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Mama Tried by Merle Haggard – 3-string Cigar Box Guitar Tablature

The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic rock song Mama Tried, written and performed by the great Merle Haggard. This tablature is arranged for 3-string Open G “GDG” tuning.

Click the image above to view the printable PDF document.

Click on the image above to download the printable PDF document.
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop shop for all things Cigar Box Guitar: Instruments, Kits, Parts, Gear & More.

If you need some help with this style of tablature, here’s a video where Glenn Watt shows you how to read it.

Mama Tried By Merle Haggard | 2-String Bass Tablature

The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the bass line for the classic country song “Mama Tried“, by Merle Haggard. Continue reading “Mama Tried By Merle Haggard | 2-String Bass Tablature”

Marine’s Hymn – Tablature for One-String Canjo

Arrangement courtesy of C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, intended for playing on American Canjo Company™ brand one-string canjos with dulcimer-style fretting, with fret numberings as shown below. The open unfretted string is notated as “0″.

0    2   4     4  4 4 4 8 4
From the Halls of Montezuma
0  2   4      4  3 1 0
To the Shores of Tripoli;

0  2    4     4   4   4     4 8 4
We will fight our country's battles

0  2   4    4  3     1   0
In the air, on land ,and sea;

8     7  5     3   5     3   4 5 4
First to fight for right and freedom

8    7 5    3   5 8 5 4
And to keep our honor clean;

0  2   4     4  4     4   4 8 4
We are proud to claim the title

0  2 4 4  5      7  8
of United States Marine.

Mary Had a Little Lamb – 3-string Open G GDG – Cigar Box Guitar Tablature

The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the well-known children’s song Mary Had a Little Lamb.

All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by The Southbound String Company, the only strings specifically chosen and voiced for cigar box guitars. Be sure to check out our line of Open G GDG cigar box guitar string sets here!

If you need some help with this style of tablature, here’s a video where Glenn Watt shows you how to read it

Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: Mary Had A Little Lamb Tablature PDF.

Mary Had a Little Lamb – Traditional

This well-known children’s song got its start as a poem written in 1830, which was inspired by a true event. View the full text of this entry by clicking the “Read More” link below for the formatted canjo tab…

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Version 1 – Low)

2 1  0   1 2  2   2     1  1   1     2  4   4
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
2 1  0   1 2  2   2    2     1      1   2     1  0
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Version 2 – High)

5 4  3   4 5  5   5     4   4  4     5  8   8
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
5 4  3   4 5  5   5    5     4      4   5    4   3
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.

To learn more about this beloved children’s song, check out this Wikipedia article.

Arrangement by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply

Master String Size & Tuning List for 25-inch Scale

This article is presented by the Southbound String Company – the first brand focused solely on providing strings specifically chosen and voiced for Cigar Box Guitars and other handmade/homemade instruments!

This chart shows you the string size to use for every pitch from double-low B (one Octave below the low B on a guitar), all the way up to High A.

Using this chart you can figure out the strings to use for pretty much any tuning you want. These strings should work for instruments with a scale length of 24.5 to 25.5 inches, with 25 inches being the middle point.

The string gauges shown below are for a “light” string set. For a “medium” set, add .002″ to the wound string sizes and .001″ to the unwound string sizes. For example, for a medium set, for low C you would want .036″ instead of .034″. For high E you’d want .011″ instead of .010″. Increase string gauges from there to move towards “heavy” sets.

Continue reading “Master String Size & Tuning List for 25-inch Scale”

Michael Row the Boat Ashore – 3-string Open G GDG – Chords & Tablature for 3-string Cigar Box Guitars

The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the well-known spiritual song Michael Row the Boat Ashore.

This is an old African American slave song, first documented around the time of the American Civil War. It is a very simple melody and has a large number of verses, and it’s easy to make up new verses on the fly.

Click this link or the image below to view the printable PDF: Michael Row the Boat Ashore Cigar Box Guitar Tablature

Click the image above to view the printable tablature sheet.

Microwave Dave (Dave Gallaher)

Musical style: Blues, Blues-rock, R&B, Originals

Handmade instrument played: cigar box guitar

Microwave Dave is a Chicago-born and southern raised man. His life growing up was steeped in music, beginning with singing in a children’s choir and rambling through a host of instruments including trumpet, French horn, ukulele, guitar, and a bit of accordion. Dave’s early musical experiences include playing drums in a dixieland band featured by the old Houston Oilers of the American Football League.

In college, Dave played in an R&B band that toured colleges, was hired for some session work, and appeared with a young Aretha Franklin. Unfortunately for him and his mates, members of the band, including Dave, were called to serve in the Vietnam War. Even in wartime Dave found a way to play in a soul band.

After serving his tour in the war Dave committed to working as a full-time musician. He played with a band named Cameron for twelve years, recording three albums with them, and playing over 300 dates a year. Post Cameron, Dave set off into a three year stint playing in a gospel group before moving to Huntsville, Alabama where he more deeply celebrated his Blues and R&B roots.

It’s in Huntsville that Microwave Dave formed the Nukes, a deep south Blues band, in the late ‘80’s. His musical career didn’t stop at performing as Dave also produced and hosted (and still hosts) a Blues program on the radio, earning him a nomination for a W.C. Handy award in ‘95.

Dave continues to play his soulful Blues with the Nukes and for solo performances. In addition to that Dave can be found giving his time to local organizations to promote Blues music. The mayor of Huntsville even signed a proclamation honoring Dave with his own day, Microwave Dave Day, in 2015.

Find Microwave Dave at: http://www.microwavedave.com/

Miscellaneous Photographs

A collection of photographs from across the years, showing a variety handmade instruments and the people who played them. Thanks to John McNair of Red Dog Guitars for allowing us to repost many of these photos. John has spent years collecting historic images of homemade and handmade instruments, and we are honored that he has agreed to let us host them here.

W. C. Fields and his one-string Cigar Box Violin — W. C. Fields with a Vaudeville fiddle.

The Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band of New Orleans, lead by “Stale Bread” Lacoume.

My Country ‘Tis of Thee

3  3    4   2   3  4     5     5    6  5 4 3    4  3    2 3
My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing!
8    8     8  8  6    5     6    6  6   6  5      4      
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
5    6   5 4 3 5   6   8     9 6 5   4   3
from ev--er--y mountainside, let freedom ring!

Additional Verses

My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; 
Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.

To learn more about this classic spiritual song, check out this Wikipedia article.