"Big Sandy" is an American reel in cut time and D Major. This is not the same tune as "Big Sandy River" which was composed by Kenny Baker and Bill Monroe. The Big Sandy River, called Sandy Creek as early as 1756, a tributary of the Ohio River, is approximately 29 miles long. The river forms part of the boundary between West Virginia and Kentucky along its entire course. The name of the river, originally called Sandy Creek, comes from the presence of extensive sand bars. The river is navigable and carries commercial shipping, primarily coal mined in the immediate region. The fiddle tune "Sandy River Belle" takes its name from the Big Sandy River. The banjo tablature is by John Letscher. He got it from the recording by Fat City String Band. It was printed in Lamancusa's The Gettysburg Collection of Old-Time Fiddle Tunes (2021). It was recorded by Fat City String Band on The Original Fat City String Band (1999).