tharleman - Posted - 12/27/2024:  05:51:28

For TOTW, I selected a fiddle tune called "Bumblebee In a Jug".



The title may take different forms. Bumblebee is sometimes spelled Bumble Bee. The bee may be said to be in a jug, the jug, a jar or the jar. There may be other title variations.

I'm not sure where I heard this tune first. But in Sept. 2022 I began working on creating a banjo version.

I created my clawhammer version from listening to a recording by George Hawkins.

Source: Slippery Hill - George Hawkins

The George Hawkins audio recording sounds like he is in the Key of B.

But it is likely that either the recording speed was a little too fast or the instruments were tuned a half step low.

So the accepted key of the tune is C.

The banjo tuning I use is Double C; gCGCD.

I used TablEdit to create the TAB. The MP3 audio was captured from TableEdit.

According to The Traditional Tune Archive,  BUMBLEBEE IN THE/A JUG is an American Fiddle Reel popular in Kentucky and Indiana. "Most modern versions derived from George "Geo" Lee Hawkins of Bath County, Kentucky, who learned it from Tom Riley whose parents had emigrated from Ireland to Flemming County, Kentucky. Tom Riley later moved to Marion County, Indiana, where Dick (John) Summers picked it up. "

It has 2 parts; Part A and Part B. Some play it with just one A part (ABB) while others playing it with 2 A parts (AABB). My tab shows 1 A part but I play it both ways.

Where to find old recordings:

Digital Library of Appalachia

In the search box [                                ] type Bumblebee

Bumblebee in a Jug - George Hawkins - 1977 - Bath County, KY

Bumblebee in the Jug - George Hawkins - 1974 - Bath County, KY

Bumblebee in a Jug - Alan Jabbour - 2008 - Berea College

Folk Music Index - An Index to Recorded and Printed Sources - by Jane Keefer

Click "Search the indexes By Browsing"

Click "title" in the paragraph that reads, "The title and performer indexes provide..."

At the bottom Click "B" 

Search the web page for "Bumblebee in a Jug"

Cooper, Roger. Going Back to Old Kentucky, Rounder 0380, CD (1996), trk# 21

Curley, Clyde. Songer, Susan; and Clyde Curley (eds.) / Portland Collection, Portland Coll., Fol (1997), p 42

Hartford, John. Wild Hog in the Red Brush, Rounder 0392, CD (1996), trk# 10

Shimberg, Joel & Kathy. Young Fogies, Heritage (Galax) 056, LP (1984), trk# 31

Sutherland, Pete. Eight Miles From Town, Marimac 9031, Cas (1982), trk# 10

I also found more than 10 recordings by searching Discogs.org.

Edited by - tharleman on 12/28/2024 10:12:24

VIDEO: Bumblebee in a Jug Clawhammer Lesson
(click to view)

Bumblebee In A Jug Banjo gCGCD Double C EASY.jpg

Bumblebee in a Jug

Bumblebee In A Jug Banjo gCGCD Double C EASY

JanetB - Posted - 12/28/2024:  15:49:51

Nice presentation, Tom.  Your B part sounds like the bumblebee is very active in the jug, and probably wanting out!  I listened to George Lee Hawkins and Alan Jabbour and combined them to do this arrangement. You might also want to listen to Alan's comment in the above link about fiddles, melody, scratches, perpetual motion strokes and character.  He felt Bumblebee in a Jug was a "very appropriate" use of these techniques.

Bumblebee in a Jug

Bumblebee in a Jug (CH) tab