train 45

[keymandoguy]

I just bought the Clssic Bluegrass CD Smithsonian Folkways. It has a banjo tune played by Smiley Hobbs called train 45. I love this tune and am going to try to learn it on Mandolin ? Just wondering if anyone else on here plays it on mandolin ? I know its gonna be a tricky one But I think if I work hard & long enough Ill be able to do it !! practice practice practice

[Keith Wallen]

Yes its an old std that I am sure most on here play. I am sure you can find some tab on it somewhere but it does have a pretty straight forward lead which is good because most b@$jo players play it at warp speed.

Good luck,

[AlanN]

Doyle Lawson defined how the mandolin should pick this in a modern style when he did this one with the CG...RIP, Hank Snow (I mean, Charlie Waller)...

[GBG]

It's in the key of B. Don't cheat and play it in G or A.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Dang...Alan beat me to the answer

[Moose]

All good replys!! - For me -IMHO) - the Jimmy Martin cut of this gem - in the key of "B" - with his "classic" band with JD Crow, Paul Williams(playing Martin's F4!) - is the definitive "version" - again IMHO - A must have for Bluegrass 101. Incidently, I believe this tune is also called "Ruben" ala Mssr. Scruggs - on Columbia of years ago. Just my .02 - Moose.

[flatthead]

A minor technical note: #Paul Craft played banjo on the original cut of Train 45 with Martin, toward the end of 1961. #

IMO most everything Martin cut is "Bluegrass 101". #

Best to all

Jim Rollins

personaly i like the johnson moutain boys version.

[Moose]

flatthead: Thanks for the "correction".. Didn't know THAT!!!## -and YES.. the Jimmy Martin School of Bluegrass ; best education...;MANY illustious graduates carrying on the "tradition". - "...now play it like I taught ya". Thanks again for the correction/info. May God bless the King.