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The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

============================================================================

X:1
T:Waltzing Matilda
C:A.B."Banjo" Patterson (words) & Marie Cowen (music)
L:1/8
M:4/4
K:G
BBBB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~Once a jol-ly swag-man camp-ed by a bil-la-bong,
w:~5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 dd | d2 dd d2
w:~Un-der the shade of a coo-li-bah tree,
w:~0 3 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And he sang as he watched and wait-ed till his bil-ly boiled.
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:~Chorus:
d2 dd d2 B2 | g2 gg f2 e2 |
w:~Waltz-ing ma-til-da, Waltz-ing ma-til-da,
w:~7 7 7 7 5 10 10 10 9 8
w:~
d2 dd e2 dd | d2 cB A2
w:~Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?
w:~7 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 5 4
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And he sang as he watched and wait-ed till his bil-ly boiled.
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:Verse~2:
BBBB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And down came a jum-buck to drink at the bil-la-bong,
w:~5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 dd | d2 dd d2
w:~Up jumped the swag-man and grabed him with glee,
w:~0 3 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And he sang as he stowed that jum-buck in his tuck-er-bag,
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:~Chorus~2:
d2 dd d2 B2 | g2 gg f2 e2 |
w:~Waltz-ing ma-til-da, Waltz-ing ma-til-da,
w:~7 7 7 7 5 10 10 10 9 8
w:~
d2 dd e2 dd | d2 cB A2
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~7 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 5 4
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And he sang as he stowed that jum-buck in his tuck-er-bag,
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:Verse~3:
BBBB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~Up rode the squat-ter, mount-ed on his tho-rough-bred,
w:~5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 d2 | d2 d2 d2
w:~Up rode three troo-pers, one, two, three.
w:~0 3 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~"Now where's that jol-ly jum-buck you've got in your tuck-er-bag?"
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:~Chorus~3:
d2 dd d2 B2 | g2 gg f2 e2 |
w:~Waltz-ing ma-til-da, Waltz-ing ma-til-da,
w:~7 7 7 7 5 10 10 10 9 8
w:~
d2 dd e2 dd | d2 cB A2
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~7 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 5 4
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~"Now where's that jol-ly jum-buck you've got in your tuck-er-bag?"
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~You'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me!
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:Verse~4:
BBBB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~But the swag-man upped and jumped in-to the bil-la-bong,
w:~5 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 d2 | d2 dd d2
w:~"You'll nev-er take me a-live!", cried he.
w:~0 3 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that bil-la-bong,
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~"Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?"
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3
w:~
w:~Chorus~4:
d2 dd d2 B2 | g2 gg f2 e2 |
w:~Waltz-ing ma-til-da, Waltz-ing ma-til-da,
w:~7 7 7 7 5 10 10 10 9 8
w:~
d2 dd e2 dd | d2 cB A2
w:~Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?
w:~7 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 5 4
w:~
GA | B2 BB A2 A2 | GABG EF G2 |
w:~And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that bil-la-bong,
w:~3 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 1 2 3
w:~
D2 GB d2 cB | A2 AA G2 z2 |
w:~"Who'll come a waltz-ing ma-til-da with me?"
w:~0 3 5 7 6 5 4 4 4 3

============================================================================

Here's a link to download a .pdf version of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned diatonic instruments

like most stick dulcimers: Waltzing%20Matilda.pdf

Enjoy.

So I found an incredible piece of flamed maple...I can't decide whether to slice it up for fingerboard veneer or make a couple complete necks out of it.  I'm really having touble with the decision, lol.  I konw what box /boxes I'm going to apply it to though and they look amazing in my mind's eye...here's to hoping they live up to their potential!

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

X:1
T:Shady Grove
O:Traditional (American)
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:GMaj
EE EE/2E/2| FE D2| EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:Cheeks as red as the bloo-min' rose, Eyes of the deep-est brown.
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | d3/2d/2 BB | AF/2-E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:You are the dar-ling of my_ heart. Stay till the sun goes down.
w:5 7 7 5 5 4 2-1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:Verse~2:
EE EE/2E/2| FE D2 | EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:I wish I had a glass of wine, with bread and meat for two.
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | d3/2d/2 BB | AF/2E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:I'd set it down on a gold-en plate, I'd give it all to you.
w:5 7 7 5 5 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:Chorus:
EE E2 | FE/2E/2 D2 | EE GA | B6/2 |
w:Sha-dy Grove, my lit-tle love, Sha-dy Grove, I say.
w:1 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | dd B2 | AF/2E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:Oh, Sha-dy Grove, my lit-tle love, I'm bound to go a-way.
w:5 7 7 5 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:Verse~3:
EE EE/2E/2| FE D2 | EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:Wish I was with my Sha-dy Grove, A sing-in' to the breeze,
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | dd BB | AF/2E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:With her hair up-on me soft and brown, And sun-light through the trees.
w:5 7 7 5 5 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:Verse~4:
EE EE/2E/2| FE D2| EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:A kiss from lit-tle Sha-dy Grove Is sweet as bran-dy wine.
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | d3/2d/2 B | AF/2E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:And there's no gal in this whole world That's pret-ti-er than mine.
w:5 7 7 5 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:(Chorus)
w:
w:Verse~5:
EE EE/2E/2 | FE D2| EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:If I had a nee-dle and thread, As fine as I could sew,
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
B | d3/2d/2 BB | AF/2E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:I'd sew my pret-ty gal to my side, And down the road we'd go.
w:5 7 7 5 5 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:Verse~6:
EE EE/2E/2 | FE D2| EE/2E/2 GA | B6/2
w:Wish I had me a big old horse, And grain to feed him on.
w:1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 4 5
w:
B | d3/2d/2 BB | AF/2-E/2 D2 | EF/2F/2 AF | E4 |]
w:And lit-tle Sha-dy Grove at_ home, To feed him while I'm gone.
w:5 7 7 5 5 4 2-1 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
w:
w:(Chorus)
w:

Ok, we can become obligated to much to quickly.

