Don Tremaine's Reel: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Graham Townsend · Key of D · 120 BPM · 2/2 time · Canadian Fiddle · Beginner
Chords used in this arrangement: D, G, A.
This tune is named after Don Tremaine, the beloved CBC broadcaster who served as announcer for Don Messer's Jubilee. The connection runs even deeper than the title suggests, since Graham Townsend's own father was Don Messer's square dance caller, making the whole Messer orbit basically a family affair for Townsend. Graham wrote this reel around 1961, while still a teenager, which is wild to think about given how polished and satisfying the tune feels. It's a bright, driving D reel with a pretty straightforward A-part that sits nicely under the fingers, but the B-part climbs up into higher territory with those ascending runs, so watch your position shifts and give yourself time to get the string crossings clean before you bring it up to speed.
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 Don Tremaine's Reel PDF.
Don Tremaine's Reel: questions and answers
What key is Don Tremaine's Reel in?
Don Tremaine's Reel is in D major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in Don Tremaine's Reel?
The chords in this arrangement are D, G, A. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Don Tremaine's Reel played?
This recording is at 120 BPM in 2/2 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is Don Tremaine's Reel a good tune for beginners?
Yes. Don Tremaine's Reel is rated beginner, so it suits players who are still learning their first tunes.
Can I download Don Tremaine's Reel as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/don-tremaines-reel.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
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More in D
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- Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine (D, 120 BPM)
- Fairy Dance (Nathaniel Gow, D, 120 BPM)
- Briar Picker Brown (D, 120 BPM)
- Banks of the Ohio (D, 120 BPM)
- Quince Dillons High D (D, 120 BPM)
- Frieze Britches (D, 120 BPM)
Browse more: Mandolin tabs, Tunes in the key of D, French-Canadian tunes, Beginner mandolin tabs, or see all songs and the chord charts.