Banjo Hangout Logo
Banjo Hangout Logo

Premier Sponsors

  • The Murphy Method
  • Elderly Instruments - Since 1972
  • CROSSROCK
  • Deering Banjos
  • Gold Tone


 All Forums
 Other Banjo-Related Topics
 Tab Requests and Discussion
 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Pete Seeger "Hieland Laddie"


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/320985

pappytroy - Posted - 07/26/2016:  19:21:11

Does anyone know the tuning and chords for this song? I heard it not long ago and absolutely fell in love with it. Many thanks.



 



Edited - played clawhammer style.



 



Pappy


Edited by - pappytroy on 07/26/2016 19:37:03

janolov - Posted - 07/27/2016:  03:48:42

There are some information in this old thread: banjohangout.org/archive/169883 . I think he is using "standard" tuning gCGBD.


dbrooks - Posted - 07/27/2016:  16:44:32

Janolov provided some good information for you, I think those chords are correct, though I think Pete Seeger plays it in C minor, not D minor. Here's a link to a nice video of Pete playing the tune:



youtube.com/watch?v=Zb4qJOSc2mk



Here's a link to a guitar version in Am with the chords shown:



youtube.com/watch?v=CyqmjD6H0f8



These chords are problematic for the banjo, but you do not always have to play chords to provide adequate accompaniment. I wrote some tab to emulate some of what Pete is doing, but I could not decipher his chords up the neck on the chorus. This tab plays the key melody notes. The chords that are indicated are meant to tell the chord shapes. They are not the accurate chords for the tune, but they contain (in my view at least) the key notes that provide an able accompaniment for the song. Give it a try and make the changes you think are needed to kae the song your own.



David Brooks

Clawhammer tab eBooks for Kindle from $.99

amazon.com/author/dbrooks

 




Hieland Laddie
   

banjered - Posted - 07/27/2016:  20:34:30

I play it in plain old G. You use the D7, C, and Em cords to get most of the notes. The slightly tricky maneuver is to hammer the 4th fret of the second string with your pinky to get the first "die" of the first "laddie" in order to keep the timing. Usual pull-offs too. Banjered


Joe Connor - Posted - 07/29/2016:  11:48:50

I agree with Jan. I think Pete's using drop C tuning. He seems to be playing it in Cm. (I'll have to try it out later). Playing in Cm is something Pete did very effectively. I think that's how he played "Which Side Are You On?" Having that open C note on the fourth string is pretty cool.  On his 12-string guitar, Pete played a lot of tunes in the key of D using drop D tuning. 



Here's another version with some nice banjo work by Dave Guard:



youtube.com/watch?v=7l7xskuBz3I


Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)

Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.





Hangout Network Help

View All Topics  |  View Categories

3.515625E-02