Fiddle Tunes in their Natural Key: #1

Red Haired Boy

Playing fiddle tunes in their natural key can be challenging and could require advanced techniques that encompass everything from Scruggs techniques, Keith techniques, and single-string techniques. 

Utilizing all of these techniques in one song may also require elevated levels of concentration and much practice.

Red Haired Boy is a very nice fiddle tune and is naturally or normally played in the key of A by fiddle players. Although the bluegrass banjo is tuned to open G, the key of A with this song should not present too many obstacles. As you can see in the figure below, the key of A has three sharps; two more than our favorite key of G.

This isn't a large change in itself, but as you can see, the major triad (1, 3, 5) of the G scale is represented by the open strings of the banjo. Unfortunately this is not the case for the key of A. In this case I present to you a single-string version of Red Haired Boy that stays fairly true to the melody.

Feel free to download the tab for Red Haired Boy from the Download and Links section below. You can also view the accompanying video on my YouTube channel to follow along.

Next week I'll present to you an original fiddle tune that I wrote in the key of E for the banjo. Keep on picking!

Downloads and Links

1. Red Haired Boy Banjo Tablature (PDF)
2. Red Haired Boy YouTube Video