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Spotted Pony Banjo Tabs

Traditional

Spotted Pony Banjo Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #old time, #instrumental

"Spotted Pony", also known as Snowshoes, is an old-time tune that first appeared in a list of traditional Ozark mountain songs. This list was compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Rudolph and was published in 1954. It was done in key A and owed credit to fiddler Andy Beaty who was a prominent fiddler in a regional contest in the mid-20th century. It is also sometimes credited with composing "spotted Pony." But one very prominent fiddle commentator said it's Texas fiddler Bob wills father, Uncle Wills were to be credited with the song. There are some connections of the song with other tunes like "Missouri Spotted Pony", and some others.

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

  • Banjo Spotted Pony Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    A Scruggs Style fiddle tune in D...without a capo. It is possible!

    Learn
  • Banjo Spotted Pony Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    This classic fiddle tune works wonderfully out of open D. Just spike your 5th string at the 7th fret and you are ready to go.

    Learn
  • Banjo Spotted Pony Single String Style

    Single String Style

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

    You can get a lot of mileage by playing single string out of the 7th fret bar chord shape in D. Check it out! Also, a little re-harmonization can go along way. All the chord cha...

    Learn



Practicing Tips

The 'Spotted Pony' is an excellent bluegrass banjo resource ideal for intermediate players interested in expanding their repertoire. This learning tool offers tablatures in Scruggs, Melodic, and Single String Styles, with emphasis on old-time instrumentals. Enhance your banjo playing by learning this traditional instrumental, providing a remarkable blend of melody and technique.


The learning resource is all about innovative learning through the Tunefox platform. Utilize its Lickswitcher feature, an excellent tool that lets you exchange licks within measures. This encourages a more flexible and creative approach to learning by letting your creativity shine while learning new tunes, molding your style and expanding your skill set.


The Arrange slider is another powerful tool available on the platform. Not every tune may suit your current skill level or musical preference. However, this feature gives you the freedom to modify the song's tone and difficulty according to your comfort level. You'll learn the tune, step by step, while still satisfying your musical tastes.


For those who resonate with auditory learning, the 'Hide notes' slider is an ideal tool. It prompts you to hide individual notes, encouraging learning the tune by ear. This helps to strengthen your ear training and advances your musical intuition and memory, making music learning more comprehensive and lasting.


Remember to be patient with your progress and practice regularly for effective learning. The beauty of this platform is that you can learn at your own pace. As your familiarity with the tune grows, gradually increase the tune's speed. Another great tip is to record your own playing. This provides feedback on your performance, enabling you to fine-tune your skills. Above all, enjoy the music and let your passion for playing the banjo guide your learning journey.