That friend I way underpriced that build for is waiting his guitar. He told me today he knew he was getting a real bargan. He ain't no fool. So tonight I started cutting sound holes and the drill bit snagged, tore out a hole. Have to find all the little pieces and glue then back in, and tomorrow when all is dry cut it out by hand. However, I soldered in the Double Piezo pickups, one under the bass strings and one under the high string, with volume control for each pickup. Never did a double before and never a wired in volumn control. Halleleau it worked after a lot of frustration with the soldering iron.

I an putting in a lot more time in the build than I should be for the return - but sating myself with pride, learning experience, advertisement, all that stuff we bolster our selves with when we bit off more than we aim to chew.

I go up stair to eat between frustrations and the dear wife who has fixed a marvelous dinner looks at me and says, "Christmas is comming up". She pauses, "You could build a guitar for your daughter". We have a daughter Glenwood Springs Colorado who runs Sunshine Mtn. Inn with her husband. I can hook you up, it is on a ski resort. Also they have a lot of hunters and in the summer weddings and rafters, bikers, and groups. Anyway, the daughter sings and plays anything she sets her mind to.

"And Clayton", daughter's husband, "a banjo". He wants to learn, Daughter bought him a banjo he has not worked with, he is a busy busy man - never slows down. But if he had a CBG type banjo, maybe?

Then there is our son, he is learning to play guitar. He sings, is in a band and all that, has set in with some of the big boys and gals. He throws names around all the time. Could make him a guitar for Christmas also.

See how it snow balls? We have not mentioned my brother-in-law, etc, etc, etc, Wonder if she'll get around to them?

You do not want to get to a point the better half can brag on you! That is the danger zone! Ever let them think they have bragging rights and it is over, your goose is cooked, you are officially a commodity they can use for leverage within the family, among friends, and co-workers- even chirch groups.

You replace that streight "A" child, the Athelete Child, the Child with the College Degree, that child with the job that lets them drive around in a Mercades. They need a new angle, a new handle, a new advantage, a new one upper, and you have laid that weapon squarely in their lap.

Now it ain;t all bad. This allows you to spend whatever you need within reason on your "hobby", so long as you produce results once in a while. It means you get your man cave [interpeted shop]. You get to make all kind of noise - yes noise, real noise, mechanical and musical! You can track sawdust all over the house - again within reason. You can buy new tools !!!!!!!

I just cannot list all the perks, and should not, the ladies of the house may read this and get wise to us.

All I can say is make those gifts in between making your toys and one or two to sale to make it seem like you are actually making money with your hobby.  

Do not be afraid to seen marvelously talented to the Better Half. Brag, Wax eloquent, earn those perks - just be aware of the danger zone involved.

DO DO tha DO, Do DO tha DO, tha tha. Welcome to the Twilight Zone, do not attempt to adjust your tone knob or volume, we are in total control.

I cannot play anything on any guitar, except thanks to Night Owl can now muddle my way through "Amazing Grace" on a 3-string in GDG tuning. Oh and can do the first opening licks of "Bad to the Bone" - thanks! That's a lot more than I could do two months ago!

I have now officially built three guitars - amazing. Who'd a thunk? I am totally flabbergassed. Took a web cam picture of them together, you can tell the progression. The first one is really rough. The second more refined, but far from looking sophisticated. The third more primative but also more sophisticared. The first two were three string and the fourth a four string inspired by the Purgatory Hill Harp.

Do you know what makes something a harp? It is a stringed instrument where at least one unfretted string has no fret board behind it. Mine cannot be called a harp, all strings are over a fret board though the fret board is not fretted - yet. The Purgatory Hill Harp is built on Round Dowells and Two strings are positioned so the dowell is not behind them. Wondered why they called it a harp - now I know.

OMG, wierd facts seem to be creeping into my mind. It is close to Halloween. Other wierd things are happening. I was listening to the videos on CBN in my office on break, a co-worker sits down and ask me to build him a CBG. I showed him a blurry web cam photo of the four stringer, told him it was tuned at this moment to EEBE. He asked what tunings could he use. I said a Tenor Guitar, and other tunings, even a banjo I guess. He said, "I'm gonn'a have so much fun with my new guitar" so I guess the sale is pretty much a done deal! How is that possible? I am not a Luthier! I am not a good woodworker even! I cannot even play one of the contraptions I build. Has to be a spell on me!

I take breaks every day at work and leave the facility to drive to a turn around close by to just get some fresh air. Today a guy I had never seen there before gets out of his car, opens his hatch back, takes out his banjo, and starts playing. I just had to introduce myself and strike up a conversation. For 8 years of going to this place to get freshair, snow, rain, blazing heat, all sorts of weather, nothing like this has ever happened.

I work at a prison. Yep, a prison folks. Was thinking of screen printing some of my hand made boxes in the future. An inmate walks in and sees me looking at screen printing sites and informs me he does that on the street and takes me through the process step by step and totally educates me so if I go that way I will be totally ready.

My wife came home with mini Butterfingers [AND DID NOT WANT TO SAVE THEM for Halloween]! What kind of creepy stuff is in the air? We've been married 38 years and this has never - ever - happened, and especially since I hit the 220 lb mark! We all know Butterfingers are pure sugar rush and pounds.

