Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Steel Rails' in the key of G.


Recording
Alison Krauss - key of E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX_YZD-r-Qc


Jam Videos
Key of G
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
1   1   2m 2m
4   5   4    1    1
1   1   2m 2m
4   5   4    1    1

In the key of G: 1=G, 2m=Am, 4=C, 5=D
In the key of E: 1=E, 2m=F#m, 4=A, 5=B
In the key of D: 1=D, 2m=Em, 4=G, 5=A
In the key of C: 1=C, 2m=Dm, 4=F, 5=G


Ending
Steel Rails ends with a vocal tag that follows the final chorus. The progression for the tag is:
2m 5 5 5 5
4 1 1
and there is a stop at the beginning of the fifth measure.


Song List
19 songs were played at last night's jam: 12 from the main list, 1 from the additional songs list, and 6 that are on neither list:
 
Are You Missing Me (played twice) - G & C
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Cry, Cry Darlin' - A
Down In A Willow Garden - D
Footprints In The Snow (played twice) - B & C
Homestead On The Farm - A
I Saw The Light - A
I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand - Bb
Jesse James - G
Nashville Blues - Dm
Steel Rails - G
Wabash Cannonball - A
Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Bb
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Cripple Creek - A
Hold Whatcha Got - G
Old Home Place - D
Reuben - D
She Left Me Standing On The Mountain - G

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
Steel Rails - banjo tab
Download File

Steel Rails - guitar tab
Download File

Steel Rails - mandolin tab
Download File

Steel Rails - melody in G
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Footprints In The Snow' in the key of C.

​
Recordings
Bill Monroe - key of E
Footprints In The Snow (youtube.com)

Flatt & Scruggs - key of C
Footprints in the Snow (Live) - YouTube

Molly Tuttle - key of G
Footprints In The Snow - Mailander, Tuttle, Karlson, Witler 2012-08-22 The Coffee Gallery Backstage (youtube.com)


Jam Video
key of C
Footprints In The Snow Jam Video - Jason Homey, 2025 - YouTube


Progression
Verses & Breaks:
1114
5551
1114
5511

Chorus
1155
5511
1114
5511

In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 5=G
In the key of D: 1=D, 4=G, 5=A
In the key of E: 1=E, 4=A, 5=B
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D


Song List
17 songs were played at last night's jam: 12 from the main list, 2 from the additional songs list, and 3 that are on neither list:

Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Down In A Willow Garden - F
Footprints In The Snow - B
I Saw The Light - A
Jesse James - G
Little Liza Jane - D
Little Willie - A
Love Of The Mountains - C
Nashville Blues - Dm
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
Wabash Cannonball - A
We'll Meet Again, Sweetheart - Bb
Before I Met You - A
Big Sciota - G
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Gold Rush - A
Liberty - D

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - banjo tab (C tuning)
Download File

BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - guitar tab (C)
Download File

BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - guitar tab (G+5=C)
Download File

BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - mandolin tab
Download File

BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - melody in C
Download File

BBJ - Footprints In The Snow - lyric cheat sheet
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Wabash Cannonball' in the key of A.


Recordings
Mac Wiseman - key of A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8HHFCDRFBk

Doc Watson - key of G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoJwNwB2N9E

Norman & Nancy Blake - key of A
Wabash Cannonball - YouTube


Jam Videos
Keys of A & G
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
1114
5551
1114
55511
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E.
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D.


Song List
17 songs were played at last night's jam: 12 from the main list, 1 from the additional songs list, and 4 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - D
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Cry, Cry Darlin' - G
Dooley - A
Down In A Willow Garden - F
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - B
Jesse James - G
Love Of The Mountains - D
Nashville Blues - Dm
Steel Rails - C
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
Wabash Cannonball - A
Down The Road - Bb
Mountain Dew - G
Mr. Engineer - G
Reuben - D
She Left Me Standing On The Mountain - A

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:

Wabash Cannonball Banjo tab.pdf
Download File

Wabash Cannonball Guitar tab.pdf
Download File

Wabash Cannonball Mandolin tab.pdf
Download File

Wabash Cannonball Melody in A.pdf
Download File

Hi,
The song of the week is 'Down In A Willow Garden' (a.k.a. 'Rose Connelly') in the key of F.

