The Eclectic Banjo - Posted - 06/08/2026:  17:00:04

Let's use the example of Blue Ridge Cabin Home in G. It's a I-IV-V-I song:

GGCC
DDGG
GGCC
DDGG

I've been singing it flawlessly, everyone's doing the chorus with me, life is great. I want to end the song but I want to sing the last part again to help close it out together. If I call "TAG" after the "home" at the end of the chorus:

[Chorus]
Oh I love those hills of old Virginia
From those Blue Ridge hills I did roam
When I die won't you bury me on the mountain
Far away near my Blue Ridge mountain home

1) Would people interpret that as starting from the last phrase ("when I die...") or the last line ("far away...")?
2) The last 2 bars is the I chord twice, so would I play through to the end of the second G bar before picking up at the tag spot, or would I just go into it right after announcing Tag at the end of the first G bar?

jdeluke137 - Posted - 06/08/2026:  21:55:48

At most all the jams I attend, a tag would be me repeating:



“Far away near my Blue Ridge mountain home”



And then a closing lick.



But sometimes it’s the last two lines of the chorus. It depends on the song. Take Katy Daly for instance.



Come on down the mountain Katie Daly

Come on down from the mountain Katie do

Can't you hear us callin' Katie Daly

We want to drink your good old Mountain Dew



I’d repeat:



“Can't you hear us callin' Katie Daly

We want to drink your good old Mountain Dew”



In a good jam most everyone will follow whatever you do. And they’ll know exactly what to expect the next time you call that song.

Edited by - jdeluke137 on 06/08/2026 21:56:59

Nopix - Posted - 06/09/2026:  04:55:36

. . . .and stick your foot out.

RB3 - Posted - 06/09/2026:  08:39:54

When you add a vocal tag to a song, you're venturing into the area of song arrangements. That usually requires a band rehearsal. If you insist on doing a vocal tag, I'd suggest you advise the jam participants before you kick off the song.

jdeluke137 - Posted - 06/09/2026:  09:36:52

Wayne makes a good point about just advising the jam regarding what you’re planning to do. I sometimes think we all overthink some of this. The jams I participate in have plenty of crosstalk going on. Telling everyone I’m going to sing this song in A and end it by repeating the last two lines of the chorus would be no big deal at all. Communication is always a good thing. But then I guess some jams might not be as friendly as the ones I attend.

The Eclectic Banjo - Posted - 06/09/2026:  11:07:06

Good input thanks

DonDublin - Posted - 06/09/2026:  14:19:49

At our jam you can yell it out or make a circle with the neck of your instrument to signify tag. Half the people won’t notice anyway or start the tag wrong, but it’s ok because it’s a beginner jam and the stakes are low.

Love me some BRCH

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 06/10/2026:  07:11:51

Usually the tag ends up being the last line (as in this case, "far away..."), but for some songs it feels more intuitive to repeat the last two lines. The  examples that come to mind right away are "Dark Hollow" ("I'm going away, I'm leaving today..."), "Old Home Place" ("Why did I leave my plough in the field..."), and "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" ("Lay around the track 'til the mail train comes back...).



If you're leading the song, you can make your intentions even more clear by playing a run or lick that leads to the starting chord of the line you want to go to--especially if (as in "Blue Ridge Cabin Home") that's something other than the 1 chord.

Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 06/10/2026 07:12:41

chuckv97 - Posted - 06/10/2026:  11:12:36

I sometimes wish I had a white flag to wave when I’ve been struggling with the tune,,, “I give up!”

Peter C - Posted - 06/11/2026:  05:14:36

quote:

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Originally posted by DonDublin

At our jam you can yell it out or make a circle with the neck of your instrument to signify tag. Half the people won’t notice anyway or start the tag wrong, but it’s ok because it’s a beginner jam and the stakes are low.



Love me some BRCH

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This is how we do it over in Sweden too.

A very Swedish thing is to shout "SIMON!" to the same effect. A guy named Simon - he exists, I know him - is very fond of tags in his songs and the call spread. We've even exported it to the Czech Republic thanks to some friends from there.