I read to my wife the article in the book I got on famous CBGers. At the very back was an article on the guy who makes pickups by winding copper wire on bobbins with a sewing machine. Want to guess his name?

I have seen her wind bobbins, not recently, she seldom if ever sews anymore, but I have seen this in the last twenty years. Anyway, asked her if we owned a sewing machine that had a bobbing winder, she said in the basement by the clothes washer we has not one but two, and confirmed both had bobbin winders that worked on the top. However both had breaks I would have to remove - which was fine with her. What is going on? I have never seen her that agreeable, that cooperative, that informable! What have you done with my wife - and who is this woman in my house that looks and cooks like her?

Four weeks till "THE" election. I'll test out my theory to see if I've crossed over into another deminsion. Einstein said "insanity is doing the same thing expecting a different result". Ergo keeping in the two party systen by voting for any republican or democrat - especially for president - is insanity. That is the standard, comformity, convention, the store bought sound if you will.We already know what that has been producing.

All agree the two party system no longer works. The only other party with a ghost of a chance is the Libertarians. I don't agree with them, but they are the only viable alternative to break the cycle - so by gum I'm gonna vote a streight Libeterian ticker - I'm refusing to be insane any longer! If they should win I'll know the cosmos has entered the Twilight Zone, or I've finally gone schizo for good! But this blog is not about politics - really it is not. Nor is it about weight, or domestic bliss.

You see all of this is about deciding to build a CBG and not just buy a regular old "store bought" six string standard guitar. You have to go against conventional wisdom, to understand things in a totally different way but in a much more rational and logical way.

They [the ones refusing to believe there are workable and viable alternatives] are only comfortable and can only understand or see the standard, that which comforms, that gets the same results. How many people [like the current owner of the Purgatory Hill] have I read about saying they went with the CBG because they had spent years looking for "that" sound and had modified their thousand $ guitar and just could not get it - till they thought "inside" the box, not inside the standard curves?

Once you step "inside the box" life changes, people around you change, the universe, the cosmos realigns in some unfathonable way - it is like you are finally properly aligned to finally receive blessings and fulfillment, and fate, providence, the spiritual world begins to make arrangement to fulfill your apparent destiny and bend others to be favorable to your predestined path.

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

============================================================================

X:1
T:Old Joe Clark
O:Traditional (America)
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:G
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark, the prea-cher's son, Preached all o'er the plain.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:The on-ly text he did knew, Was High, Low, Jack and Game.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:Chorus:
D D F2 | A G F2 | D D F F | E2
w:Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark. Fare thee well, I say.
w:0 0 2 4 3 2 0 0 2 2 1
w:~
D D | F2 A G | F2 D F | E E D2 |
w:Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark. Good-bye Bet-sy Brown.
w:0 0 2 4 3 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:Verse~2:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark, he had a house, Eigh-teen stor-ies high.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:Ev-'ry stor-y in that house Was filled with chick-en pie.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~3:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark he had a dog, Blind as he could be.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:Chased a red bug 'round a stump, And a 'coon up a tree.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~4:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark came to my house, Scared my lit-tle pup,
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:Broke up all my chairs and stuff, And drunk my li-quor up.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~5:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:I went down to Old Joe Clark's, Old Joe was-n't home.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:I ate all Joe's meat and bread, And gave his dog the bone.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~6:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark did kill a man. Killed him with a knife.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:I'm so glad he killed that man, Now I can get his wife.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~7:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Old Joe Clark is dead and gone. Hope he's gone to Hell.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:Made me wear this ball and chain, And made my an-kles swell.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~8:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:I wish I had a nick-el, Wish I had a dime.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:Wish I had a pret-ty girl To kiss and call her mine.
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~9:
A B c B | A G F2 | A B c B | A2
w:Asked a girl to mar-ry me, This is what she said:
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 6 5 4
w:~
A B | c B A G | F F D F | E E D2 |
w:"Lots of time to mar-ry you, When all the rest are dead!"
w:4 5 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:(Chorus)
w:~

============================================================================

Here is a link to download a .pdf version of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned diatonic instrument

like most stick dulcimers: Old%20Joe%20Clark.pdf

Enjoy.

No parts ordered, so started yet another build from parts on hand- black punch box, pool cue, will be 3 string, fretless. somewhere in the 22-24" scale. Pool cue was interesting. Never put much thought of what type of wood the dark part of the handle is until I cut into it.  Still hard for me to tell, but it looks pretty, not walnut though. White part appears maple. Will use walnut for a nut, not sure what for a bridge. piezo pick up. Will not go thru n thru. Missed by about 1.5 inches. Pics to come soon.

As I read on CBN I am struck by the positive upbeat, success oriented nature of what everyone posts.

Life ain't like that chum.

Yesterday for example. Had been by Lowes to pick up the parts I had heard listed in Uncle Gus' 1 hour build videos. Had the  neck preped to begin. Took each bolt and nut out of the plastic shopping bag, not nairy a one was a match to what Uncle Gus had said buy. I'd heard wrong in my excitement tp build that 1 hr build. or just not paid enough attention.

I had found a great little mini amp on Instructables I wanted to build. Ordered the Capacitors, pots, etc from a company in Thailand cause they are cheap. Took three weeks shipping, but finaly my lucky day - they arrived. Took out the solder, flux and iron. Tried it out. Not even the indicator light worked. Rewired - soldered three times before I gave up. rats.

Tried to fix the thin and tinny sound of my first build and broke two strings - it just would not tune in the lower registers, my tuner kept screwing up. FInally the tuner cooperated but the two high strings are not what is ment to be on the guitar for EBE tuning, but after nut and bridge adjustments and other adjustments it sounds much better.

