Bonnie Tammie — Mandolin Tab

Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of A · 120 BPM · 2/4 time · Scottish Folk · Intermediate

Chords used in this arrangement: A, D, E.

Did you know that "Tammie" is a classic Scots pet name for Thomas! The kind of affectionate nickname that shows up all over the old song tradition, so this tune is essentially named after a beloved lad, no surname needed. It's a neat little piece of the Scottish folk world where tunes carry the warmth of real people rather than grand historical events. In A major, it sits beautifully on the mandolin, and the key gives you those satisfying open strings ringing through the A and E parts. Make sure you lean into them. The melody is bouncy and singable, which is usually a sign that the tune traveled well through oral tradition, passed between fiddlers in kitchens long before anyone bothered writing it down.

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.