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New River Train Mandolin Tabs

Norman Blake

New River Train Mandolin Tablature: One Song, Many Styles

Recomended level: Beginner

Tags: #up-tempo, #old time, #vocal song

New River Train is an early country song first recorded in 1923 by Henry Whitter. It’s most likely referring to the train that ran on the New River in 1883 which served the town of Fries until 1985.

Learn how to play New River Train on Mandolin with this selection of tablatures:

  • Mandolin New River Train Simple

    Simple

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      D
    • Tempo
      130 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    In this arrangement of New River Train, focus on accenting the melody notes for the vocal line. Listening to and learning a verse of the song may help!

    Learn
  • Mandolin New River Train Jam

    Jam

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      D
    • Tempo
      130 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    This arrangement of New River Train features more 16th note up and down strokes than the beginner version. Practice tip: Learn one measure at a time and gradually piece them together.

    Learn
  • Mandolin New River Train Bluegrass

    Bluegrass

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      D
    • Tempo
      130 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    This plays around with the original melody of New River Train while adding some melodic flair. It would help to learn your D major scale before learning this arrangement.

    Learn



Practicing Tips

Immerse yourself in the world of bluegrass music with New River Train, designed for mandolin learners of all abilities. Unearth a rich set of tablatures for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with a specific focus on the upbeat, old-time, and vocal styles that make this music genre so loved.


Maximize your learning by using the Tunefox platform’s handy features. The Lick Switcher, a unique feature of Tunefox, lets you add fresh licks and transform every tune. This tool lets you alter licks for single measures, creating endless variations and ensuring you never tire of the song. Try it out – tap the measure to unveil the hidden licks.


The Arrange slider is another innovative mechanism featured on Tunefox. Customize your difficulty level precisely by sliding left to simplify your arrangement – leaving you with a plain, focused tablature. Move it right for a more complex song layout.


The versatile tempo slider is your assistant to change up the rhythm as you progress.


Play against backing tracks for an immersive and enjoyable experience. Take time to rehearse specific measures repeatedly until they’re smooth. Leverage Tunefox's ‘Speed Up’ function to gradually hike up the playback pace – ideal for moving slowly but surely to faster tempos. Always start at a comfortable pace, and trust the 'Speed Up' feature to gently move you to greater speeds each time you run through the song.


The general tip here, as with learning any music, is to be patient and consistent. Keep practicing with dedication and soon you'll be playing New River Train with confidence and finesse. Now, pick up your mandolin and let the fun begin!