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Turkey in the Straw Banjo Tabs

Traditional

Turkey in the Straw Banjo Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #fiddle tune, #old time, #up-tempo

Turkey in the Straw is a famous American folk song that is iconic of rural America in pop culture. It was extracted from "My Grandmother Lived on Yonder Little Green" which shares some similarities with the Irish ballad "The Old Rose Tree". Although this tune was composed for fiddlers, it was able to serve the thanksgiving season, and gradually, it became a song for thanksgiving. It addressed issues regarding expectations and satisfaction. If you are curious as to what this lovely tune sounds like, here's a version wrapped in a beautiful Story; Elmo Newcomer entered into the lives of John A. Lomax and his wife, Ruby, through his habit of collecting folk music in Texas. Precisely, he was in the act of collecting folk music in Texas in 1939 when he met the Fiddler, Elmo Newcomer. When he met Lomax, he was consumed with pleasure because he was a fan, having got himself a copy of Lomax's first book Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads directly from Lomax by mail. Generally, the "Turkey into straw" became the foundation of classical and jazz compositions such as Otto Bonnell's "Ragtime Fantasy."

Learn how to play Turkey in the Straw on Banjo with this selection of tablatures:

  • Banjo Turkey in the Straw Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    This arrangement accurately captures this melody popular fiddle tune. For several parts of the main melody you'll use your thumb to fret notes on your 5th string by wrapping it over ...

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  • Banjo Turkey in the Straw Single String

    Single String

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

    Learning to adapt to the limitations of your instrument is important. When playing Turkey in the Straw in the key G and in second position there are some melody notes that are lower ...

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  • Banjo Turkey in the Straw Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    Mixing in some melodic elements, this Scruggs style version gives you some options as far as up-the-neck and down-the-neck variations.

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  • Banjo Turkey in the Straw Melodic Style 2

    Melodic Style 2

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

    A classic fiddle tune. This is arrangement is great for practicing dropping your thumb to the 2nd string when playing melodic style.

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  • Banjo Turkey in the Straw Backup

    Backup

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

    Imagine playing duo with a fiddle player, and your job is to play rock-solid backup. This arrangement is great for cultivating that classic fiddle/banjo sound.

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Practicing Tips

Unveiling the beauty of 'Turkey in the Straw', this unique learning resource is fashioned to cater to intermediate banjo players. Diving into the world of bluegrass banjo, our guide gives you access to an array of tablatures rendered in diverse styles including Scruggs, Single String, Melodic, Melodic 2, and Backup Styles. Here, you hark back to the spirit of a traditional fiddle tune, infused with the lively pulse of old-time music delivered in an up-tempo rhythm.


The Tunefox platform provides innovative features designed to inspire a versatile and inventive approach to learning. At the heart of these tools is the Lickswitcher, a remarkable instrument that lets you swap licks within individual measures. This powerful tool enables the development of a flexible, creative mindset, an essential aspect of mastering this style of music.


The Arrange slider is another invaluable tool at your disposal. It empowers you to alter the song's difficulty and tonality to match your current skill level and musical preferences. Through this feature, your journey mastering 'Turkey in the Straw' becomes an engaging, personal experience.


For those who prefer learning through the auditory process, Tunefox offers a 'Hide notes' slider. This tool lets you hide individual notes, encouraging you to learn this tune by ear. This focus on ear training serves to improve your musical intuition and memory, amplifying your overall musical experience.


As with any learning journey, practicing 'Turkey in the Straw' regularly will yield the best results. Start slow, focusing on accuracy before speed. Do not shy away from repeated practice of challenging sections. Finally, remember to enjoy the process! The ultimate purpose is to connect deeply with the music, let it sink into your soul, and express this joy through your instrument.


Turkey in the Straw lyrics

Well, I had an old hen and she had a wooden leg
Just the best old hen that ever laid an egg
Well, she laid more eggs than any hen on the farm
But another little drink wouldn't do her any harm

Turkey in the hay, in the hay, hay, hay
Turkey in the straw, in the straw ,straw, straw
Pick 'em up, shake 'em up, any way at all
And hit up a tune called Turkey in the straw

Well, I hitched up the wagon and I drove down the road
With a two horse wagon and a four horse load
Well cracked my whip and the lead horse sprung
And I said goodbye to the wagon tongue

* Refrain

Well, if frogs had wings and snakes had hair
And automobiles went a flying thro' the air
Well if watermelons grew on a hucleberry vine
We'd have winter in the summer time

* Refrain

Oh, I went out to milk and I didn't know how
I milked a goat instead of a cow
A monkey sitting on a pile of straw
A-winkin' his eyes at his mother in law

* Refrain

Well, I come to the river and I couldn't get across
So I paid five dollars for an old blind horse
Well, he wouldn't go shead and he wouldn't stand still
So he went up and down like an old saw mill

* Refrain