Cattle in the Cane: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of A · 120 BPM · 4/4 time · Old-time bluegrass · Beginner
Also known as Yearlings in the Canebreak.
Chords used in this arrangement: A, G, E.
This is a reasonably easy mandolin tab version of Cattle in the Cane.
The earliest known recording of this melody was made in the 1920s by a Texas fiddler named Captain M.J. Bonner, a Civil War veteran who was born in 1847 and lived to 92, and he called it "Yearlings in the Canebreak." What makes the tune genuinely interesting on mandolin is that it pulls a modal switcheroo on you: the A part sits in A Mixolydian (think A major with a flatted seventh that gives it that slightly unresolved, open-air feeling), and then the B part drops into A minor, which is a pretty dramatic shift for such a compact little tune. Your backup guitarist needs a heads-up before you launch in, or they'll get caught flat-footed when the harmony changes. It's well-loved in bluegrass circles as a vehicle for improvisation, especially in that B part, so once you have the melody solid, there's a lot of fun headroom to explore.
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 Cattle in the Cane PDF.
Cattle in the Cane: questions and answers
What key is Cattle in the Cane in?
Cattle in the Cane is in A major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in Cattle in the Cane?
The chords in this arrangement are A, G, E. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Cattle in the Cane 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 Cattle in the Cane a good tune for beginners?
Yes. Cattle in the Cane is rated beginner, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.
Can I download Cattle in the Cane as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/cattle-in-the-cane.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
Is Cattle in the Cane known by any other names?
Yes. It is also called Yearlings in the Canebreak. The same melody often travels under several titles in different regions and collections.
Related tunes
More in A
- The Atholl Highlanders (William Ross, A, 120 BPM)
- Joys of Quebec (Fortunat Malouin, A, 120 BPM)
- Bull at the Wagon (Dempson and Denmon Lewis, A, 120 BPM)
- Brides a Bonnie Thing (A, 120 BPM)
- Bonnie Tammie (A, 120 BPM)
- Bonnie Isle o'Whalsay (A, 120 BPM)
- Fire on the Mountain (A, 120 BPM)
- Beaumont Rag (A, 120 BPM)
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