Recipe for the ideal jam tune:
1. A strong, memorable melody line so that those unfamiliar can pick it up quickly.
2. Enough notes to keep things interesting, but not so many that half the participants are forced to surrender their instruments defeat.
3. A strongly suggested chord progression, so that the guitarists and bassists can readily create a suitable harmonic atmosphere.
4. Sounds best at a moderate tempo, so that participants of all abilities can keep with the pace.
5. Squared tune structure. No extra or odd measures, or other surreptitious crookedness.
Mix these ingredients together and you get a tune like today’s classic jam booster, “Old Mother Flanagan”.
Turns out it also makes for a great solo clawhammer tune, and one I suspect you’ll have under your fingers in short order.
Old Mother Flanagan
aEAC#E tuning, Brainjo level 3
For more on reading tabs in general, check out my complete guide on reading banjo tabs.