Thr replies to my blogs, posts, and emails on CBN are drying up, I am addiccted to checking my mail and finding at least eight email regarding post on CBN. Only one or two is such a let down, especially if there are no new members or it is not related to one of my posts/blogs.

So sitting here cannot build, wife's in bed so cannot play, no new posts so am bored outta my skull, no good vids. Ok vids, I do not like the "heavy metal" play the hell out of it just to make racket style so many like. I like actual music. Not many of those More artistic vids out there and you have to search, I get tired of searching.

Why can't people just label their style, loud and obnoxious,, loud but rhythmic, rythmic and understandable, real blues, crisp and clear, finger picking banjo style, dulcimer style, etc? I would not get so frustrated. My nerve pills are not doing what they are designed to do lately. Make note - make drs. appointment before I have one of my episodes.

Ok, breath deep, calm thoughts, oh, where were we?

Days like yesterday and today and I actually contemplate friending Ted Crocker just to see if he would answer so I'd have a bud to talk to. Do you know what I mean. I have sent out a kazilion friend request and gotten four or five back, but they are not chatty, not a one has sent me an email if you know what I mean.

Hell how many of us - as in we, are on FB?

I digress. I am really bored. Things are really going badly. Maybe I'll find my pocket knife and carve a headstock - thats it   - bye ya'll!

There are 12 keys of music. Using numbers to represent the 8 notes that makes up their respective major scales, it is easier to understand the tunings. These three are the most common open tunings mainly because they can be achieved using a standard guitar string configuration (EADGBE) They are called "open" because they produce a major chord when strummed. A major chord requires 3 notes (1,3,5) from the major scale.

Vestapol Tuning: 151351 aka Open D (DADf#ad)
Spanish Tuning: 515135 aka Open G (DGDgbd)
Open C Tuning: 151513 (CGCgce)

Any grouping of these three notes creates a "triad" (basic 3 note chord). The musical distance between two notes is called an "interval" and when these triads are strummed, the different configurations produce their own unique "voice". Two notes played at the same time are called "double stops". They can be thought of as a little chord fragments. 

Notice the 3 major chord variations found in the above tunings:
135, 351, 513
A major chord contains three intervals:
Example: 513 = 5-1, 1-3, 5-3

I routinely use these tunings on Cigar Box Guitar:
3 string: 151/GDg and 513/ADf# (Key of G and D)
4 string: 5135/Dgbd (Key of G)

With a little study of the above 6 string tunings, it is easy to realize my CBG tunings are based on these tunings. Of course, by keeping the same tone configurations, I can restring or retune to any key.

CD2 (Open G - 6 string - DGDgbd), CD 4 (G5 tuning - 3 string - GDg), and CD5 (Open G - 4 string - Dgbd) comprise a comprehensive course of applying Open G on three different instruments. Exploring in this way really opened up the fingerboard for me. After exploring CBG, I never looked at the full 6 string fingerboard the same way again.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw&_armrs=1&_from&_ipg&_trksid=p3686

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

==============================================================================

X:1
T:Polly Wolly Doodle
O:Traditional (American)
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmaj
GA | B2 B2 G2 GA | B2 B2 G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Well I went down South for to see my Sal, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
F-G | A2 A2 F2 F2| A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:My_ Sal, she is a spun-ky gal. Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2-3 4 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:~Chorus:
GA | B6 GA | B6 GA | B2 B2 c2 B2 | A6
w:Fare the well, fare the well, fare the well my Fair-y Fay
w:3 4 5 3 4 5 3 4 5 5 6 5 4
w:~
FG | AAAA | FF FG | AAAA | FF
w:For I'm go'n to Lou-si-an-na for to see my Su-si-an-na.
w:2 3 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 2 2
w:~
GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z |]
w:Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:Verse~2:
G-A | B2 B2 G2 GG | B2 B2 G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Oh,_ my Sal, she is a maid-en fair. Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 5 5 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
F-G | A2 A2 F2 F2| A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:With_ cur-ly eyes and laugh-ing hair. Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2-3 4 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:
w:Verse~3:
GA | B2 BB GG GG | B2 B2 G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Oh, a grass-hop-per sit-tin' on a rail-road track. Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
FG | A2 A2 F2 F2| A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:Pic-kin' his teeth with a car-pet tack. Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2 3 4 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:
w:Verse~4:
G-A | B2 B2 G2 G2 | B2 B2 G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Be-_hind the barn, down on my knees, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3-4 5 5 3 3 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
F-G | A2 A2 F2 F2| A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:I_ thought I heard a chic-ken sneeze, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2-3 4 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:
w:Verse~5:
GA | B2 B2 G2 GG | B2 B2 G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Oh, he sneezed so hard with the whoop-ing cough, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 5 5 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
F-G | A2 A2 F2 F2| A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:He_ sneezed his head and tail right off, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2-3 4 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:
w:Verse~6:
GA | B2 B2 G2 GG | BB BB G2 GA | BBBB cc BB | A4 z
w:Oh, I went to bed but it was-n't a-ny use, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:3 4 5 5 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4
w:~
F-G | A2 A2 F2 FG | A2 A2 F2 GA | dddd cc AA | G4 z
w:My_ feet stuck out like a chic-ken roost, Sing-ing "Pol-ly Wol-ly Doo-dle" all the day.
w:2-3 4 4 2 2 3 4 4 2 3 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:(Chorus)

==============================================================================

Here's a link to download a .pdf version of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned diatonic instruments

like most stick dulcimers: Polly%20Wolly%20Doodle.pdf

Enjoy.

