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

Hi everyone, 
The song of the week is 'Handsome Molly' in the key of A.


Recordings
Flatt & Scruggs - key of A
(4) Handsome Molly - YouTube

Ralph Stanley - key of B
(4) Handsome Molly - YouTube

The Country Gentlemen - key of A
(4) Handsome Molly - YouTube

Doc Watson - key of G
(4) Handsome Molly - YouTube


Jam Video
Jason Homey - key of A
(4) Handsome Molly Jam Video - Jason Homey - YouTube

Progression
1115
5551
1115
55511

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


Bluegrass Christmas
At the jams held in the month of December, you are welcome  to call Christmas/seasonal songs at the jam that you would like to play that you believe would be a good 'fit' for the level that the jam group is at. And you need not wait until the second half of the evening to call these. 

Of the many Christmas/seasonal songs that have been played in past years at the December through early January beginner jams, the ones that I think have worked the best are:

Auld Lang Syne
Away In A Manger 
Good King Wenceslas
Jingle Bells
Shepherds In The Field 
Silent Night
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Joy To The World
Silver Bells
In the attachments, I have included chord progressions for each of these 9 songs.

Song of the week write-ups, complete with recordings and melody sheets, for Auld Lang Syne, Away In A Manger, Good King Wenceslas, and Silent Night can be found here: 
All of Jason's Songs - Idaho Bluegrass Association

In addition to the jam videos available here Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com) for Away In A Manger, Good King Wenceslas, and Silent Night, I have also made a jam video that includes Jingle Bells, Shepherds In The Field, and Auld Lang Syne (Beginner Bluegrass Jam 12/12/2020 | Jam Along | Idaho Bluegrass Association | Jason Homey - YouTube), and a jam video that starts with Joy To The World Intermediate Bluegrass Jam 12/12/2020 | Jam Along | Idaho Bluegrass Association | Jason Homey - YouTube

Finally, here is a live performance from the December 2019 IBA open mic of 6 Christmas/Seasonal songs (O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Away In A Manger, Good King Wenceslas, Silent Night, Shepherds In The Field, and Auld Lang Syne) Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 12_16_19 - YouTube


Song List
18 songs were played at last night's jam: 11 from the main list, 4 from the additional songs list, and 3 that are on neither list:

Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - Bb
I Saw The Light - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - G
Jesse James - G
Little Liza Jane - D
Little Willie - A
Lonesome Feeling - G
Love Of The Mountains - D
This Little Light Of Mine - A
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Bb
Why Don't You Tell Me So - B
Handsome Molly - A
I'm Waiting To Hear You Call Me Darling - D
Little Birdie - A
Way Down Town - E
Love Me Darling Just Tonight - A
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms - B
Turkey In The Straw - G

Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Jason

Files:
Handsome Molly - banjo
Download File

Handsome Molly - guitar
Download File

Handsome Molly - mandolin
Download File

Handsome Molly - melody in A
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Little Willie' in the key of A.

​
Recordings
The Stanley Brothers - key of A
Little Willie - YouTube

John Reischman & The Jaybirds  - key of C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84lf7l2BMqc

​
Jam Videos
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression 
1   1   b7  b7
1   5   1    1
1   1   b7  b7
1   5   1    1
In the key of G: 1=G, 5=D, b7 (flat seven) = F
In the key of A: 1=A, 5=E, b7 (flat seven) = G
In the key of C: 1=C, 5=G, b7 (flat seven) = Bb


Song List
18 songs were played at last night's jam: 12 from the main list, 2 from the additional songs list, and 4 that are on neither list:

Angel Band - Bb
Are You Missing Me - C
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Footprints In The Snow - C
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - A
I Saw The Light - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - G
Jesse James - G
Little Willie - A
Lonesome Feeling - Bb
Love Of The Mountains - A
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - G
Dooley - A'
Leaning - A
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Red Haired Boy - A
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms - G
Sitting On Top Of The World - B

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
​Little Willie - banjo tab
Download File

Little Willie - mandolin tab
Download File

Little Willie - guitar tab
Download File
​
Little Willie - melody in A
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes' in the key of G.


