If you're playing it at a bluegrass jam it's probably best to play out of G tuning. Spike the 5th string to A, play out of C shapes (capo 2) or D shapes (no capo). Retuning isn't easy in BG jams.

For fiddle tunes that are traditionally played in the key of "D", I prefer an arrangement in the key of "C", in standard G-Tuning, with a capo at the second fret. With that approach, everything you've learned to play in G-tuning can be used for your accompaniment of the other players.

Learn it in G and then in either D or C if you're playing bluegrass. That way, you can capo up and play it in any major key.

I play it out of open g tuning with no capo. I kind of do an unsophisticated combo of Scruggs and single string style for fiddle tunes like that. I find it’s a good one to practice the 4 finger d chord to the 4 finger g (f shape moved up 2 frets) then up 2 frets from that to the A. This is just by ear for me. I don’t really use tab except to “cheat” if I want to play something note for note from a recording (such as the opening break to blue ridge cabin home).

Sherry,

I just put a Double C bluegrass version by Sammy Shelor on the site if anyone is interested. But I'm afraid it's a Cheating Tab version ...Jack

Angeline The Baker Bluegrass

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

Learn it in G and then in either D or C if you're playing bluegrass. That way, you can capo up and play it in any major key.

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My recommendation (?) is open "G" tuning .... based solely on the KISS principle*. 

* i.e. "There's "G" ... and "not G."   

You need to learn to play it in at least G/A and D. No telling who’ll you’ll be playing with. Decide for yourself which version you prefer when you cal the tune. Given my personal tastes and skills I’d play it capoed 2 in standard C tuning were the choice mine.

Fiddlers you might play with who already know the tune will appreciate you playing it in the traditional key of D.

So I'd say learn it in D either in G tuning without capo or any other way that you can do.

I think when I was briefly in a forming band pre-pandemic, I worked up an arrangement in key of D in open G tuning. Up-the-neck, above 12th fret, it lent itself well to rolls. Maybe some notes shifted or altered. Haven't played it since.

I suppose you could learn it in key of C and capo 2.

As you said, this is all subjective. Choose the one that sounds best to you. I like combining Scruggs and melodic. I do my best to render melody in roll patterns, even if I'm changing the pattern every measure or half-measure. 

I play the Ron Block version, in D, open G tuning, 5th spiked to A. It has sycopated rolls with interesting bends, which give the tune a lot of drive.

youtu.be/dYkvRzp4pnQ

+1 on D capo 7 on fifth string. Probably a good one to get your feet wet playing out of D shapes.
Added bonus: while others are fumbling with capos and tuning, you’ll be ready to go!

Hi Laurence,
You'll see that Sammy preferred double C tuning. Your way and other ways discussed here all work too....Jack p.s. yes, Summer is finally here...Jack

Sammy pretty much raised the bar with his version.