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wiseguy142 - Posted - 03/04/2009: 19:13:10
So I'm in my 3rd week of playing and I think I'm moving along pretty well. One of my initial goals was to learn to play Bela Fleck's "Big Country." There seems to be pretty good tabs on this site for the beginning, but I've been trying to learn from a youtube video for the second part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWjMZRtSzE
The part I'm having trouble with starts at about 3:06 where he's playing the melody notes on the high D string. I'm not sure what roll he's using or really how to incorporate the melody correctly into a roll like that. That seems like that's one of the initial tricks to the banjo you have to learn but I don't think my ear/playing is sophisticated enough to play that.
Can anyone decipher what that roll is and how to play that?
The KIDD - Posted - 03/04/2009: 20:55:45
Hey,
Yeah, Ita a FWD roll started with the M finger. M T I M T I M T.Whats throwin ya "maybe " is the tripolet effect of the melody. The 123 123 12 effect.He's also syncopating the roll to another variation by omitting a I note and gettin a MT MT effect to turn the roll around to accent on different beats. I do alot of that in Salt Creek, Old Joe, Grandfather Clock "up the neck" to name a few. I dont play this one but play several like it.with the melody on the 1 st..Sammy S has a few instrumentals like Darlin Child, Janey Bell, Southern Comfort that use alot of this "tripolet" effect with the FWD Roll.
Yeah, I got my banjo and played what this cat is playin and the above fingering notes out the melody perfectly where you indicated.. Manuel Stocks (VIOLANJO) has a rendition of it on the jukebox also.
John
http://www.myspace.com/johnkuhnbluegrass
eagleisland - Posted - 03/05/2009: 04:24:53
Loathe as I am to disagree with John, whose advice here is among the best, I beg to differ. The second part relies predominiately on a BACKWARD rolls - or, more precisely (if you count a roll as 8 notes) a weird sort of backward-forward or reverse roll.
I don't have time to tab it here, but it's actually m-i-t-m-t-i-m-t.
First measure. so you can get the idea::
--5--------5-------------7-------
-----0--------------0------------
--------0-------------------------
-----------------------------------
----------------0------------0----
I have paper copies of both the first and last breaks as they were played on the Left of Cool album. Shoot me a fax number backchannel and I'll be happy to send them sometime in the next few days.
BTW - this is a REALLY ambitious song for a new player to learn. But if it's working for you, carry on!
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
The KIDD - Posted - 03/05/2009: 08:15:06
Yep, I knew with the way I was figuring on this , I had a 50 /50..
..I played it both ways and both do work for putting the melody note on the right beat. The BWD roll does create more " excitement" becuase of the closer in pitch B note following the melody note..OH , I KNEW someone would post the tab sooner or later to help this cat out but I like doing things the oldfashion way...At least I tried..
http://www.myspace.com/johnkuhnbluegrass
eagleisland - Posted - 03/05/2009: 09:40:12
quote:
Originally posted by The KIDD
Yep, I knew with the way I was figuring on this , I had a 50 /50....I played it both ways and both do work for putting the melody note on the right beat. The BWD roll does create more " excitement" becuase of the closer in pitch B note following the melody note..OH , I KNEW someone would post the tab sooner or later to help this cat out but I like doing things the oldfashion way...At least I tried..
Tellya what, John - I'm betting your way is easier to play. The "correct" version is the part of the song that I have the most trouble with - and that includes the second break!
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
wiseguy142 - Posted - 03/05/2009: 15:42:20
quote:
Originally posted by eagleisland
BTW - this is a REALLY ambitious song for a new player to learn. But if it's working for you, carry on!
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
I seem to have the first part down- the part that's tabbed out here in the tab archives. Once I nail the timing a little better I think it'll be really solid. I was a little surprised that I picked it up quickly too but it's been one of my favorite songs for years and I just had to learn it. Looking at other songs like "Sunset Road" is a little more intimidating for me since I don't know much about different chord structures etc. But I played the first part of Big Country for my father, who is a blues musician/guitarist and he seemed to think it was great so hopefully I'm on the right track.
Thanks to everyone who replied. I have to say, I love the internet. You guys are a great resource and really know your stuff. I'm sitting at work and haven't been able to pick up a banjo and digest some of the tips but I'll get on it right when I get off.
eagleisland - Posted - 03/07/2009: 08:09:21
wiseguy, check your email. I sent you a pdf of the tab.
