Devil's Dream

Also called Devil's Dream Reel

Type: Reel (4/4)
Key: A
Tuning: GDAE (standard) or AEAE
Difficulty
Genre: Old-time, Bluegrass, Contra

This is a new transcription that hasn’t been checked against the printed source yet. If a note looks wrong, let me know.

A, standard tuning, difficulty 3 of 5. Source: Ryan's Mammoth Collection (Boston, 1883).

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Speed 75% (81 BPM)Loop

Tune to GDAE Metronome at 81 Download ABC

Sheet music and playback need JavaScript. Here is the tab as text:Part A | E3 2 3 0 3 2 3 0 | 3 2 3 0 1 0 A3 2 | 3 E1 A1 E1 A3 E1 A1 E1 | A3 E1 A1 E1 3 2 1 0 | | E3 2 3 0 3 2 3 0 | 3 2 3 0 1 0 A3 2 | 3 E1 0 A3 2 0 1 0 | D1 A0 0 | Part B | A2 E0 A0 E0 A2 E0 A0 E0 | A2 E0 A0 E0 1 0 A3 2 | 3 E1 A1 E1 A3 E1 A1 E1 | A3 E1 A1 E1 3 2 1 0 | | A2 E0 A0 E0 A2 E0 A0 E0 | A2 E0 A0 E0 1 0 A3 2 | 3 E1 0 A3 2 0 1 0 | D1 A0 0 |

Reading the tab

Each note shows its string and finger: A0 is the open A string, 2 is your second finger. The letter only appears when you change string. L means low (finger back, a half step down) and H means high. A plain 2 is the usual high 2 in keys like D and A.

Notes under each finger in GDAE tuning
String	0	L1	1	L2	2	3	H3	4
E	E	F	F♯	G	G♯	A	A♯	B
A	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D	D♯	E
D	D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G	G♯	A
G	G	A♭	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D

About the tune

A contra-dance and bluegrass standard full of string crossings: the A and E strings trade notes in almost every bar, which makes it a good bowing workout once you have a tune or two under your fingers.