Key of D – aDADE
Banjo Tramp is one of Dan's favorite tunes and it’s a classic often played in jams and for dances! We do have to start with an apology as in the video Dan mentions it sounding like Whistling Rufus (which it does a bit) when he meant to say it is very much like the tune called “Twinkle” or “Twinkle Little Star” from the bluegrass and western contest style folks. It is very much the same tune though “Twinkle” is usually played in G.
Dan recorded this tune on his "Light of The Moon" CD and most likely Ward Jarvis’ playing of it on the old recording “Visits” is his source for the tune. He plays the parts in reverse order of how Dan does (as do most folks Dan has played it with) so Dan is sure he's heard elsewhere as well. No matter, play it as the folks you like to play it with see and hear fit.
This one is a lot of fun. It can be a good chord basic tune or a simple melodic or very ornamental tune depending upon your skill and personal preferences. Give it a go and build it up or strip it down.
Banjo Tramp is tabbed out in Dan's book Old Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo (MB 20313).
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