Blue Mule
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Banjo Tablature
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
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Standard Notation
Banjo Tablature
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
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Mandolin Tablature - wide
Violin Tablature - wide
Banjo Tablature - wide
American
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Blue Mule", also known as "Old Blue Mule" and "Austin Breakdown" is an American reel <br> in cut time and G Major. The parts are played AB (Silberberg), AA'BB' (Lamancusa) or<br> AA'BB'C (Beisswenger & McCann).<br> "Blue Mule" was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist<br> Vance Randolph in the early 1940's from Ozarks Mountains fiddlers, where it is a<br> regionally popular tune formerly seldom heard in other parts of the country.<br> The tune may have had origins in a hornpipe and is structurally similar. Mark Wilson sees<br> resemblance with the tune<br> "Nancy's Got a Pretty Dress On".<br> There is some speculation it may have derived from the play-party song<br> "Skip to My Lou".<br> "Blue Mule" is usually heard played in two strains. Source Glen Rickman (1901-1982)<br> believed the tune to have been played during the Civil War and identified his additional<br> third part as the one a "Rebel" cousin had played [Beisswenger & McCann].<br> Guthrie Meade gives two early 78RPM recorded sources: Bob Miller's Hinky Dinkers (1930) and<br> Jess Hillard & His West Virginia Hillbillies (1933).<br> The banjo tablature is from John Letscher.<br> The tune was in the repertoire of Missouri fiddlers Art Galbraith (1909-1993, who said it was<br> learned from older members of his family) and Bob Holt (1930-2004).<br> It was recorded by Bill (Willie) Bilyeau for the Library of Congress.<br> It was printed sin Beisswenger & McCann's Ozarks Fiddle Music (2008),<br> Silberberg's Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern (2002) and<br> Lamancusa's The Gettysburg Collection of Old-Time Fiddle Tunes (2021).<br> It was recorded by Art Galbraith on Dixie Blossoms (1981),<br> Art Galbraith on Dixie Blossoms (1980).<br>
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