olderisbetter - Posted - 04/22/2009:  22:31:48

---

anyone know this one or what tuning is used? its also known as jaybirds march.

janolov - Posted - 04/22/2009:  22:46:37

---

There is a tune named just "Jaybird" in Dan Levenson's Festival Tunes book which is in double D. On the other hand, in my head I can hear another Marching by Etta Baker or Elisabeth Cotton which seems to be quit another tune, but I haven't figured out that tuning yet.

Jan-Olov

Chris Berry - Posted - 04/22/2009:  22:55:52

---

The Etta Baker fingerstyle piece (played even better by her sister-in-law? Lacey Phillips) is in regular old G tuning. You can see Baker playing it on the Mike Seeger Old-Time Banjo Styles on Homespun.

She plays it two-finger index lead, the version Phillips plays is three-finger and is based mostly on a backwards roll repeated over and over again.

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/23/2009:  02:23:28

---

*** Reed Martin plays a 3 finger version of Marching Jaybird in G on his Old Time Banjo album. I quote from the insert to Reed's CD:
" Marching Jaybird came from two sources. Peter Hoover put it on the tape he made for me. He learned it from a man at a gas station in Hagerstown, Maryland, who saw the banjo in his car and said, "I play banjo." Peter took the banjo out and the man played "Marching Jaybird." I also heard it on a recording called Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians(Traditional Records TLP *1007), where Lacey Phillips plays a similar version. It is a nice finger picking tune with syncopated backward rolls, kind of the reverse of forward bluegrass rolls. I wish I could find more tunes like Marching Jaybird."

---

Edited by - RWJones1970 on 04/23/2009 13:17:24

carlb - Posted - 04/23/2009:  05:14:39

---

As far as I know Jaybird and Marching Jaybird are two different tunes.

From the Fiddler's Companion
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/

JAYBIRD. AKA and see "Jaybird Settin' On a Limb," "The Pennsylvania Fifers" (Pa.), "Daddy Shot a Bear" (Pa.), "The Lady's Breast Knot," "The (Bonny) Breast Knot(s)." Old#8209;Time, Breakdown; American, March and Reel; English, Scottish; Country, Morris, Sword Dance Tune. USA; New England, Pennsylvania, Missouri(?). D Major. Standard or ADae tuning. AABB (most versions): AABBAAC'C' (Phillips/1994). At one time a “revival” favorite re-popularized in the late 1960’s/early 70’s by Art Rosenbaum, John Burke, Joel Shimberg and other young banjo players and fiddlers of the time. The second strain of the tune is used for the music to the songs "Skip to My Lou" and "Bobby Shafto." The similarly titled “Walking Jaybird” is not cognate.

MARCHING JAYBIRD. AKA and see "Jaybird March." A banjo piece. Tradition TLP 1007, Lacey Phillips #8209; "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians" (1956).
JAYBIRD MARCH. AKA and see "The Marching Jaybird."

Carl

raybob - Posted - 04/23/2009:  07:45:25

---

Someone showed me 'Marching Jaybird' when I first started to play clawhammer. I haven't played it in quite awhile, but I believe it's in G.

Ray

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history." --G. Santayana

Boxcar - Posted - 04/23/2009:  07:54:36

---

marching jaybird by etta baker is in a D tuning. dDF#AD. the fifth string is tuned to the same note as the 1st string. it is a 2-finger up-picking style. I beleive she is tuned down or up in the recording.on Black Banjo Songsters, I don't remember.

whyteman - Posted - 04/23/2009:  14:14:41

---

Etta almost always had her banjo tuned below pitch. Maybe to make it easier to play, due to her age. On the video that Wayne Martin put together, she said that she used an electric pickup with an amp to make it easier for her to play guitar. In addition to Jaybird, I love her 3 part Cripple Creek with MikeS on fiddle; she's tuned to about f# for that piece.

I feel that Inst. Music of the Southern Appalachians is the best album Tradition ever released.

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/23/2009:  18:52:12

---

*** Has anyone figured out how Reed Martin plays his version of Marching Jaybird? I have been working on it for a few hours and I can only get the first 3 or 4 measures. It is a real pretty tune and I especially like Reed's version so I would prefer to learn his style.

banjoholic - Posted - 04/23/2009:  20:39:43

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by RWJones1970

*** Has anyone figured out how Reed Martin plays his version of Marching Jaybird? I have been working on it for a few hours and I can only get the first 3 or 4 measures. It is a real pretty tune and I especially like Reed's version so I would prefer to learn his style.

---

I play Reed's version out of standard G tuning - it fingers pretty easily in that tuning, so I assume that's what he uses. It's fingerpicked, obviously (not frailed). The B part makes use of barre positions (barre at the 5th fret for the C chord, at the 7th fret for the D chord).

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/23/2009:  21:24:42

---

*** Your absolutely right BANJOHOLIC and thanks for helping me figure this out. It really is a fairly easy piece to learn. I can play the whole thing through now slowly. My mind gets to thinking too much about the rolls and I flub it up when I try to go too fast. I think it's just a beautiful sounding tune.

