You'll notice the first three words are in parentheses. The changes are listed at the bottom of the column. Of course, they did it in the key of D (using D tuners), and that's a whole nuther subject. Some history about You are my Sunshine: You are my Sunshine was copy written by Jimmy Davis & Charles Mitchell in 1939. I remember when I was first listening to Gamble Rogers, the folksinger who changed my life.
The TAB uses only a few basic banjo rolls-your forward roll and alternating thumb roll. Many people don't know this, but the song wasn't written by Jimmy Davis, he simply purchased the rights to it. Having these songs go through your head day and night seems to be part of the learning process. This was back in my University of Georgia days, back when I was a pre-med student with a 12-string guitar. They come before the first beat of the song, the "down beat. " Kaufman Kamp, Maryville, TN June 18-24. I'm going to be talking a lot about hearing chord changes at the camps I'll be doing this summer. I can't recommend it, but I was, like, totally on the wrong path and Gamble was my wakeup call. ) Like many bluegrass songs, the verses in You Are My Sunshine have the same chord progression as the chorus. You make me happy, when skies are grey. Because they are pickup notes. By now I assume that you diligent readers are having no trouble with the Big Three of two-chords songs. Originally it was on the Big and Country Instrumentals album, which I think has been released on CD.
Change to C again on "know. " Hmmm, maybe we could talk about transposing sometime… the chording part…hmmm. ) BREAKTHROUGH BANJO COURSE. Legend has it a man from Lagrange, GA named Oliver Hood wrote the tune at an earlier point in time. With the C chord and You Are My Sunshine, you are now officially acquainted with the Three Main Chords of bluegrass: G, C, and D. With those three chords (and a capo! )
SIGN UP FOR BREAKTHROUGH BANJO. We'll be using C in the first position (found in any beginning banjo instruction-you could probably Google it! ) Video of "You Are my Sunshine" for 5-string banjo. But enough about me…. First, strum a G chord to get the pitch of the song in your head. After that, you're on your own! It just seems like the chord should change there. You Are My Sunshine – get the tab. Your friends and family are sure to love this one.
Doing songs with three chords doesn't change the process, it just gives you more chords to choose from. Our first three-chord song is one I think you'll know-You Are My Sunshine by Jimmy Davis, former governor of Louisiana, and Charles Mitchell. Only now you've got an idea of how the game is played. Banjo Song and Tab of the Week. You are my) sunshine, my only sunshine. 9 Ways to Practice Smarter (FREE book & video). You are my Sunshine is a three chord song. Delete, delete, delete. In a three-chord song (key of G) when you hear a chord change--or what you think is a chord change--you've got two choices: C or D. (We're taking for granted that the first chord is G. But that's not always true. How fast you sing these determines how fast the rest of the song goes. Perhaps you've even found others.
I clearly recall walking into church one Sunday morning singing (under my breath), "Don't give me no plastic saddle, boys, I like to feel that leather when I ride, when I ride, when I ride. " California Bluegrass Camp, Grass Valley, CA, June 11-14. 10 EASY but AWESOME banjo tabs (free). Online Banjo Lessons - Learn banjo today! One of my local students came in the other day and said, "I can't get Skip To My Lou out of my mind! Is your family sick of hearing Skip To My Lou, Polly Wolly Doodle, and Go Tell Aunt Rhody? "You are my banjo, my only banjo/You make me happy when skies are grey/You'll never know, dear, how much I love you/Please don't take my banjo away! THE VAULT: The Ultimate Tab Library. This Banjo TAB for You are my sunshine is in the key of G. It's easy enough for the beginner banjo player.
It's also included in the Jimmy Martin boxed set. COURSE HOME (members). You're beginning to understand how to listen and what to listen for, even if you can't articulate what it is you're hearing. Nevertheless, I played what I could and faked the rest. Quite a contrast to "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…") I tried to play Gamble's songs on the guitar, but, guess what? The word "sun" is a B note, open 2nd. Exceptions include Rawhide, Salty Dog, Old Homeplace, any song with a minor in it, including Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and all the songs with an F like Little Maggie and Love Come Home. Then sing the pickup notes and hit your G chord on the word "sun. " Also, if you've been working with the other songs, your ear is developing. Back to G on "love. " You can play almost all of the bluegrass songs ever written! Your brain is learning Skip To My Lou even when you're doing something else! "
When I was younger, I remember seeing him at bluegrass festivals in GA a time or two. Common Ground, Westminster, MD, July 2-8. All you need to know are your G, C, and D chords. June 2006: First Three-Chord Song. Some of the bluegrass classics have only two chords: Katy Daley, Get in Line Brother, Where the Soul Never Dies, Ashes of Love, I Feel Like Traveling On.