​
Recordings
Flatt & Scruggs - key of F 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxtjPCELO9A

The Osborne Brothers with Red Allen - key of G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW-0ko2Mdoc

Reno & Harrell - key of G
Down In The Willow Garden Don Reno & Bill Harrell - YouTube


Jam Videos
keys of F & G
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
Verse/A-Part:
1    1    1    6m
1    1    6m 6m
1    1    1    6m
1    5    1    1

Chorus/B-Part:
6m 6m 1    6m
1    1    6m 6m
1    1    1    6m
1    5    1    1

In the key of F: 1=F, 5=C, 6m=Dm
In the key of C: 1=C, 5=G, 6m=Am
In the key of G: 1=G, 5=D, 6m=Em


Song List
16 songs were played at last night's jam: 10 from the main list, 1 from the additional songs list, and 5 that are on neither list:

Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Cry, Cry Darlin' - A
Down In A Willow Garden - F
I Saw The Light - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - A
Little Liza Jane - A
Nashville Blues - Dm
Steel Rails - C
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - A
In The Pines - F
Ashes Of Love - Bb
Cherokee Shuffle - A
I'll Fly Away - G
My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains - Bb
Red Haired Boy - A

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Nashville Blues' in the key of Dm.


Recordings
Flatt & Scruggs
Nashville Blues - YouTube

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nashville Blues - YouTube

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - starts at 20:15
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 6_25_19 - YouTube


Jam Video
Nashville Blues Jam Video - Jason Homey - YouTube


Progression
1m 1m 1m 1m
1m 1m 5    5
1m 1m 1m 1m 
1m 1m 1m 1
1m  5   1m 1m
In the key of Dm: 1m = Dm, 1 = D, and 5 = A.


Song List
19 songs were played at last night's jam: 11 from the main list, 3 from the additional songs list, and 5 that are on neither list:

Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Dooley - G
Footprints In The Snow - B
Homestead On The Farm - C
I Saw The Light - A
Little Willie - C
Nashville Blues - Dm
Steel Rails - G
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
Wabash Cannonball - A
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Bb
I'm Waiting To Hear You Call Me Darling - E
Lonesome Road Blues - G
Shortnin' Bread - A
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Dark Hollow - C
Don't This Road Look Rough And Rocky - A
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms - B
Away In A Manger - G

Have a happy New Year!
Jason

Files:

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'This Little Light Of Mine' in the key of Bb.


Recordings
Ralph Stanley - key of B
This Little Light Of Mine - YouTube

Randall Franks - key of A
Bluegrass Gospel - This Little Light of Mine - Randall Franks & David Davis and WRB.mpg - YouTube


Jam Videos
Key of Bb
This Little Light Of Mine Jam Video - Jason Homey

Keys of A & B
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
1111
4441
1111
1511

In the key of B: 1=B, 4=E, 5=F#
In the key of Bb: 1=Bb, 4=Eb, 5=F
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D


Song List
18 songs were played at last night's jam, 9 from the main list, 3 from the additional songs list, and 6 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - G
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Dooley - B
Down In A Willow Garden - F
Footprints In The Snow - Bb
I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand - Bb
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - G
Little Willie - A
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
Big Sciota - G
Down The Road - B
Lonesome Road Blues - G
Cripple Creek - A
Red Wing - G
Reuben - D
St. Anne's Reel - D
Away In A Manger - G
Joy To The World - G

Have a merry Christmas,
Jason

Files:
BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - banjo tab (G+3=Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - guitar tab (G+3=Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - mandolin tab (Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - melody in Bb.pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - lyric cheat sheet.pdf
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Away In A Manger' in the key of G.

​
Recordings
Ricky Skaggs - key of G for first two verses and break, key of A for third verse. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGPwYOo1rPE  

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of G (starts at 3:40) 
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 12_16_19 - YouTube


Jam Video
Key of G 
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression
On the melody sheets attached here the progression given for Away In A Manger is:

1141
5511
1141
5151

...but it is desirable, in a bluegrass context, to add an extra measure to the bottom line of the progression, so as to allow room for fill-ins to be played, so the progression becomes:

1141
5511
1141
51511

In the key of G: 1=G; 4=C; 5=D. 
In the key of A: 1=A; 4=D; 5=E


Song List
17 songs were played at last night's jam: 7 from the main list, 3 from the additional songs list, and 7 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - G
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Dooley - B
Down In A Willow Garden - F
Homestead On The Farm - A
I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand - Bb
Nashville Blues - Dm
Down The Road - B
Shortnin' Bread - A
Way Down Town - B
Cherokee Shuffle - A
Walls Of Time - C
Away In A Manger - A
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem - Bb
Silent Night - C
Silver Bells - C
What Child Is This - Am

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
Away In A Manger - banjo tab
Download File

Away In A Manger - guitar tab
Download File

Away In A Manger - mandolin tab
Download File

Away In A Manger - melody in G
Download File

G Chord Fillins
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Dooley' in the key of B.


