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Clawhammer Tune of the Week: “Old Buck”

Click on the button below to get the PDF download for this tab delivered to you, and get 2 new tunes and tabs sent to you every week!

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(NOTE: I’ll be teaching a live, step by step “tab walk-through” for this tune for Breakthrough Banjo members on Mar. 25. Click here to learn more, and see the full schedule.)

Southern old time music was born out of cultural collisions – from the interactions amongst different musical forms, instruments, and techniques, a new genre emerged.

Music of European descent that was structured, proscribed, and formulaic met with music of African descent that was, by comparison, free flowing, flexible, and improvisational.

That collision would ultimately lead to the creation of a new musical form that was similar, yet different. And this compelling synergy would continue to be the story of American music and art for years to come.

To my ears, that magic blend is evident in some tunes more than others. And in some players more than others.

One such tune being this week’s selection, “Old Buck.” And one such player being Tommy Jarrell, the source for “Old Buck.”

Though it was quite some time before I realized it, I find I often gravitate to the tunes and players that best exemplify that magic blend.


(NOTE: For those considering acquiring a Brainjo banjo, the banjo played in this video is a “Hobart” model. Click here if you’d like to learn more, or claim one in the next batch (shipping May 2019!.)


 “OId Buck”

gDGBD tuning, Brainjo level 3-4

Old Buck clawhammer banjo tab

Notes on the Tab

Notes in parentheses are “skip” notes. To learn more about these, check out my video lesson on the subject.

For more on reading tabs in general, check out this complete guide to reading banjo tabs.

[RELATED: 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. Learn more about it here.

Click here for a current list of all the clawhammer songs and tunes currently available inside of The Vault

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About the Author
Josh Turknett is founder and lead brain hacker at Brainjo Productions

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