He's in an equivalent to open-G tuning though tuned down.  With the capo at the first fret, he's playing in the key of E. Tuning would be eBEG#B.  Chords are open G and Em.  I hear something like this:

            G                                                                         Em

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day

             G                                                                                         Em

Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say

               Em                                                                                   G

No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip

                                                                                                       Em

for the stranger there amongst them had a big iron on his hip

 Em                    G

Big iron on his hip

You can play it in the key of G if it suits your voice.

David

The ?
banjohangout.org/topic/399132

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

He's in an equivalent to open-G tuning though tuned down.  With the capo at the first fret, he's playing in the key of E. Tuning would be eBEG#B.  Chords are open G and Em.  I hear something like this:

            G                                                                         Em

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day

             G                                                                                         Em

Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say

               Em                                                                                   G

No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip

                                                                                                       Em

for the stranger there amongst them had a big iron on his hip

 Em                    G

Big iron on his hip

You can play it in the key of G if it suits your voice.

David

---

I can play this song on guitar. I guess it's the key of C? 

https://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/robbins-marty/big-iron-2423.html

I can play it in any key is that right? And the chords just need to be the same relative distance from each other?

I was trying to pick the notes by ear in g to get started but couldn't.

My response was based on the video that you pointed out. They key and the chords used in that video differ from what is shown on some guitar web sites.  I started with the Ultimate Guitar web site which showed C, Am and F.  The video in the message thread linked by Tuedelband shows someone playing it in Bb (open G tuning capoed at the 3rd fret) using the same G and Em chord shapes.  It's not unusual for the banjo to play fewer chords or partial chords compared to the guitar backup.  So yes, you can play and sing it in G with open-G tuning or capo it wherever to raise the pitch.  Your linked video had the banjo tuned down but still in a tuning that could use the G and Em chord shapes.

If you're trying to pick out the melody, you likely need to tune to the same key as your target video.  If you already have the melody in your head, you may not need the videos to help you out.  You can also use generic hammer-ons and pull-offs to spice up your chordal backup.

David

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

My response was based on the video that you pointed out. They key and the chords used in that video differ from what is shown on some guitar web sites.  I started with the Ultimate Guitar web site which showed C, Am and F.  The video in the message thread linked by Tuedelband shows someone playing it in Bb (open G tuning capoed at the 3rd fret) using the same G and Em chord shapes.  It's not unusual for the banjo to play fewer chords or partial chords compared to the guitar backup.  So yes, you can play and sing it in G with open-G tuning or capo it wherever to raise the pitch.  Your linked video had the banjo tuned down but still in a tuning that could use the G and Em chord shapes.

If you're trying to pick out the melody, you likely need to tune to the same key as your target video.  If you already have the melody in your head, you may not need the videos to help you out.  You can also use generic hammer-ons and pull-offs to spice up your chordal backup.

David

---

I used to your chords to pick part of it out in g tuning. When I get time I'd like to upload a video, maybe you could give me so pointers. I've been trying off and on to play banjo by ear for years. 

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

My response was based on the video that you pointed out. They key and the chords used in that video differ from what is shown on some guitar web sites.  I started with the Ultimate Guitar web site which showed C, Am and F.  The video in the message thread linked by Tuedelband shows someone playing it in Bb (open G tuning capoed at the 3rd fret) using the same G and Em chord shapes.  It's not unusual for the banjo to play fewer chords or partial chords compared to the guitar backup.  So yes, you can play and sing it in G with open-G tuning or capo it wherever to raise the pitch.  Your linked video had the banjo tuned down but still in a tuning that could use the G and Em chord shapes.

If you're trying to pick out the melody, you likely need to tune to the same key as your target video.  If you already have the melody in your head, you may not need the videos to help you out.  You can also use generic hammer-ons and pull-offs to spice up your chordal backup.

David

---

cuz i was asking for tabs one time and the whole forum got mad at me and said I have to play banjo by ear. lol. I downloaded an app that taught me to identify notes by ear, but still can only kinda pick songs by ear.

