Dailey's Reel — Mandolin Tab

Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · Key of Bb · 120 BPM · 4/4 time · Bluegrass · Beginner

Chords used in this arrangement: Bb, F, Eb.

This is a fairly standard mandolin tab version of Daley's Reel. This one's got a cool little secret - despite living comfortably in the bluegrass world, Dailey's Reel (or sometimes written as Daley's Reel or Daly's Reel) is thought to be Canadian in origin. It got picked up by Kentucky fiddler Kenny Baker out of Letcher County and spread through the bluegrass scene via recordings in the late '60s and '70s, but it's such a universal melody that Irish fiddlers and even a Northumbrian piper eventually grabbed it too. Because it is in Bb, it's probably not that popular at jam sessions, as that key puts some pickers on the back foot, but it's also what gives the tune its distinctive character. The B part especially has a harmonic lift that feels almost surprising the first time through, so enjoy that moment when it hits.

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.