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Banjo tablatures for Hand Me Down My Walking Cane

Norman Blake

Recomended level: Intermediate

Tags: #vocal song, #old time, #folk music, #medium-tempo

Many times the classic song was recorded in a variety of styles including country, Cajun, jazz, mountain, bluegrass, rock and roll, and acoustic and electrical blues. "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane" is called a popular track, still, its writing is often credited to James Bland, Stephen Foster's religious successor, the greatest musician of the late 19th century and the writer of "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny." Bland is credited with the compositions of some 700 tracks, but only around 20% of them are copyrighted, an unforgivable sin for a patent lawyer's child! While there seems to be no direct evidence that he composed the album, his inclusion into the National Biography of African America points to some interesting speculation. The tale in the song is not a completely happy one; although there is no reference either of a white sports coat as in the interpretation of Jerry Lee Lewis, the singer demands to be handed down "My Bot-tie o' corn," and predictably ends up lost in prison. Prolific song Writer, Thomas Hischak dates "Throw Me Down My Walking Cane" to the year 1865 in The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia and often refers to it as " a traditional American spiritual that describes dying and going to heaven to pick a cane and riding the midnight train now that' all my sins are taken away'."

  • Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Scruggs Style

    Scruggs Style

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      G
    • Tempo
      110 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    A straightforward melody-based version of Hand Me Down My Walking Cane with some great Scruggs style articulations.

    Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Scruggs Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Melodic Style

    Melodic Style

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      G
    • Tempo
      110 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    This is a high melodic break for Hand Me Down My Walking Cane that features a nice mixture of both melodic and single string styles.

    Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Melodic Style
    Learn
  • Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Backup

    Backup

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      G
    • Tempo
      110 bpm
    • Tuning
      gDGBD

    This backup version of Hand Me Down My Walking Cane gives you a lot of different ideas both up and down the neck. Use your thumb for the 5th string.

    Banjo Hand Me Down My Walking Cane Backup
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Practicing Tips

This learning resource is a perfect guide to mastering the classic bluegrass folk song 'Hand Me Down My Walking Cane.' It offers detailed banjo tablatures in the distinctive styles of Scruggs, Melodic, and Backup. This tool is geared towards intermediate players and covers an array of crucial aspects including vocal song, old time, folk music, and medium-tempo.


One of the key learning tips in this guide involves the use of the innovative features of the Tunefox platform such as the Lick Switcher. By adding new licks to your vocabulary, you can interpret the song in numerous different ways by changing the licks for individual measures. Personalize your arrangement while exploring the multitude of available interpretations. Tap the measure to unveil the hidden licks.


The Arrange slider proves to be another handy tool, allowing you to set a customized difficulty level. Swipe left to simplify your arrangement by removing fill-in notes, or swipe right to add extra notes and express the song in its full glory. Furthermore, you can modify the pace of the song by using the tempo slider.


Complement your learning journey with the thrill of playing along with backing tracks. Meet the unique 'Speed Up' function that incrementally raises the tempo, therefore preparing you to perform at higher speeds. Start at a comfortable pace, and then increase the speed as you repeat the song.


These personalized, progressive practice methods aim to make your learning experience dynamic and enjoyable. Remember, patience and regular practice are the keys to mastering any music piece. So, take one step at a time and soon you'll be playing 'Hand Me Down My Walking Cane' with finesse.