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Bluegrass and Fiddle Tunes in the Key of A

ByJody

The key of A is one of the more common keys in bluegrass and old-time jams.  This is because the key sits on the fiddle and mandolin quite well (lots of open strings).  If you play banjo or guitar, you’ll likely be reaching for your capo.

Technically, some of these songs are more modal and not major key songs (mixolydian or dorian); however, for our purposes, we will lump them all together regardless.   Also, understand if they are singing songs (Nine Pound Hammer, Old Home Place), the key will depend on the vocalists.  However, I think these songs are sung enough in A to be called A tunes.

I’ve already done song lists for the key of C major and D major, so check those out if you haven’t already done so.

Key of A major songs

  1. Bill Cheatum
  2. Gold Rush (listen at Kenny Baker play this)
  3. Salt Creek
  4. Red Haired Boy
  5. Big Sandy River
  6. Old Joe Clark
  7. Big Mon
  8. Clinch Mountain Backstep (listen at Ralph Stanley Play it)
  9. Black Mountain Rag
  10. Maiden’s Prayer
  11. Shenadoah Valley Breakdown
  12. Monroe’s Hornpipes
  13. Nine Pound Hammer
  14. Love Please Come Home (Don Reno and Red Smiley)
  15. Old Home Place
  16. Blueridge Cabin Home
  17. You’re Love Is Like A Flower
  18. Theme Time (Bill Emerson’s version)
  19. Big Country (not the Bela Fleck Tune)
  20. Daybreak In Dixie

Most Common A Major Songs – Where to start

Some of the tunes are more popular than others.  Here are a few I recommend starting with

Nine Pound Hammer, Gold Rush, Salt Creek, Old Home Place, Red Haired Boy

Now a few notes on some of the songs:

Mixolydian Tunes

Old Joe Clark, Big Mon, Gold Rush, Salt Creek, and Red Haired Boy are all technically more mixolydian songs.  They feature A to G chord progressions.  Or, in the case of Gold Rush, the melody emphasizes the G natural more (even though it doesn’t contain a G chord).

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Professional musician and educator of 27 years. I've played Banjo and Acoustic Guitar on the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Ryman Auditorium. 4X winner of the Georgia State banjo and flatpick guitar competitions. My banjo playing was featured in the "A Waltons Thanksgiving" movie.

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