I will try to write some tab for you if you tell me the key (G?) and the video you prefer. 
 

As for working a melody by ear, try a tune you know well. I use Buffalo Gals in my intro class. 
 

David

I had some time so I wrote some tab for "Big Iron," based loosely on the video you watched and mentioned in your post.  The tab is G tuning which does not match the E tuning in the video.  I also shortened some of the strumming between melody lines.  You should feel free to  ake any changes that work for you.  Other versions of "Big Iron" on YouTube may come closer to matching the version by Marty Robbins which involve more chords than the version I worked on.  Also the chords indicated are for any guitar backup there may be; the banjo does not play the tab and the chords -- just the tab.

David

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

I had some time so I wrote some tab for "Big Iron," based loosely on the video you watched and mentioned in your post.  The tab is G tuning which does not match the E tuning in the video.  I also shortened some of the strumming between melody lines.  You should feel free to  ake any changes that work for you.  Other versions of "Big Iron" on YouTube may come closer to matching the version by Marty Robbins which involve more chords than the version I worked on.  Also the chords indicated are for any guitar backup there may be; the banjo does not play the tab and the chords -- just the tab.

David

---

Thanks. You're  awesome!

Wonderful Tab and Chords, Lyrics...Can't get any better David....Jack

 

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

I had some time so I wrote some tab for "Big Iron," based loosely on the video you watched and mentioned in your post.  The tab is G tuning which does not match the E tuning in the video.  I also shortened some of the strumming between melody lines.  You should feel free to  ake any changes that work for you.  Other versions of "Big Iron" on YouTube may come closer to matching the version by Marty Robbins which involve more chords than the version I worked on.  Also the chords indicated are for any guitar backup there may be; the banjo does not play the tab and the chords -- just the tab.

David

---

The guy playing the banjo was playing in open G fingering , and he didn't use a chord that should have been struck at times- the C chord. He just used Em and G.

The song can be played in any key that's easy to sing; in the key of C, the minor chord is Am. (the relative minor of that key. All keys have relative minors.)
regards,
stanger

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

I had some time so I wrote some tab for "Big Iron," based loosely on the video you watched and mentioned in your post.  The tab is G tuning which does not match the E tuning in the video.  I also shortened some of the strumming between melody lines.  You should feel free to  ake any changes that work for you.  Other versions of "Big Iron" on YouTube may come closer to matching the version by Marty Robbins which involve more chords than the version I worked on.  Also the chords indicated are for any guitar backup there may be; the banjo does not play the tab and the chords -- just the tab.

David

---

I'm going over it now, as I don't play banjo consistently. I get the melody notes, can you explain why the rhythm is placed where it is. I really have a hard time with that on banjo. 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 6stringedRamble

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbrooks

I had some time so I wrote some tab for "Big Iron," based loosely on the video you watched and mentioned in your post.  The tab is G tuning which does not match the E tuning in the video.  I also shortened some of the strumming between melody lines.  You should feel free to  ake any changes that work for you.  Other versions of "Big Iron" on YouTube may come closer to matching the version by Marty Robbins which involve more chords than the version I worked on.  Also the chords indicated are for any guitar backup there may be; the banjo does not play the tab and the chords -- just the tab.

David

---

I'm going over it now, as I don't play banjo consistently. I get the melody notes, can you explain why the rhythm is placed where it is. I really have a hard time with that on banjo. 

---

The tab rhythm is just the basic bum-diddy rhythm.  It does sound pretty stiff and mechanical in the MP3. In a song, the singer's phrasing may guide the rhythm.  The bum-diddy rhythm may be what you play on the guitar as well:   bass - strum down and up.  Feel free to modify the arrangement to suit your ear.

Also, I have used the quarter notes (beats 1 and 3) to play most of the melody notes.  Feel free to ignore that as well and just strum as you would on guitar.

David