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A while back Breakthrough Banjo member Wayne H. suggested I tackle the song “Budapest” by George Ezra.
At first, I didn’t think it was one I was familiar with – neither the name of the artist nor song dingled any bells.
I was mistaken. Despite having no clue as to where I’d heard it previously, it had obviously bounced its way into my earholes on numerous occasions. I imagine some of you may have a similar experience after hearing it.
Even better, it was a song I liked!
And I could see why Wayne had suggested it – it didn’t seem as if it would require too much fiddling and finagling to adapt it for clawhammer. And it might even sound good!
One dilemma: it arranged well out of gDGBD tuning, but I wanted to sing in the key of D. Enter the gourd banjo!
So here I’m tuned down 5 half steps from gDGBD to dADF#A, which drops us from the key of G to that of D. With an extra helping of deep toned, gourdy goodness.
Budapest
gDGBD (dADF#A) tuning, Brainjo level 3-4
Notes on the Tab
In this arrangement, I’ve tabbed out the part I play in the banjo “solo,” as well as the vocal backup I play on the banjo while singing.
Notes in parentheses are “skip” notes – to learn more about skips and syncopated skips, check out my video lesson on the subject.
For more on reading tabs in general, check out this complete guide to reading banjo tabs.
PRIOR SONG OF THE WEEK EPISODES
- Episode 1: “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow”
- Episode 2: “Gumtree Canoe”
- Episode 3: “Crawdad Hole”
- Episode 4: “Oh Susanna”
- Episode 5: “Freight Train”
- Episode 6: “Grandfather’s Clock”
- Episode 7: “Hop High Lulu”
- Episode 8: “Been All Around This World”
- Episode 9: “I’ll Fly Away”
- Episode 10: “Leaving Home”
- Episode 11: “Poor Orphan Child”
- Episode 12: “Mr. Tambourine Man”
- Episode 13: “Swanee River”
- Episode 14: “Big Sciota”
- Episode 15: “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”
- Episode 16: “Darling Corey”
- Episode 17: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
- Episode 18: “America the Beautiful”
- Episode 19: “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”
- Episode 20: “Way Out There”
- Episode 21: “New Slang”
- Episode 22: “I Saw the Light”
- Episode 23: “Amazing Grace”
- Episode 24: “Blowin’ in the Wind”
- Episode 25: “Yankee Doodle”
Level 2 arrangements and video demos for the Tune (and Song!) of the Week tunes are now available as part of the Breakthrough Banjo course.
View the Brainjo Course Catalog