NASHVILLE builders and players ATTENTION!

We can all get together and join in as an association of Nashville area CBG. Artist to do charity work including building CBGs for worthy causes. We could put on concerts, donate time to teach the art to children and each other, do all kind of neat things. Heck we could even have regular meetings with tea and crumpets.

I have tried to look all of you up and send all of you a friend request. My motive was mainly selfish. I am a total novice and I do need a mentor and guide to just be able to learn what a chord is. However, I made a discovery. Do you know how many CBG entheusaist are in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Fairvirew, or Dickson? Did you know we have professional players, builders, songwriters, and shop owners, as well as novices like me? We have guys however there were a surprising number of gals also. We make up a very large group!

Go to community AND DO AND ADVANCED SEARCH USING TN IN THE STATE SEARCH AREA. Since I live in Fairview I did not look at Madison, Gallitin, or points east but there were many out there. There are many in Morrison - yeah - as small as it is they could have their own club!

MY rallying cry is CBGers UNITE! Form clubs, associations, local groups!

Nashville "Are you ready to r-u-m-b-l-e?

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

===========================================================================

X:1
T:Rose of Alabama
C:Silas S. Steele
O:America, 1846
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:G
D | G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A G | B A  E
w:0 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5  4 3 5 4 1
w:V1:~A-way from Mis-sis-sip-pi's vale, With my ol' hat there for a sail,
w:V2:~I land-ed on the far sand bank, I sat up-on a hol-low plank,
w:V3:~Oh, af-ter d'rect-ly, bye and bye, The moon rose white as Ro-sie's eye,
F |G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A c | B G z  z |]
w:2 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5 4 6 5 3
w:V1:~I cross'd up-on a cot-ton bale, To Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:V2:~And there I made my ban-jo twank, For Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:V3:~Then like a young coon out so sly, Stole Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:~
w:Verses~4,~5~&~6:
D | G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A G | B A E
w:0 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5  4 3 5 4 1
w:V4:~I said, "Sit down just where you please." Up-on my lap she took her ease.
w:V5:~The riv-er rose, the cric-ket sang, The light-nin' bug did flash his wing.
w:V6:~We hugged how long I can not tell. My Ro-sie seemed to like it well.
F |G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A c | B G z  z |]
w:2 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5 4 6 5 3
w:V4:~"It's good to go up-on the knees", Said Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:V5:~Then like a rope my arms did fling, 'Round Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:V6:~My ban-jo in the riv-er fell. Oh! Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:~
w:Verses~7,~8~&~9:
D | G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A G | B A E
w:0 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5  4 3 5 4 1
w:V7:~Like al-li-ga-tor af-ter prey, I jump in but it float a-way,
w:V8:~Now ev'-ry night come rain or shower, I hunt that ban-jo for an hour;
w:V9:~Oh fare thee well you belles of Spain, And fare thee well to Li-za Jane,
F |G3/2 A/2 G D | E G c e | d3/2 B/2 A c | B G z  z |]
w:2 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5 4 6 5 3
w:V7:~And all the while it seem to say, "Oh Rose of A-la-bam-a."
w:V8:~And see my sweet to-bac-co flower, Oh Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:V9:~Your charms will all be put to shame, By Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:~
w:Chorus:
c2 c2 | c c2  c | c3/2 c/2 d3/2 e/2 | d B2
w:Oh, brown Ro-sie, the Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 8 7 5
G | G3/2 A/2 G D | E/2 G3/2 c e | d3/2 B/2 A3/2 c/2 | B G2 z
w:A sweet to-bac-co po-sey Is my Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:3 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5 4 6 5 3
B | G3/2 A/2 G D | E/2 G3/2 c e | Hd3/2 B/2 A3/2 c/2 | B G2 z |]
w:A sweet to-bac-co po-sey Is my Rose of A-la-bam-a.
w:5 3 4 3 0 1 3 6 8 7 5 4 6 5 3
w:~

===========================================================================

Here is a link to download a .pdf copy of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned diatonic instruments

like most stick dulcimers: Rose%20of%20Alabama.pdf

Enjoy.

I listen to CBG on YouTube and CBN at work. It appears others Eaves Drop on my music. A co-worker comes into my office to "Chill" occassionally and he really likes the music. I like the old delta blues and just CBG blues in general. He likes the music where the notes are crisp and sharp.

I'd mentioned I had built two CBGs. He asked me one day if I build "those guitars". I replied "Yes".

He asked what did I get out of them. I said $75.00 unfretted and $100.00 fretted. Of course I was pulling numbers from you know where. He said he definetely wanted one. So I said I'd build one and let him see and hear it and them see if he wanted it.

So. I dropped by Lowes. It has to be a cold day you know where to go by Home Depot. Don't ask - its a philosophical stance. I spent close to $30.00, my profit margin dwindled. The box I'm using cost me $10.00. That's colse to $40.00 right there. So not counting labor a $35.99 profit. Not very good.

So, I went to a very well known supplier's site and looked up materials and cost. Fretted neck, Strings, Hinges, Latch, Handle, Corners, Bridge, Sound Hole Covers, Jack, Pot, Knob, Piezo & wire, Single coil pickip, Tuners, Frets, Cigar Box, Misc. Total Coat of Materials = $145.55.

So, I'll never quote a CBG build again for less than $199.95. That will allow me $50.00 in profit, not including labor.

The prospect of building one to actually sell puts a whole new perspective on the whole idea. It is no longer a hobby, it is a source of expense vs income. and usually at first more expense in our ignorance.