Chris Berry - Posted - 04/23/2009:  22:10:03

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boxcar

marching jaybird by etta baker is in a D tuning. dDF#AD. the fifth string is tuned to the same note as the 1st string. it is a 2-finger up-picking style. I beleive she is tuned down or up in the recording.on Black Banjo Songsters, I don't remember.

---

It's in G tuning, actually. She's tuned quite low on the Black Banjo Songsters album, as Whyteman mentioned.
Chris

Boxcar - Posted - 04/24/2009:  02:27:53

---

The CD booklet on Black Banjo Songsters has it listed as dDF#AD tuned up to E. I have worked it out in this tuning and it works real easy. I'm not sure if the booklet is wrong, as they often are. It could be that she changed it to G tuning later on....

Boyd1 - Posted - 04/24/2009:  13:45:49

---

Black Banjo Songsters is so well documented by Cecelia Conway that I would be surprised if there was a tuning mistake- even a typo- in the liner notes. I have to find the time to check this out with my banjo.

It is a sweet and lovely piece.

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

---

Edited by - Boyd1 on 04/24/2009 13:48:21

Chris Berry - Posted - 04/25/2009:  09:38:14

---

That one is definitely a mistake. It's in G tuning. Also there's a huge difference in "atmosphere" in D tuning tuned up and G tuning tuned down -- it's definitely a low tuning, plus you can hear the higher fifth string quite clearly. Several times during the piece she plays the fourth string open, sounding a low D (tuned down) -- this note wouldn't exist in D tuning. Some of the piece is played with a barre at the 5th fret, and it's there that the fifth and first strings sound the same.

whyteman - Posted - 04/25/2009:  14:02:30

---

Yes, Chris. Also, Cora's guitar sounds like E shapes, which also makes me think it's G down three half steps (approx.) which would be very "Etta".

"Jay Bird March!"

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

Boyd1 - Posted - 04/26/2009:  02:58:38

---

As always, with due respect to you fellow banjo players and a completely open mind on my part, have you guys tried it in dDF#AD? I have just retuned my banjo and, although it takes me a while to get to the bones of any piece, this tuning seems to work for Marching Jaybird. To me, the atmosphere sounds right as well. The open forth is a low D. And I really believe the fifth string in Etta Baker's version on Black Banjo Songsters is tuned an octave up from that- I hear it as the thumbed string quite clearly. The (even) higher D, what Chris is calling the fifth- I think- could be the first string at the seventh fret. In Reed Martin's version, once again to my ears and at a quick listen, the fifth is tuned relatively much higher-i.e. open G tuning.
Any thoughts?

[I wish R.D. Lunceford would jump in here as well.]

I also love what Reed Martin says in his liner notes (and RWJones1970 quoted above)- That he learned it from Peter Hoover, who had got the the piece from a guy "at a gas station in Hagerstown, Maryland, who saw the banjo in his car and said [with a twinkle in his eye?], 'I play banjo'".

Edit: I've been playing it all day in dDF#AD and got a neat little version in two finger and another in clawhammer going on. Y'all should give it a try- it is a ton of fun.


***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

---

Edited by - Boyd1 on 04/26/2009 11:56:25

Emiel - Posted - 04/26/2009:  13:14:22

---

The tune reminds of "Coal Creek March", I play that (my version) of hat both in G- and in D-tuning, both work well.

Emiel.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emieldk/
http://www.bluerounders.com

whyteman - Posted - 04/26/2009:  13:30:41

---

I'll give it a try, Boyd.

Emiel, I always thought that the A part was bit like "Flop Eared Mule" on Qualudes.

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

Emiel - Posted - 04/26/2009:  13:44:06

---

Don, I'll listen again carefully...

Emiel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emieldk/
http://www.bluerounders.com

Boxcar - Posted - 04/26/2009:  14:42:57

---

I'm with Boyd, It's very easy to play in the D-tuning. I will put up a sound clip later in the week so everyone can hear where I'm coming from. I'm pretty sure that I am getting all the notes that Etta is. I sprained my finger shooting hoops friday night, so I'll post one as soon as I can play again.

Boxcar - Posted - 04/27/2009:  18:36:58

---

Well my finger's still a little sore but I recorded it anyways. You can hear it on my hangout page. dF#AD capoed on the 2nd fret to E.

Chris Berry - Posted - 04/27/2009:  20:55:06

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boyd1

As always, with due respect to you fellow banjo players and a completely open mind on my part, have you guys tried it in dDF#AD? I have just retuned my banjo and, although it takes me a while to get to the bones of any piece, this tuning seems to work for Marching Jaybird. To me, the atmosphere sounds right as well. The open forth is a low D.
Any thoughts?

---

I don't say it's not possible to play the tune in open D -- the version Boxcar recorded sounds good -- just that Etta Baker didn't play it in open D.

For the purposes of this discussion I'll just talk about open D and open G and not worry about that she's tuned up or down, it'll be easier.

