The source recordings is Al Hopkins and the Buckle Busters from the 1920's. It's meant to be a pretty fast dance tune and has four parts.

An original tune

As played by Tennessee fiddler John Sharp, I wouldn't have know I have Lake Erie on a CD by Bruce Molsky and Bob Carlin hiding under "John Sharp Medley." I'm one who appreciates detailed liner notes, but they weren't here. So thanks to Tune of the Week and Mark Gentry this week!

Art Rosenbaum included Sweet Nora Lee in an album and a book subsequently tabbed. He played it in Seeger's up-picking style, but I arranged it for clawhammer here. It's a sweet song with some lyrics, too.

Here's a "barn burner" as played by WV fiddler Clark Kessinger, but more like a rocking chair when I play it. It sure has a range, so I turned to the cello banjo and tuned it just three steps lower than standard to play an A tune out of an equivalent to double C tuning.

As played by August Merrill, Missouri fiddler, and collected by R.P. Christeson. Missouri tunes are often notey, and I suspect with more familiarity, I'd want to simplify this more for banjo ease.

John Salyer's tune, played out of "Old-G" tuning. I pulled it out of another of my *.mp3's at the hangout: "Old G-athon" which has four other tunes with it.

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

A modern composition of an old-timey tune. It's a bit challenging to play with its timing, but pleasant and lively. The "Golden Ticket" may have originated as a well-understood concept from the book and movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.