It is one thing to spend money and give the things away, that is giving away gifts. It is another thing to lose money on a transaction. I know we all understand that concept though it is hard to put into words. It is an ego thing, it insults our intellegence, makes us loose face, makes us feel like dupes.

However, it is a good lesson. And once we figure out we have cornered our self we start looking for ways to recoupe, making us come up with ways and alternative ideas and techniques to cut cost, not corners. We want the quality product, the pride of craftmanship, but we want to say we made a profit to boot - bragging rights.

Life goes through a paradime shift. We start looking in the building pages, on Google, looking for ideas, networking, looking at everything in Lowes, doing Bling searches and hitting images to see what others have donel.

Oh, if we could only take it back! "No I'm not doing any more builds at this time. See me in about a month and I'll let you know then what I'll do one for". and then check with everyonne selling CBG on CBN! But NO, we open mouth and insert foot, speak first and think later, let allegator mouth override bunny butt.

Sigh, well, that's the CBG life folks, better get use to it.

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

==========================================================

X:1
T:Congo River
C:Old Sea Shanty
L:1/4
M:4/4
K:Gmaj
d | B B B/2G/2 G/2G/2 | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:Oh, was you e-ver on the Con-go Ri-ver? (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 3 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A | G D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:Black Fe-ver makes the white man shi-ver. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow.)
w:8 7 5 6 4 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:Verse~2:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:A Yan-kee ship came down the ri-ver. (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A | G D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:Her masts and yards they shone like sil-ver. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow!)
w:8 7 5 6 4 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:Chorus:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:And blow me boys, and blow for-e-ver. Blow, boys, blow.
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A | G D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:And blow me down that Con-go Ri-ver. Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow
w:8 7 5 6 4 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:Verse~3:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:What do you think she had for car-go? (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A | G/2G/2 D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:Why black sheep that had run the em-bar-go. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow!)
w:8 7 5 6 4 3 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:Verse~4:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:What do you think they had for din-ner? (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A | G/2G/2 D G A/2A/2 | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:Why a mon-key's heart and a don-key's li-ver. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow!)
w:8 7 5 6 4 3 3 0 3 4 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~5:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:Now yon-der comes the Ar-row pac-ket. (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A/2A/2 | G D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:She fires her guns can't you hear the rac-ket. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow!)
w:8 7 5 6 4 4 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:~
w:Verse~6:
d | B B B G | A G E G | A2 B2 c3
w:Who do you think was skip-per of her? (Blow, boys, blow!)
w:7 5 5 5 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 6
w:~
e | d B c A/2A/2 | G D G A | B d A/2A/2 B | G3
w:Why Bul-ly Hayes, he's a sail-or rob-ber. (Blow, me bul-ly boys, blow!)
w:8 7 5 6 4 4 3 0 3 4 5 7 4 4 5 3
w:~
w:(Chorus)
w:(Chorus)
w:~

==========================================================

Here's a link to download a .pdf version of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned

diatonic instruments like most stick dulcimers: Congo%20River.pdf

Enjoy.

The following song is in ABC music format and it should be cut and pasted into an ABC converter program like the "abcConverter" on Mandolintab.net. Once you submit your ABC file, the converter will produce a quick and dirty image of your musical score which is then displayed on screen. Above the music, in the center of the screen, you should be able to see these three links:

The first link will allow you to hear your music as played on a midi player, which is great for learning what a new song is supposed to (kind of) sound like. It's great if you are not sure of the timing of the music. The second link converts the ABC source into a .pdf image of your music which you can then save and/or print to yield prettier sheet music. Then, if you want to view the ABC source again, you can click on the third link. However, to edit your ABC source, you best click on your browser's back arrow to take you back to the original text box holding your ABC source.

Well, I like this song, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy:

=============================================================

X:1
T:Hard Times (Come Again No More)
C:Stephen C. Foster, 1854
L:1/8
M:4/4
K:D
P:Moderato
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D" F2
w:Let us pause in life's plea-sures and count its ma-ny tears,
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B>A | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:While we all sup sor-row with the poor.
w:5 4 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D"F2
w:There's a song that will lin-ger for-ev-er in our ears;
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B2 | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:Oh! Hard times, come a-gain no more.
w:5 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
w:~
w: Chorus:
FG | "D"A2 z A A2 GA | "G"B4 "D"A2 z2 |
w:'Tis a song, the sigh of the wea-ry;
w:2 3 4 4 4 3 4 5 4
w:~
"D"d2 A2 "Bm"B2 A2 | "E"FF E>D H"A7"E2 |
w:Hard times, hard times come a-gain no more;
w:7 4 5 4 2 2 1 0 1
w:~
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D"F2
w:Ma-ny days you have lin-gered a-round my ca-bin door.
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
H"G"B2 | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:Oh! Hard times, come a-gain no more.
w:5 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
w:~
w: Second~Verse:
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D" F2
w: While we seek mirth and beau-ty and mu-sic light and gay,
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B>A | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w: There are frail forms faint-ing at the door;
w:5 4 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D"F2
w:Though their voi-ces are si-lent, their plea-ding looks will say.
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B2 | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:Oh! Hard times, come a-gain no more.
w:5 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
w: (Repeat~Chorus)
w:~
w: Third~Verse:
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D" F2
w:There's a pale droop-ing mai-den who toils her life a-way,
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B>A | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:With~a worn heart whose bet-ter days are o'er.
w:5 4 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 0
w:~
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D"F2
w:Though her voice would be mer-ry, 'tis sigh-ing all the day.
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B2 | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:Oh! Hard times, come a-gain no more.
w:5 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
w: (Repeat~Chorus)
w:~
w: Fourth~Verse:
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D" F2
w:'Tis a sigh that is waf-ted a-cross the troub-led wave,
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B>A | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:'Tis~a wail that is heard up-on the shore;
w:5 4 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 0
w:~
DE | "D"F2 FE "D7"F A2 F | "G"EDDE "D"F2
w:'Tis a dirge that is mur-mured a-round the low-ly grave.
w:0 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2
w:~
"G"B2 | "D"A2 F2 "Em"FD "A7"E>D | "D"D4 z2 |
w:Oh! Hard times, come a-gain no more.
w:5 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
w:~
w: (Repeat~Chorus)
w: ~

==========================================================================

Here's a link to download a .pdf version of this song suitable for 1-5-8 tuned diatonic instruments

like most stick dulcimers: Hard%20Times%20%28Come%20Again%20No%20More%29.pdf

Enjoy.

