This week's tune is a bluegrass favorite by Bill Monroe, Old Dangerfield.
Monroe was a prolific tune and song composer. He would commonly write a tune on the bus while heading for the next gig and many went unrecorded as a result. This one was apparently written outside of Daingerfield, Texas, hence the name.
He did an entire album of old time tunes learned from his Uncle Pen and played by Kenny Baker. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Pen_(album) A number of his tunes have been played by Old Time bands and performers. A common key transition used in Old Time is taking an A tune of his and playing it in a D tuning on the banjo.
Monroe first recorded this tune in 1981 with one of his best bands including Kenny Baker, Butch Robinson, Mark Hembree and Wayne Lewis in an album called Bill Monroe: Master of Bluegrass. This is still the best version even though it has been covered by many artists subsequently. As a result, no two versions sound the same including later Monroe versions, some of which are crooked.
https://youtu.be/HTlyiak3ERg?list=RDHTlyiak3ERg
Here are several versions by Adam Hurt, who switched the key to fit Double D tuning. The one is with Mike Compton is in both A and D.
https://youtu.be/xF6KzZu403g?list=RDxF6KzZu403g&t=5
https://youtu.be/S0G6RAWyOKo?list=RDS0G6RAWyOKo
Here is a very young Vic Furtado.
https://youtu.be/pyS1shhqmgo?list=RDpyS1shhqmgo&t=30
Below is a version I did using an Amodal tuning and thumb lead 2F style. (Sorry it's on twice, I am too old to deal with computers
Edited by - mikeyes on 10/28/2026 11:04:28
Thanks, Michael, for a good challenge to work on, with a couple of extra days, as you're early. Your 2-finger playing is a delight to hear, especially given this beautiful melody of a Monroe tune you've chosen. And you shared the playing of two of my favorite musicians ever to hear. Can't wait to work on it and wonder which key I'll choose!
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