Chinquapin Hunting

Chinquapin Hunting is a traditional old-time reel in A major commonly played in AEAE cross-tuning. Multiple distinct tunes share this title, the most widely known being a three-part crooked tune associated with Norman Edmonds (1889-1976) of Hillsville, Virginia. Edmonds recorded this version on his 1973 album Train on the Island for Spring Fed Records. The tune features irregular phrase lengths that give it a distinctively asymmetrical feel, marking it as a crooked tune. Bruce Molsky’s performances of the Edmonds version have become particularly influential in modern old-time sessions.

A separate version exists from Kentucky fiddlers Hiram Stamper (1893-1992) and his son Art Stamper, also in AEAE tuning but with a different melody.