schlange - Posted - 02/28/2014:  13:10:43

Flatt & Scruggs first full album





The Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mount Mitchell

This week's tune is a classic from Flatt & Scruggs. "Blue Ridge Cabin Home" was released on Flatt & Scruggs' first full-length album, "Foggy Mt Jamboree" (Columbia CL-1019) which was released July 10, 1957. It has since become a very popular bluegrass tune, due at least in part to its simplicity (the progression is really only 4 measures long, and is just about as simple as it gets) and the catchy tune.

The lyrics speak of the singer's love for the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a part of the Appalachians. As Wikipedia says, "The Blue Ridge Mountains are noted for their bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color."

This tune was originally recorded in Bb, but I've heard Flatt & Scruggs and others do it in G and A as well.

Lyrics

There's a well beaten path on this old mountainside

Where I wandered when I was a lad

And I wandered alone to the place I call home

In those Blue Ridge hills far away

   Oh I love those hills of old Virginia

   From those Blue Ridge hills I did roam

   When I die won't you bury me in the mountain

   Far away near my Blue Ridge mountain home

Now my thoughts wander back to the ramshackle shack

In those Blue Ridge hills far away

My mother and dad were laid there to rest

They are sleeping in peace together there

I return to that old cabin home with a sigh

I've a longing for days gone by

When I die won't you bury me on that old mountainside

Make my resting place upon the hills so high

Learn the Tune

• If you aren't familiar with the tune, be sure to listen to the various versions I've included in the playlist to the right


• Casey Henry has posted two Murphy Method lessons for this tune, both based off of Earl's playing on Foggy Mt Jamboree. She's got a lesson for the break as well as the backup, each $6 thru the end of the week.​ Get them here >


• BIAB backing tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure


• Several tabs in the archives including a fine one from Jack Baker based on Earl's picking on "Foggy Mt Jamboree"​


• I found a free lesson for a simplified version of the break which I've included below

Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 60BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 70BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 80BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 90BPM
Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 100BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 110BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Backing Track (G) 120BPM	Blue Ridge Cabin Home Chord Progression
VIDEO: Blue Ridge Cabin Home Break - Lesson Preview from The Murphy Method (click to view)	VIDEO: Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Backup Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)	VIDEO: Lesson 26 - A simple break to Blue Ridge Cabin Home (click to view)	VIDEO: Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Michael Daves & Friends (including Noam Pikelny) (click to view)
VIDEO: J.D. Crowe & The New South - Blue Ridge Cabin Home (click to view)	VIDEO: Mountain Rhythm - Blue Ridge Cabin Home (click to view)	VIDEO: Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Rounder All-Stars (click to view)	VIDEO: Bluegrass Album Band Birchmere 1988 Blue Ridge Cabin Home (click to view)

MBCrawford - Posted - 03/01/2014:  16:09:29

Here is a version that I did a couple of years ago.

VIDEO: Valley Grass performs "Hills of Old Virginia" on the front porch at the BW Country Store! (click to view)

ParrishTF - Posted - 03/03/2014:  12:50:50

youtube.com/watch?v=2ksS-hvfl5Q





These guys and John Denver are confused over which state the Blue Ridge Mountains are in.

Dave5236 - Posted - 03/03/2014:  13:49:12

Thanks for putting the TOTW together. It's a great help for us beginners.

beatlespin - Posted - 03/03/2014:  18:19:02

 youtube.com/watch?v=IxFhVoAfwGI

This is an awesome version. Bluegrass is worldwide. 

gospelman97 - Posted - 03/04/2014:  11:17:19

This is one of my favorite songs.  I love singing, so I took one of Eric's backing tracks and sung a couple of verses for anyone wanting more of jam feel with more of a defined time to work on your backup:

banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

Here's a break to the song I posted to youtube a while back to maybe give you some other ideas for your playing.

 

youtube.com/watch?v=HvrijSyUZnk

One more thing, if you really like JD Crowe style of playing, Bill Evans did a workshop on the subject here on the BHO.  He goes through both breaks to this song that JD did on the first Bluegrass Album Band recording as well as some of his other famous solos like Honey You Don't Know My Mind, The Old Home Place, and Nine Pound Hammer.  You can purchase that workshop here through the BHO.  It is well worth the $25!

banjohangout.org/lessons/works...dings.asp