I thought it might be fun to do this Pennsylvania version of The Jay Bird that I got from Mark Tamsula and was originally collected by Samuel Bayard, though it differs quite a bit from the notated versions so I'm trying to hunt down the exact source (I'll report back).
He recorded it with his band Snappin' Bug in D on their album Rural Valley Melodies. You can give that listen here.
Here's a couple passes through the tune on banjo in regular double D tuning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8g57ovLTd4
I'll try to get around to tabbing some of it out later this week. Hope you enjoy and have a great week!
Edited by - aschweigert on 11/06/2026 11:38:32
Nice tune! I have the Samuel Bayard "Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife" book; this looks like #176 in there, with 9 different versions.
This is really a different tune, same name...but it would go really well after the one you are playing here. YT video does not start at the beginning of the tune! Like the Bayard book, this recording from the late Pete Sutherland is wonderful but is only available on Youtube. I think I have a cassette copy somewhere in my garage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dlq_Feo2yY
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