Recordings
The Dillards - key of B
(3) Dooley - YouTube

The Grascals - key of B
(3) The Grascals Dooley HD - YouTube


Jam Video
Jason Homey - key of B
(3) Dooley Jam Video - Jason Homey - YouTube


Progression
Verses & Breaks
1    4    1    5
1    4    1/5 1
1    4    1    5
1    4    1/5 1
(Prog. Y7 on the Basic Chord Progressions chart)

Chorus
1144
11511
Final Chorus with vocal tag added at the end (the way I play it on the jam video)
1144
11511
511
In the key of B: 1=B, 4=E, 5=F#
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D


Song List
20 songs were played at last night's jam: 11 from the main list, 3 from the additional songs list, and 6 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - Bb
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Dooley - B
Footprints In The Snow - C
Handsome Molly - A
Homestead On The Farm - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - A
Love Of The Mountains - A
Nashville Blues - Dm
Steel Rails - G
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Bb
Bury Me Beneath The Willow - G
Clinch Mountain Backstep - A
Lonesome Road Blues - G
Cherokee Shuffle - A
The Eighth Of January - D
Mountain Dew - A
Old Home Place - D
Jingle Bells - A
Joy To The World - G

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Homestead On The Farm' (a.k.a. 'I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home') in the key of A.

​
Bluegrass History and Recordings  
Homestead On The Farm was recorded by the Carter Family in 1929, but in bluegrass circles, this song tends to be more closely associated with Mac Wiseman, who first recorded the song more than 20 years after the Carters. On the points where Mac Wiseman's arrangement differs from the Carter Family's arrangement of the song (chord progression, melody, etc.), bluegrass players have tended to follow Mac.

Mac Wiseman played guitar and sang harmony on Flatt and Scruggs' Mercury Sessions recording of 'We'll Meet Again Sweetheart', which was one of the very first records Flatt and Scruggs made together after they left Bill Monroe's band. And, in the role of lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Mac Wiseman was Lester Flatt's immediate successor in Bill Monroe's band. Mac, for instance, is the lead singer on the original 1949 Bill Monroe recording of the popular bluegrass standard 'Can't You Hear Me Calling'. 

Here are two of Mac's recordings, and one live performance, of Homestead On The Farm:
key of Bb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6uxNzkH1Vc

key of A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBzQXXDC6w4

key of A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82_0ui4taWI


Jam Videos
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression & Arrangement 
Verse:
1411
1144
4411
2255

Chorus:
1411
1144
4411
2511 
In the key of G: 2=A.

In the key of A: 2=B.
In the key of Bb: 2=C.
A typical jam arrangement of the song is:

Intro break - played over the chorus progression, (so that the intro break sounds resolved)
Verse 1
Chorus 
Break - played over the verse progression
Break - played over the chorus progression (by a different instrument than the one that played the immediately preceding break)
Verse 2
Chorus
Break - played over the verse progression
Chorus

If more breaks are needed than this, another break over the verse progression followed by another break over the chorus progression may be inserted right before Verse 2, and/or another break over the chorus progression followed by another break over the verse progression may be inserted right before the final chorus. 


Song List
18 songs were played at last night's jam: 9 from the main list, 1 from the additional songs list, and 8 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - D
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Dooley - A
Handsome Molly - A
Homestead On The Farm - A
Little Willie - A
Nashville Blues - Dm
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
Wabash Cannonball - A
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Beautiful Brown Eyes - G
Cripple Creek - A
Greenville Trestle High - G
Good King Wenceslas - A
Jingle Bells - A
Silent Night - C
Silver Bells - E

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
Homestead On The Farm - Banjo tab
Download File

Homestead On The Farm - Guitar tab
Download File

Homestead On The Farm - Mandolin tab
Download File

Homestead On The Farm - Melody in A
Download File

Hi everyone,
Attached here is the new additional songs list, together with the new main list for the High Beginner - Low Intermediate Bluegrass Jam.

Happy Pickin',
Jason