The Black Nag: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of Bm · 120 BPM · 6/8 time · English jig · Intermediate
Chords used in this arrangement: Bm, A, D, Em, F#m.
"The Black Nag" first showed up in print as "The Galloping Nag" in the 1657 third edition of John Playford's Dancing Master, and it was popular enough that it stayed in every subsequent edition of that book all the way through the 18th and final edition in 1728. That's over 70 years of unbroken print life for a single tune, which is a pretty good sign somebody really liked it. The tune is only 24 bars long, but the actual country dance it was written for is 72 bars — so you'd play the whole thing through three times just to get dancers once through the figures.
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 The Black Nag PDF.
The Black Nag: questions and answers
What key is The Black Nag in?
The Black Nag is in B minor. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in The Black Nag?
The chords in this arrangement are Bm, A, D, Em, F#m. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is The Black Nag played?
This recording is at 120 BPM in 6/8 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is The Black Nag a good tune for beginners?
The Black Nag is rated intermediate, so it is best approached after a few beginner tunes are comfortable.
Can I download The Black Nag as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/the-black-nag-2.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
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