Professor Pete ~ A Goodland County Story
By John Bolton

Clayton, Oklahoma 1934

Professor Pete and Stanley Peters rode the northbound into Goodland County on a gorgeous October afternoon. The steam whistle blew two shorts and long as the train slowed for the town of Clayton. The boys had no idea or immediate concern for where they were. They were both very drunk.

They were dangling their legs from an empty Morton Salt boxcar and Stan stood up to pee. The engineer hit the brakes, the box car lurched and Stan was hurled off the train. He landed on his right side and rolled. The roll came to an end and he started to laugh.

The professor witnessed Stan’s rise and fall. With a subdued, look on his round Swedish face he called out, “For every action there is a reaction.”

Professor Pete tossed down Stan’s gunny sack and his own ancient carpet bag. With their nearly empty hooch bottle in hand he scooted off the slow moving train. He landed badly, screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground. Flat on his back, he held up the bottle like a trophy and called back to Stan, “Didn’t break!”

Stan picked himself up, buttoned his trousers and walked up to Pete. He held out his hand, received the bottle, tipped it up, drained it and then smashed it on the track. “Now it did.”

Pete tried to get up and said, “Oof da, my durned ankle hurts.”

Pete put his arm over Stan’s shoulders and with his right ankle elevated, they hobbled off in search of refreshments.

                                                                                ****

Del Wright was the day deputy and took the call about two very drunk white men stumbling around the colored section picking up discarded cigarette and cigar butts. Del found them almost immediately. They were sitting on the front stoop of a small home. The scrawny one, Stan, was smoking and Professor Pete, a big, good looking man with whitish blonde hair was clumsily rolling a cigarette.

Del parked and ambled up to them. Professor Pete greeted him, “Good afternoon, ossifer. Care for a smoke?”

Del looked them over and saw a small pile of cigarette and cigar butts between them. He said, “No thanks. Are you fellers pickin’ up butts and rolling the tobacco into new smokes?”

Pete nodded sagely, belched and said, “Oof da. Yes ossifer. Waste not want not.”

“You been drinking?” Del asked.

Before Pete, the duo’s apparent spokesman could reply, Stan lurched to his feet, stepped off the porch and puked wretchedly and profusely into the flower bed.

Del said, “That is downright rude. I like petunias.”

Professor Pete said, “Oof da. Those are pansies, not petunias. And I apologize for my indisposed friend. We were drinking, but we’re done with that now. I’m sorry for any inconvenience.”

Del said, “Well, you’re drunk as skunks. I can put you in jail or you can mosey down the tracks and save the county the expense. And what the hell is oof da?”

Pete used the porch rail to get up gingerly and said, “Thank you, ossifer. We shall mosey. Oh, oof da is an expression up in Minnesota where I come from. It’s like ‘oh my’, or ‘good gracious’ or ‘oh shit’.”

Del said, “Oof da. You two best mosey. We don’t like people puking in the pansies.”

Stan and Pete hobbled a few steps with Pete using Stan as crutch. They both toppled to the dirt street. Pete lay on his back and told Del. “Ossifer, I fear I’ve injured my limb. Crippled my hind foot. Turned my ankle. I am in dire straights, sir and we are in fact, inebriated. Drunk. Besotted. Three sheets to the wind… Maybe four.”

Del squatted down and probed Pete’s ankle. He said, “Shit. I mean oofda. You got that front leg bone poking where it shouldn’t be poking. Above your ankle. Okay then. Pete’s goin’ to the doc. What’s the plan, Stan? You want to wait on the edge of town for Pete?”

“I don’t got no plan.” Never did.”

Pete said, “Stan needs to get on home to Topeka. His old gran is ill. It’s time we take divergent paths, my friend. Good luck to you, my boon companion.”

“Well gents,” said Del. It’s been entertainin’. Professor Pete, if you won’t puke in the car, I will carry you down to the doc’s.”

Del helped Dr. Koster by pulling strong and steady on Pete’s foot while the doc casted the ankle and lower leg. And surprise, surprise, Pete pulled a money clip from his pocket and paid the doc in full and still had a green back or two remaining in the clip.

“Now what Professor?” Del inquired.

Professor Pete sighed and said, “I could use a bath, a bed and a laundry. Is there a clean and inexpensive hotel nearby?”

Del and the doc exchanged knowing looks and Del said, “We have the finest hotel for miles around. At least for ten miles. I own it. I don’t know about clean, but it’s cheap. Can you get up a flight of stairs on those crutches?”

                                                                                      ****

Del went down for breakfast the next day and was surprised to see the professor there with his cast propped up on a chair. He was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

Del got a doughnut and pulled up a chair. “How’s the leg, Professor?”

“Oof da. It’s tiresome and throbbing. My first night in a bed in over a week and I could not sleep. I was going to try and catch a train, but I see a job here in the want ads. Deputy, can you direct me to the school?”