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
banjodad1 - Posted - 03/07/2009: 14:33:14
Sorry, I'm old school. Big Country belongs to JD Crowe. No one plays it like him. Want to peel the paint off the outhouse? Learn JD Crowe's version of Big Country.
eagleisland - Posted - 03/07/2009: 16:42:50
quote:
Originally posted by banjodad1
Sorry, I'm old school. Big Country belongs to JD Crowe. No one plays it like him. Want to peel the paint off the outhouse? Learn JD Crowe's version of Big Country.
All due respect, BanjoDad, but we're talking a totally different song here.
Same title, though. Enjoy.eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
Bohous - Posted - 03/15/2009: 15:44:26
Hi Eagleisland,
2 weeks ago I have started to interest in learning Big country written by Béla and now I am reading yours forum...
I have the some problem, I have downloaded that youtube lesson, but some parts are not clear to me, so I would like to kindly ask you, are you able to send me that pdf tab over the ocean to the Czech Republic?
I would be very happy if yes ;)
Bye Bohous
eagleisland - Posted - 03/15/2009: 16:42:35
Bohous, check your email! 
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
agentheath - Posted - 03/15/2009: 18:19:03
eagleisland, could you send me the tab as well. it would be much appreciated, I've been trying to learn this song for a while...
eagleisland - Posted - 03/16/2009: 04:06:32
quote:
Originally posted by agentheath
eagleisland, could you send me the tab as well. it would be much appreciated, I've been trying to learn this song for a while...
No way to do that unless you send me an email backchannel. Can't put attachments on PMs through the hangout.
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
Leigh - Posted - 03/24/2009: 07:23:47
Very nice playing, and nice set of videos. Thanks for sharing with us.
Leigh
Rederijker - Posted - 04/21/2009: 15:44:05
Hello mr. Eagleisland,
As I have also fell in love with the big country tune from Bela Fleck, having crossed the internet not to be able to find the tab, I would be very delighted if you could send me the tab. I've seen the instruction video's from mr. Flecktonesrock on YouTube , but he's going way too fast for me to find out which notes he's picking.
I thank you in advance,
Best Regards,
Bart
Leiden, The Netherlands,
playng banjo for 1 year, playing guitar for 20 years.
quote:
Originally posted by eagleisland
quote:
Originally posted by banjodad1
Sorry, I'm old school. Big Country belongs to JD Crowe. No one plays it like him. Want to peel the paint off the outhouse? Learn JD Crowe's version of Big Country.
All due respect, BanjoDad, but we're talking a totally different song here.
Same title, though. Enjoy.
eagleisland
"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe
Keep smiling!
friendswithlighters - Posted - 04/21/2009: 16:39:32
Sorry to be a pain, but I am also trying to learn big country...the youtube videos are good but they skip over some sections that I am shakey on. Any help with a tab would be hugely appreciated!
banjovy - Posted - 05/27/2009: 22:24:16
You can get an accurate version from a back issue of Banjo Newsletter. It is cheap and you would be supporting a good cause. Its Volume XXV No. 11 September 1998. It also has part 2 of a good bela interview.
Chris Quinn - Posted - 05/27/2009: 23:53:35
Wiseguy142,
Seeing that you have been playing banjo since only recently, I was looking at your avatar and noticed the placement of your banjo's bridge. If the banjo in the picture is the banjo you are playing, then the bridge appears to be in the wrong place on the head of the banjo. When tuned properly in open position, you will find, with your bridge where it is, that the notes become increasingly sharp, or above pitch as you go up the neck. This will cause your goal of playing Big Country to be challenged by intonation problems.
I suggest that you take your banjo to a skilled repair-person and ask them to set the bridge for you. This will make your banjo easier to tune and therefore easier to play.
And, not to discourage you, Big Country is a challenging piece. Go for it! And when you are done, get The Foggy Mountain Banjo cd by Earl Scruggs and work through those songs; the skills you will acquire there will enhance your playing of Big Country.
It's all a journey and a process.
Best wishes,
Chris Quinn
Chris Quinn
www.foggyhogtownboys.com
banjo321 - Posted - 05/29/2009: 18:39:49
That tune sounds a ;ot like the old irish tune Loch Lomond
DanDini - Posted - 07/06/2009: 05:55:36
Hi eagleisland - I'd like a copy of that pdf too please.
Thanks,
Dan
