Something tells me that when this tune first came known as "BileDem Cabbage Down", it's usage in describing the unappetizing greenish substance emitted by the gallbladder wasn't widespread. In this instance, the use of the word is not as a reference to a liquid aid in the digestive process, but rather a phonetic spelling of the way in which some folks might pronounce the word "boil."
In other words, today we'll be learning a cherished chestnut that's about, among other things, boiling cabbages.
It's a song often presented as a good tune to learn early on in one's banjo picking journey, as it's melody and fingerings are beginner friendly, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's any less of a tune. It's a time tested classic for good reason!
Here we have yet another song where the melody of both verse and chorus are the same.
That being said, the tradition when playing this as in instrumental is to play the verse in the lower register, and then bring things up an octave for the chorus. So we'll be doing likewise here!
If you don't already know this one, listen to the demonstration video enough times to where you can hum, sing, whistle, or otherwise reproduce the melody, and then we'll proceed with the finding of notes.
STEP 2: Find the Melody Notes
To start, make sure you're in standard G, or gDGBD, tuning. Once there, we'll see about finding some melody notes.
First try finding them for yourself, and then check your answers below.
Here's what the bare melody sounds like on the banjo: Melody.mp3
And here's what that looks like in tab:
STEP 3: Decorate Thy Melody
Now let's take that skeleton of a melody and fill in the spaces between the melody notes, including a healthy dose of the 5th string, and some fretting hand techniques like slides, pull offs, and hammer ons to add a little interest.
If you enjoyed these tutorials and backup tracks, then you'll probably enjoy the complete set of "Essential Bluegrass Banjo Classics," which will includeall tabs, video tutorial demonstrations, and backup tracks as seen here, will be available soon. Click here to have it sent to you as soon it's available.
Josh Turknett has made 17 recent additions to Banjo Hangout
Occupation: neuroplastician
Gender: Male Age: 46
My Instruments: Cedar Mountain L4, Cedar Mountain J200. Dan Pennington tubaphone, Mike Ramsey white laydie, homebuilt special, bob thornburg gourd, Terry Bell Boucher minstrel banjo, deering goodtime special
Favorite Bands/Musicians: Mike Seeger, Mac Benford, Tommy Jarrell, Kyle Creed, Fred Cockerham, Hobart Smith, Mississippi John Hurt, Paul Brown, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Earl Scruggs, Tom Adams, Will Keys, Camp Creek Boys..
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Created 11/18/2003
Last Visit 5/16/2022
Lover of all things banjo. One half of the Georgia Jays (thegeorgiajays.com).
Founder of Brainjo, the first music instruction method targeted at the adult learner and based on the science of learning and neuroplasticity (more at aboutbrainjo.com).
'Help Identifying Old Banjo' 42 min
