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Banjo tablatures for Worried Man Blues

The Carter Family

Recomended level: Beginner

Tags: #medium-tempo, #folk music, #old time

Start with the melody. This one takes out tough rhythms of the vocal melody in favor of basic, repeating patterns. This will hopefully allow beginners to pick it up quickly. There’s a lot of licks that add in rolls, pinches and other embellishments, but they are all relatively easy. So don't be afraid to check those out! The syllabic melody is more accurate to how the song is sung. In this one we “play the syllables”. It’s the secret of many pro players and something that will help your musicality grow by leaps and bounds if you will work on it. Practice singing or speaking the words, in time, as you play the notes on your banjo. There’s a massive amount of Scruggs and single string licks here. So many that you can create entirely new arrangements. The licks are a bit more “legit”. They’re tougher than the ones found in the simple melody.



The Earl Scruggs: Kickoff is a transcription of his playing from the Flatt and Scruggs album, “Songs of the Famous Carter Family”. Check out the timing on this one. It’s not how you’ll hear it at a lot of jams and it’s different from our other arrangements. They play it how the Carter family played it. They leave out an entire phrase when compared to other standard arrangements.

  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Melody

    Melody

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

    This is a very simplified melody. It leaves out pickup notes, and uses a simple rhythm, but still follows the melodic arc of the original. Strive for even timing. When practicing, p...

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Melody
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  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Melody - Syllabic

    Melody - Syllabic

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

    This melody is just like how you would sing it. Here, we are "playing the syllables" that means we pick a note for a syllable in each word. Some of those come pretty quick, so this...

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Melody - Syllabic
    Learn
  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Earl Scruggs: Kickoff

    Earl Scruggs: Kickoff

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

    This arrangement is a note for note transcription of Earl Scruggs' banjo playing. If you've played the other versions we have for this tune, you'll notice this one is a bit shorter....

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Earl Scruggs: Kickoff
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  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    This is a beginner-intermediate arrangement of Worried Man Blues teaching both forward rolls and forward backwards rolls. Make sure your slides and pull-offs are nice and crisp.

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Scruggs Style
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  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

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

    This arrangement of Worried Man Blues has all sorts of great melodic style licks. There's even a bit of single string in there!

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Melodic Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Worried Man Blues Backup

    Backup

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

    This arrangement of Worried Man Blues is fantastic for backing up a vocalist. It features tons of great Scruggs licks and demonstrates how to fill in-between vocal phrasing.

    Banjo Worried Man Blues Backup
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Practicing Tips

Learning Overview:


'Worried Man Blues' is an essential part of any bluegrass banjo player's repertoire. Brought to you via the Tunefox platform, this medium-tempo folk tune is presented in the old-time style, perfect for intermediate players. Our bluegrass banjo tabs are presented in Scruggs, Melodic, and Backup styles. The key to mastering 'Worried Man Blues' on the banjo lies in understanding the rhythm, melody, and the unique aural nuances of the tune.


Key Features of Tunefox Platform:


Tunefox is technologically enriched with advanced tools such as the Lick Switcher and the Arrange Slider. The Lick Switcher allows you to seamlessly integrate different licks into the song, providing numerous variations that promote a more personalized arrangement. This tool broadens your perspective of the song, and encourages creativity in reinterpreting the tune. The Arrange Slider is a tool that lets you adjust the difficulty and tone of the song according to your level of expertise and personal preference.


Practicing Tools:


Various practicing tools are available to perfect your rendition of 'Worried Man Blues.' The tempo can be adjusted according to your comfort and learning speed. Backing tracks are there to help you play along with the song, giving you a better understanding of the rhythm and pace. The Speed Up Function is designed to enhance your speed over time, while the Hide notes feature emphasizes learning by ear. These various elements will aid you in mastering 'Worried Man Blues.'


General Practicing Tips:


Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Start slow, focus on each note, and increase speed only when you're confident about every stroke. Practice with patience, as rapid progress is achievable only over time. Try different variations using the Lick Switcher to recast the song in your style. Mastering 'Worried Man Blues' is about understanding the song's spirit and making it your own.


Worried Man Blues lyrics

It takes a worried man to sing worried song
It takes a worried man to sing worried song
It takes a worried man to sing worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long

I went across the river, and I lay down to sleep
I went across the river, and I lay down to sleep
I went across the river, and I lay down to sleep
When I woke up, had shackles on my feet

Twenty nine links of chain around my leg
Twenty nine links of chain around my leg
Twenty nine links of chain around my leg
And on each link, an initial of my name

I asked that judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine
I asked that judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine
I asked that judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain line

The train arrived, sixteen coaches long
The train arrived, sixteen coaches long
The train arrived, sixteen coaches long
The girl I love, she's on that train and gone

I looked down the track, as far as I could see
I looked down the track, as far as I could see
I looked down the track, as far as I could see
A little bitty hand, was waving after me

If anyone should ask you, who made up this song
If anyone should ask you, who made up this song
If anyone should ask you, who made up this song
Tell 'em it was me, and I sing it all day long