Boil That Cabbage Down
Soldier's Joy

If I could locate the list of fiddle tunes I bet I still possess (and which is on old fashioned 8 1/2 X11 paper), I could come with at least fifty more.

Your best bet might be to attend the jams you intend to frequent, make note of the songs that are played frequently, then learn those. For example, in my neck of the woods, I've never heard either Soldiers Joy of Boil em Down, played in a Bluegrass Jam, but we hear Whiskey Before Breakfast almost every week. Your mileage WILL vary.

I’ve played Old Joe Clark at most jams I’ve been to. Cripple Creek, and Angeline the Baker ( with lyrics) also show up often.

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Originally posted by doryman

Your best bet might be to attend the jams you intend to frequent, make note of the songs that are played frequently, then learn those.

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This is good advice. There's only thousands of songs/tunes, so when in Rome. . . . .

Otherwise:

Redwing 

When you and I were Young/Maggie

Wabash Cannonball 

Flop-eared Mule 

Golden Slippers

St. Anne's Reel 

Ky. Waltz 

Tenn. Waltz 

Faded Love

Little Liza Jane

Cherokee Shuffle 

and 2 chord tune, and state it's 2 chords. See Pete Wernick's Jamgrass section of his Dr.Banjo.com site.

Indeed, either note the commonly played ones or make a recording at the jam. Yes, different areas of the country have different favorites. Remember, key is important. The Red Haired Boy is a popular tune.

Depends on how hardcore this 'bluegrass' jam is. Most of the tunes above could be considered more Old Time tunes, and while they do show up at some BG jams, around here, the more BG related ones, like many Kenny Baker/Bill Monroe tunes (Jerusalem Ridge, Wheel Hoss, Big Mon), and others like Down Yonder, Road to Columbus, Blackberry Blossom, etc are more common. At most BG jams, the jam usually centers around the vocal tunes and the breaks and fills are where the skill levels are. Every jam session has its own etiquette, style and song list. Dana, there are lots of threads about jams on here, do a search, you'll be well rewarded. Some folks love jam sessions (like me), and others would not be caught dead at one. Good luck and remember to have fun!

quote:

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Originally posted by doryman

Your best bet might be to attend the jams you intend to frequent, make note of the songs that are played frequently, then learn those. For example, in my neck of the woods, I've never heard either Soldiers Joy of Boil em Down, played in a Bluegrass Jam, but we hear Whiskey Before Breakfast almost every week. Your mileage WILL vary.

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Never have those been played in a jam I've attended either. Whiskey B4 Breakfast, yes. The tunes they play at bluegrass jams are bluegrass specific usually, but Old Joe Clark, Salt Creek (or calls it Salt River sometimes), Cherokee Shuffle and occasionally (Cold) Frosty Morning gets played. Funny that I just noticed they are all A tunes.

A - Clinch Mountain Backstep, Gold Rush, Big Mon

G - Foggy Mt Breakdown, Fireball (might be fireball mail?), Shuckin' the Corn, Wheel Hoss

C - Farewell Blues, Limehouse Blues

D - Forked Deer, Whiskey B4 Breakfast 

Those stick out as tunes that get played pretty often. Some jams are filled with tunes, others are overwhelmingly vocal songs. In my opinion, getting song melodies down in multiple keys will serve you more than learning random tunes that may or may not get called. Also songs can and likely will be in keys like B Bb maybe E C and D, so familiarly with those keys will serve you well.

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Originally posted by danalundy

I am fairly new to playing bluegrass, and I try to get to a JAM or two most weeks. What fiddle tunes are good for jam sessions that I should learn? Tyia

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Being fairly new, not sure if the JAM you are describing is actually Bluegrass, as that often get's generically labeled, for other type of music, especially what folks might more describe as "old-time".  Just to be aware that types of tunes, and approach to playing can be a bit different. Even same tune, such as Billy in the Lowground is good example; of a tune that can be quite different.

Even with those labels, they can be a bit vague, and refer to different types of tunes/style. IMO, the best course is to show up and just listen to what they play; record or take mental notes; and/or just ask those at that JAM what types of tunes/music and possibly good resources, including what fiddlers as source.

I've found Soldier's Joy pretty popular, gets played a lot at jams, and dances; still one of my favorites (I learned as kid it as "Love Somebody").

As one prominent fiddler mentioned at a workshop years ago... in response to attendee's comment SJ too run of mill, pedestrian, beginner... pointed out "it's popular, classic, because it's a great tune, and so malleable; it's not the tune's fault if it sounds boring".

Boil Em' Cabbage Down, unfortunately has becomes some beginner, stereotype shuffle thing that teachers like to teach. I think is also still a good tune/song, but play/sing it in older way, without the imposed stereotype shuffle.

Maybe not a Blugrass jam tune, but here's a recording I have of Joe Birchfield fiddling this piece. Because of its reputation as a "beginner's tune" I haven't listened to it too much, and I had thought of Joe as kind of a "shuffle" fiddler, what some might call "jig bow." However, it seems he had a bowing pattern worked out for each section, which he used consistently. I'm trying to follow on banjo.

Bile the Cabbage Down

Not to have a 'Bile Off," but here's Jake Krack's version. 

The Cabbage is a great BG jam tune. Widely known, not overly complex so a good novice tune with much to teach about BG song structure, but fun to play around with.

I used to host a Bluegrass Jam in Frederick...You'll find a couple jams going on there weekly!

Thanks for all you sharing and wisdoms!!! @Erockin @wrench13 @farmerjones @DougD @alaskafiddler @ChickenMan @usuallypickin @stumpkicker @doryman @lonesomefiddler

Dana we'll be in Marcus Hook, Pa in Sept and at the Sea Witch Festival in Oct, Rehoboth Beach, De. Like 50% of our show is fiddle tunes of one sort or another.