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Wreck of the Old 97 Banjo Tabs

Flatt & Scruggs

Wreck of the Old 97 Banjo Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Beginner

Tags: #vocal song, #train song, #up-tempo

This song was born out of an accident that occurred on the 27th of September, 1903. On this day, a southern railway freight train called the "Fast Mail", or "Old 97" was the victim of a railway accident. The engineer supposedly left the station late, and while trying to meet the company's record of being early decided to increase the speed. In the process, it trailed off the tracks and ran into a still house trestle. Eleven people were killed in this accident. This attracted the eye of the press, making the story spread across town like wildfire. It went on to inspire the birth of several ballads out of which this song is among. Virginia musicians G.G Grayson and Henry Whitter recorded the first ballad inspired by accident, and it became really famous. Other artists took note of this first ballad and followed suit. Vernon Dalhart's released his version in 1924. Although Grayson and Whitter's version was famous, Dalhart's version, which he recorded playing the harmonica and with Frank Ferrera playing the guitar, was a great success, earning the duo million and breaking the world record as the first million-selling country music release in the American record industry. This result must have inspired other artists to produce their own unique versions of the accident.

Learn how to play Wreck of the Old 97 on Banjo with this selection of tablatures:

  • Banjo Wreck of the Old 97 Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

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

    A beginner version of Wreck of the Old 97 that features lots of forward roll patterns mixed in with a basic melody. Make sure you accent the melody notes to make it sound as musical ...

    Learn
  • Banjo Wreck of the Old 97 Scruggs Style (Intermediate)

    Scruggs Style (Intermediate)

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

    A slightly more difficult arrangement of Wreck of the Old 97 that builds on the Basic version with Scruggs style hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides.

    Learn
  • Banjo Wreck of the Old 97 Backup

    Backup

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

    This arrangement of Wreck of the Old 97 features a mixture of tasty down-the-neck backup playing with vamping to give you some ideas on how to back up a vocalist.

    Learn



Practicing Tips

Immerse yourself in the exciting world of bluegrass banjo with our comprehensive learning resource for the track 'Wreck of the Old 97'. Perfect for beginners, this course provides tablatures in Scruggs and Backup Styles, focusing on up-tempo train songs and vocal song interpretation.


Make the most out of your learning experience by utilizing the unique features of the Tunefox platform. Our Lick Switcher is a remarkable tool allowing you to introduce new licks and put unique spins on the song. Just tap into any measure and discover the hidden licks to create your personalized version of the tune.


Flexibility is the key to learning, and with our Arrange slider, you can manage your learning difficulty level. Slide to the left and strip the arrangement down to its basics; slide to the right and watch as intricate details fill out the tablature. And at the heart of it all, use our tempos slider to set your rhythm.


Our platform also incorporates backing tracks for an immersive learning experience. Select measures and loop them for effective practice. Additionally, our 'Speed Up' feature enables gradual tempo increase, allowing you to progressively move to higher speeds. Starting from a comfortable pace, increase the tempo bit by bit until you master the tune.


Learning should be fun and personalized, and with the Tunefox platform, you are equipped with the necessary tools to make 'Wreck of the Old 97' your own masterpiece. Happy practicing!