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Southern Flavor is a classic example of Bill Monroe’s genius. Like all of my favorite Monroe compositions this tune rides a thin line between major and minor sounds. Unfortunately these are the same tunes that tend to get a little “messy” at jam sessions if they’re played at all.

Blake Williams is the banjo player on the original Monroe recording and I do my best to play it similar to the way he did. The song is in the key of Em though it modulates during the second section to include an E major chord. As far as I can tell from the original recording Mr. Williams has his banjo capoed at the second fret with the fifth string spiked at the ninth fret and he plays it out of the “D” position.

The chords for the tune are E, Em, B, D and the bass walk down notes are G & F#.
(Chords capoed at the second fret: D, Dm, A, C & F/Dm, E/Dm).

This example is as slow as I can play it without completely losing the feel. I don’t have any tab for this so when in doubt stick to the basic chord forms with a bouncy forward roll.

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Frog On A Lily Pad in the key of C (standard G tuning). The chords are C, F & G. It’s a great tune and a good exercise in closed position licks. To hear Bill Monroe’s version click here.

I’ve lost track of the amount of requests I’ve had for tab to my videos. My response to these requests are always the same; “sorry but I don’t have any tab”. I don’t have tab because I don’t write tab nor do I have any software to publish tab. This got me thinking about posting a tab fundraiser of sorts. If you’re reading this then I’m sure you can see the PayPal donation button to the right of this post. I’ve decided I will learn how to write tab if the people requesting it are willing to pay for the software. The preferred software for scoring bluegrass tab is an application called Tabledit and it cost about $60.00. So as soon as I receive enough donations to afford a copy of Tabledit I will start writing tab. Who knows if there is enough interest I might even film some new tunes while I’m at it.

Thanks for your interest.

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Here is a close representation of the intro break to Fire Ball Mail as played by Earl Scruggs on the Foggy Mountain Banjo album.

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Forked Deer is another parking lot standard usually played in the key of D. The example here is played in the key of C with the capo at the second fret.