Cluck OId Hen Clawhammer Banjo TAB – Modal Tuning
Here is a clawhammer banjo tab to the old tune “Cluck Old Hen.” Please notice that this is in Modal tuning (gDGCD). Yes, that’s right, the 2nd string is tuned up to C. This is a common tuning for clawhammer banjo.
Form of Cluck Old Hen:
There is an A section that is 8 bars long and a B section (Chorus) that is 8 bars long. In the TAB, you will notice there are repeat signs after each section as marked.
I caution against listing any chords because it’s really an old modal tune that is a whole lot of G. I don’t think these sorts of tunes lend themselves well to a “chordal” type thinking. You can throw in an F chord if you’d like for accompaniment.
Some Lyrics to Cluck Old Hen:
My Old Hen’s a good old hen
She lays eggs for the railroad men
Sometimes one, Sometimes two
Sometimes enough for the whole dang crew.
Chorus:
Cluck old hen, cluck and squall
You ain’t laid an egg since way last Fall
Cluck old hen, cluck and squall
You ain’t laid an egg since way last Spring.
