New Backing Track For “The Merry Blacksmith”

Here is another great song that Dave Hum plays using the Double C tuning. The trickiest part of playing the song is on the first string at the 5th and 7th fret, and then down to the 2nd and 3rd strings. The key, if you watch what Dave is doing, is to keep those triplets going. His fingers keep steadily rolling through the notes, playing triplets. Watch what he does. The technique that he uses makes it much easier to play this run (in my humble opinion), than if you try to do the hammer-on without continuously playing triplets.

The Merry Blacksmith is a traditional Irish reel in the Key of D. The song is also known as The Blackened Smith, The Boys Of The Lake, The Corkonian, The Drayman’s Round, Music Of The Forge, Paddy On The Railroad, The Peeler’s Cap and Sleigh Ride. I used Dave Hum's recording as a template. I recently downloaded the free version of MODO's drum VST plugin for my MixCraft software, which has some nice percussive sounds. For this song, use a capo on the 2nd fret, and 7th fret of the 5th string. Enjoy!

1. The Merry Blacksmith (normal speed)
2. The Merry Blacksmith (slower)
3. The Merry Blacksmith (normal - MODO percussion)
4. The Merry Blacksmith (slower - MODO percussion)
5. The Merry Blacksmith (slow - MODO percussion)
6. The Merry Blacksmith (woodshed - MODO percussion)
7. The Merry Blacksmith (no master effects, dryer sounding)
8. The Merry Blacksmith (drum variation - normal speed)
9. The Merry Blacksmith (drum variation - slower)

There are so many great songs to explore and play using the Double C tuning. I enjoy playing this song. This is one of a few songs which Dave Hum plays that I can keep up with his tempo, so I don't have to slow it down. Remember when playing the hammer-on at the 5th to 7th fret on string one to keep the right hand picking continuously, which makes it much easier. I basically just keep rolling the notes on string one with my thumb, forefinger and middle finger (hence, triplets). The song is pretty straight forward to play, so I didn't tab it. Dave does a lot of improvising, which he loves to do, and we love to hear. My favorite part to play is the descending rolling bass lines toward the end.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)