“The school?”

“Yes. They advertise for a part time Latin teacher and substitute teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“Chemistry is my specialty, but I can teach Latin. I hold a teaching certificate. I have it with me in fact.”

Del’s eyebrows raised in surprise and he said, “A Latin teaching hobo?”

“At your service.”

“Professor, I thought you were full of shit, but it turns out you’re full of surprises.”

“Oh deputy, I’m only full of shit when I drink. And I only drink when there is something in the bottle! No, I’m just joshing you. I’m a good teacher. And I’ll go easy on the drink if I get the job.”

There were a lot of good men on the tramp in the dirty thirties. Del had been on the road himself and he usually saw the good in people. But there was something about Pete Peterson that Del didn’t trust.

But Pete got the teaching job and stayed on at the Hotel Delroy though the teaching year. Del figured he’d do something like knock up the first grade teacher and abscond with the pay role.

Pete quit using the professor name. That was a hobo thing.
He was a teacher, but not a professor. Staff and students liked him and he fit in around town and the hotel too. And it seemed like before long everyone in town was saying, ‘Oof da.’

Pete stayed in Clayton for years. He married the algebra teacher, taught school, coached basketball and eventually became school principal. Del kept waiting for something scandalous to happen. But to his continued surprise, it never did.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hubcap Man’s Grave Site (A True story) By John Bolton

The hubcap man lived on a well kept farmstead in the rolling hills of western Iowa. What made his place stand out was the collection of chrome hubcaps wired to the barbwire fence that parallels the road in front of his house. I saw those hubcaps for years but didn’t know who lived there. In my imagination, it was an old guy with a sense of humor and an independence streak.

I finally met the hubcap man. I think it was the summer of 2010. He was younger than I had imagined, maybe mid sixties. He was likeable and did in fact have a sense of humor and an independent streak. And he was terminally ill. I’ve passed his place since that time and the hubcaps are still there and the farm stead is still neat and well kept. I wondered what became of him and supposed he had passed on.

On a nearly perfect fall day in later September of 2012, I was making the drive that would take me past his place. Farmers were in the fields with combines and grain wagons. About half the corn crop was harvested and some farmers were starting to combine the soybeans which had just made their autumn change from golden brown to dirty brown.

I wanted a break from driving and decided to stop at a pioneer cemetery which lays just up the hill from the hubcap man’s place. It was my first time there. I like history and old cemeteries. There were old graves and new. The oldest I saw was from 1850.

The cemetery is on a fairly steep hill and has a small timber on one side. It’s a pretty place with a view of the Boyer River valley. Near the top of the cemetery hill was a three foot tall jagged boulder. Something shiny at its base caught my eye and I walked up to it. At the foot of the boulder sat an unopened can of Bud Light beer and some new golf balls. A magic marker sat on the boulder and the boulder was covered with what I first thought was graffiti.

It wasn’t graffiti. I will call what was written on the boulder ‘tributes’. They said things like, “I love you, dad.” “We miss you.” “The corn crop sucks.”

I had never seen that done. I liked it. Then I looked at the headstone and realized it was the hubcap man. I stood at his grave site and looked toward his old home. I could clearly see it and the hubcaps along the fence.

Every day I check the mail box. Looking for one order from Gitty and one from a company in Thailand. The company inThailand sells really cheap capacitors, pots, boards, etc. However, it takes ten days or more to arrive. More usuallly. Gitty takes far less, it just seems like ten days since I am anxious. I am awaiting two sets of tuners. two sets of strings and twenty five grommits for strings.

Read an article today about tools needed to do a professional job of building CBGs. It was from someone who does this for a living. They listed real tools, band saws, drill presses, plainers, belt sanders, scroll saws, table saws, several sets of drills and a power screw driver, dramill tool, chisel set, rasps, files, and a lot more. They said a cheap set of these tools could be bought for around $1200 to $1500 and suggested one invest that just to get started.

Really?

Raise your hand if you can invest that much right now. Ok, a few of you have decent jobs, the rest of us are ordinary blue collar stiffs.

I've given up chex mix and chocolot, and ginger ale to support my weekly thirty something to forty dollar purchases.

My breakfast cereal bowl ends up in my shop, I moved my computer to my shop, and a dorm refridgerator. Beverage cans overflow the trash can.

My new second hobby is shopping antique stores, flea markets, yard sales, and junk places for tools and supplies. The last two cigar boxes I got were from junk dealers and the draw knife for doing guitar necks from a flea market. I call shopping going to Lowes. I hit the hardware isle at Wal Mart and even find myself in the electronic isle of Goodwill looking for amps and tube radios or old guitars to turn into resonators, or cannobalize.

I even watch the road side when driving down the road for hub caps or parts. Its obsessive.

The cost is far more than money, its time, its personal time, family time, its every waking thought, all our energy, its our every thought like time. Its worse than football, worse than sex even. Its an addiction. We'd almost steal to feed it, we'd beg, we'd have no shame, and we'd grovel with the dealer using every trick to get him or her down one more dime.

We have no shame.

It cost us our very soul, our dignity.

The cost is great, but the reward is worth it when our creation is done, when that first note rings out, the beauty shines forth, the marvel and miracle happens.

We again become a proud parent, we have created, have birthed, have brought forth, have enriched the world.

AH, is there anything like it my firend?

 Thanks for the advice on fret placement. Have just constructed 2 necks for my CBG's. Had a lot of help from this site and google even though some were a bit complicated, I thought that CBG's were unsophisticated barnyard instruments but I was wrong Thanks Mike