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Banjo tablatures for White House Blues

Flatt & Scruggs

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #the blues, #up-tempo

This is another American folk melody. Its first recording was in 1926 by Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. Ever since other artists have performed this tune in their unique way, some of these artists include; Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, the Dillards, the Stanley Brothers, the Del McCoury Band, and the New Lost City Ramblers. After its first record in 1926, this tune was an instant success, gaining prominence among nation and twang artists. The tune dwells on the course of the event of President William McKinley's death. McKinley, who'd quite recently been re-chosen for his subsequent term, was meeting and welcome groups at the World's Fair in Buffalo, New York when he was gunned by the revolutionary Leon Czolgosz. He surrendered to a horrifying demise as specialists were unable to save him. In his adaptation of this tune, Poole portrays this scene in frightful detail: "McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled. The specialist stated, 'McKinley, I can't discover the ball. Will undoubtedly kick the bucket, you're bound to die." According to the verses, Czolgosz is said to have shot him twice. The first round is touching McKinley, the second hitting him dead-on in the paunch. McKinley's death began the era of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt's tenure as president.

  • Banjo White House Blues Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    This is Earl Scruggs's kick-off from Flatt and Scruggs's famous "Live at Carnegie Hall" recording. If you haven't heard the White House Blues, check it out!

    Banjo White House Blues Scruggs Style
    Learn
  • Banjo White House Blues Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    This arrangement of Live at Carnegie Hall gives you a lot of nice melodic and single string licks to work into the Scruggs version, so you end up with a nice mix of styles!

    Banjo White House Blues Melodic Style
    Learn
  • Banjo White House Blues Backup

    Backup

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

    A down-the-neck arrangement of Live at Carnegie Hall to show you how to play behind the vocalist and fill in the spaces.

    Banjo White House Blues Backup
    Learn



Practicing Tips

If you are an intermediate bluegrass banjo player, our learning resource dedicated to 'White House Blues' is perfect for you. It offers tablatures in Scruggs, Melodic, and Backup Styles and focuses on the blues and up-tempo tunes. The resource heavily utilizes the features of the Tunefox platform for effective learning.


The Lick Switcher is one of the primary features you will use during your learning. This unique tool allows you to add new licks to your vocabulary, enabling you to perceive the same song from different angles. The Lick Switcher gives you the freedom to personalize each arrangement. To explore this feature, just tap the individual measures to uncover an array of licks hidden within.


Our resource also has the Arrange Slider, designed for customizing the difficulty level with precision. To obtain a simple, core arrangement in the tablature, slide the Arrange slider to the left and remove many of the “fill-in” notes. Conversely, to get a more complicated arrangement, swipe the slider to the right to fill in all the extra notes.


Using the tempo slider to change the tempo is another effective tip for learning this song. Experiment with different tempos and find one that fits your playing style. To achieve a precise and enjoyable experience, consider playing along with our backing tracks.


Additionally, our 'Speed Up' function is a useful tool for gradually adjusting the playback tempo. This feature is perfect for learners who want to move smoothly from lower to higher speeds. Simply start at a comfortable speed and let 'Speed Up' increase the tempo each time you play the song.


Remember that practice is fundamental to improving your playing skills. Focus on selected measures and repeat them until you master them. Following these tips consistently will help you effectively learn and enjoy playing 'White House Blues'.


White House Blues lyrics

Look here, you rascal, what you've done
Shot down my husband with your lver-Johnson gun
Carry me back, to Washington

He jumped on his horse he pulled on his mane
Said come on horse hotta outrun this train
Buffalo to Washington

The doctor came a-running he took off his specs
Said Mr.Mckinley better cash in your checks
You've bound to die you're bound to die

There's just one thing that troubles my mind
And that is to die and leave my poor wife behind
I'm bound to die I'm bound to die

Now hush up you children and don't you fret
You'll draw a pension after your pappy's dead
I'll be gonna a long long time

Yonder comes a train it's coming down the line
Blowing at every station Mr.Mckinley a-dying
It's hard times, it's hard time

Well, Roosevelt's in the White house, he's doing his best
Mckinley's in the grave yard taking his rest
He's gone, he's gone