simultaneously refining musical intuition and memory.


In addition to using these innovative tools, a few general practicing tips can aid in learning 'Red Wing'. Consistent and methodical practice is key – try to dedicate a specific amount of time each day to practicing this song. Start slow and gradually increase the tempo as your comfort with the song improves. Experiment with different licks and styles, and most importantly, enjoy the process of learning and making the tune your own.


Red Wing lyrics

There once lived an indian maid
A shy little prairie maid
Who sang a lay, a love song gay
As on the plain she'd while away the day
She loved a warrior bold
This shy little maid of old
But blythe and gay, he rode one day
To battle far away

Now, the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing
The breeze is sighing, the night bird's crying
For afar neath his star her brave is sleeping
While Red Wings weeping her heart away

She watched thru the day and night
She kept all the campfiles bright
And under the sky, each night she would lie
And dream about his coming by and by
But when all the braves returned
The heart of Red Wing yearned
For Brave one day, her warrior gay
Fell bravely in the fray

* Refrain