Big Sciota: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of G · 120 BPM · 4/4 time · Appalachans Fiddle · Beginner
Chords used in this arrangement: G, Em, D, C.
The name of this song comes from the Scioto River in Ohio, and "Scioto" itself traces back to a Wyandot word meaning "deer". The tune basically came to the world through one man: Burl Hammons, a fiddler from Marlinton, West Virginia, who said he learned it from his uncle Pete. What's wild is that Hammons played it differently almost every time — folklorist Alan Jabbour noted he'd irregularly repeat phrases within both parts, making it "wonderfully crooked," and different collectors who recorded him came away with noticeably different versions. The tune you're learning here is the smoothed-out, jam-friendly mandolin tab version, which is actually how most people know it. That soaring B-part run up to the high notes is where it really sings on mandolin, so let that phrase breathe a little when you get there.
This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the Big Sciota PDF.
Big Sciota: questions and answers
What key is Big Sciota in?
Big Sciota is in G major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in Big Sciota?
The chords in this arrangement are G, Em, D, C. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Big Sciota played?
This recording is at 120 BPM in 4/4 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is Big Sciota a good tune for beginners?
Yes. Big Sciota is rated beginner, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.
Can I download Big Sciota as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/big-sciota.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
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