Recordings
Mother Maybelle Carter (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' album) - key of Bb
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (youtube.com)

Red Allen - key of G
Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - Red Allen (youtube.com)

Jimmy Martin - key of A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - Jimmy Martin (youtube.com)

Ralph Stanley - key of G
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - YouTube

Doc Watson - key of D
Doc Watson - I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes (youtube.com)


Jam Video
key of G
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes Jam Video - Jason Homey


Progression
1144
5511
1144
5511

(Prog. W8 on the Basic Chord Progressions handout.)
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E
In the key of Bb: 1=Bb, 4=Eb, 5=F
In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 5=G
In the key of D: 1=D, 4=G, 5=A


Song List
14 songs were played at last night's jam: 10 from the main list, 1 from the additional songs list, and 3 that are on neither list:

Angel Band  (played twice) - G & Bb
Are You Missing Me (played twice) - C & G
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Down In A Willow Garden - Bb
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - G
Homestead On The Farm - C
I Saw The Light - C
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - G
Little Liza Jane - D
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - A
Before I Met You - G
Reuben - D
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms - A
Salt Creek - A

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:

​Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Angel Band' (3/4 time) in the key of Bb.


Recordings
The Stanley Brothers - key of B (tuned a bit sharp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHFxIQfSxc 

Billy Strings - key of A
Billy Strings covers Stanley Brothers' "Angel Band" 8/6/21 New Haven, CT - YouTube


Jam Videos
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
Verses & Breaks
1141
1511
1141
1511

Chorus
5511
5511
4411
1511
4411
1511 

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

Song List
15 songs were played at last night's jam: 11 from the main list, 0 from the additional songs list, and 4 that are on neither list:

Angel Band - Bb
Are You Missing Me - G
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Cry, Cry Darlin' - A
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - G
I Saw The Light - A
Little Liza Jane - G
Lonesome Feeling - G
Love Of The Mountains - A
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Bb
Why Don't You Tell Me So - B
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Bill Cheatham - A
Mountain Dew - Bb
Old Home Place - Bb

Happy Pickin',
Jason 

Files:
Angel Band - banjo tab
Download File

Angel Band - guitar tab
Download File

Angel Band - mandolin tab
Download File

Angel Band - melody in Bb
Download File

Angel Band - lyric sheet
Download File

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Cold Frosty Morning' in the key of Am.


Recordings
Blue Highway
Cold Frosty Morn

Gina Furtado
Gina Furtado - Cold Frosty Morning - YouTube

Bela Fleck
Frosty Morning - YouTube

Circa Blue
Cold Frosty Morning

Jam Video
Cold Frosty Morning Jam Video - Jason Homey


Progression
A-Part:
1m       1m       b7       b7
1m       1m       1m/b7 1m

B-Part:
1          1          b7       b7
1m       1m      1m/b7  1m

In the key of Am: 1m=Am, b7=G, 1=A
In the key of Gm: 1m=Gm, b7=F, 1=G


Melody
The melody of Cold Frosty Morning, as given in the attachments here, is based upon the Dorian scale, but makes use of the Mixolydian scale in the first two measures of its B-Part, which is why the B-Part begins with the 1 (Major) chord instead of the 1m (1 Minor) chord.

Dorian Scale           1   2   b3  4    5   6   b7  8/1
A Dorian Scale        A   B   C   D   E   F# G   A
G Dorian Scale       G   A   Bb C   D   E   F   G

Mixolydian Scale     1   2    3   4    5   6   b7  8/1
A Mixolydian Scale  A   B   C# D   E   F# G   A
G Mixolydian Scale G   A    B  C   D   E   F   G


Attachments
In addition to the melody sheets, I have included a chart of 8 Potato Intros for starting key of Am fiddle tunes.      


Song List
18 songs were played at last night's jam: 10 from the main list, 2 from the additional songs list, and 6 that are on neither list:

Are You Missing Me - Bb
Cold Frosty Morning - Am
Footprints In The Snow - C
Gold Watch And Chain - C
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - A
I Saw The Light (played twice) - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - G
Little Liza Jane - G
Lonesome Feeling - G
Why Don't You Tell Me So - B
Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Bb
Way Down Town - G
Banks Of The Ohio - C
Cherokee Shuffle - A
Dark Hollow - D
Nellie Kane - E
Old Joe Clark - A
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms - G

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:

Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Lonesome Feeling' in the key of G.


Recordings
Jim & Jesse - key of G (last break and chorus are in the key of C)
Lonesome Feeling by Jim & Jesse - YouTube

The Osborne Brothers - key of C
Lonesome Feeling


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


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

In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 2m=Am
In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 2m=Dm

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Lonesome Feeling - banjo tab (G)
Download File

Lonesome Feeling - guitar tab (G)
Download File

Lonesome Feeling - mandolin tab (G)
Download File

Lonesome Feeling - melody in G
Download File

Lonesome Feeling - lyric cheat sheet
Download File