Boyd1 -- You are right that the open fourth string is a low D in dDF#AD, and that would be the both the lowest possible note in that tuning and the tonic. However, in Baker's recording she clearly plays a note lower than that -- you can hear it at about 57 secs. into the recording, and in other places -- it's the fifth below the tonic, which in open G tuning would be the open fourth string. That note doesn't exist in the open D tuning (it would need to be a low A below the low D) -- that's what I meant in my previous post.
Chris

---

Edited by - Chris Berry on 04/27/2009 20:55:39

g-hog - Posted - 04/28/2009:  09:00:20

---

Could that be what I was playing here, a year or so ago, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTP_1pYbqgA ? Ugh... my playing has changed a whole LOT since then... Dwight Diller set me on another path!

olderisbetter - Posted - 04/28/2009:  11:24:19

---

thanks for all the help. i just worked out a version in open d that i think sounds close to lacey phillips version. i think i will give it a try in g now g-hog!

Boyd1 - Posted - 04/29/2009:  09:05:19

---

"However, in Baker's recording she clearly plays a note lower than that -- you can hear it at about 57 secs. into the recording" -Chris Berry

Darn you Chris Berry! ...I can hear it. I hear it for sure!

Ain't we funny! I bet my old girlfriend would hate you all almost as much as she hates me.

Also, everyone please listen to Boxcar's recording. I think it is really, really cool that he did that- and it is good listening.

-Boyd

Edit: Hey g-hog! Sounds like the same tune to me. I like your version!

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

---

Edited by - Boyd1 on 04/29/2009 09:10:35

banjoholic - Posted - 04/29/2009:  09:37:24

---

I really enjoyed boxcar's version as well. There's definitely a difference in the atmosphere that the dDF#AD tuning creates, but I must say I like it. It's not quite as bright and cheery sounding as the etta baker/reed martin versions - there's a touch of melancholy in boxcar's version. And it's very nice!

Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 05/21/2009:  04:05:07

---

Hi all, I'm re-igniting this thread to ask another question about "marching jaybird" I've been trying to play it for a while now, and I have my own take on it, but I'm desperate to get it sounding like the Etta Baker version - my question is ( and I have to ask this as a beginner as my ear isn't quite trained yet to the variations of banjo styles ) my question is, does Etta use "double thumbing" in her version? and is this the key to getting my version to sound like hers? I'm hoping to get some recordings done of my take on it, so maybe you can all help me after you've heard it - and tell me where I'm going wrong . . . :-)

Chris Berry - Posted - 05/22/2009:  00:21:17

---

Yes, the double thumbing is pretty much the key to her version of the piece.
Chris

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/22/2009:  05:56:17

---

Here is a link to the musical notation for Marching Jaybird. One harp - G major.

http://www.mne.psu.edu/lamancusa/tu...gjaybird.pdf

I swear this tune is very familiar to me, and I keep thinking I've heard it played by Elizabeth Cotton - maybe she did play it, or something similar? Anyone else have this feeling?

Judy



********************************************************************''
The YOUTUBE videos of the Really Big Banjo Show
are now available (23 of them) for your viewing and
listening pleasure. Check them out. Go to YOUTUBE and
look for "banjojudy" and you''ll see the files. I made a
playlist for the show, but I am not sure if you can access
it. ENJOY and be sure to rate the videos and leave comments.
*********************************************************************

Boyd1 - Posted - 05/22/2009:  06:55:53

---

BANJOJUDY,

Libba Cotton- absolutely yes! I get the same feeling but just about the feel of the song. I don't remember seeing or hearing any recordings of the tune by her. I could be wrong. [Funny, that's my second reference to Libba Cotton on BHO in under 24 hours!]

-Boyd

Edit: I have just been thinking really hard about it, and to me Elizabeth Cotton's Spanish Flang Dang is kinda similiar.

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_P...ture=related

It's not Elizabeth Cotton, but what do you think?

Edit: And this is not Marching Bird OR Spanish Flang Dang, but it is Elizabeth Cotton- and sublime!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...835164540774

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

---

Edited by - Boyd1 on 05/22/2009 07:20:11

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 05/22/2009:  07:46:58

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boyd1

BANJOJUDY,

Libba Cotton- absolutely yes! I get the same feeling but just about the feel of the song. I don't remember seeing or hearing any recordings of the tune by her. I could be wrong. [Funny, that's my second reference to Libba Cotton on BHO in under 24 hours!]

-Boyd

Edit: I have just been thinking really hard about it, and to me Elizabeth Cotton's Spanish Flang Dang is kinda similiar.

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_P...ture=related

It's not Elizabeth Cotton, but what do you think?

Edit: And this is not Marching Bird OR Spanish Flang Dang, but it is Elizabeth Cotton- and sublime!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...835164540774

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

---

Washington BLues reminds me of Buddy Bolton Blues and others. THe blues is the blues, I suppose. Libba was amazing - great to see her on YOUTUBE looking so young, too. I don't remember her in her more youthful days.

Marching Jaybird is a cakewalk somewhat like Colored Aristocracy and Whislin' Rufus. All in open G - easy to play - just have to remember the tunes and not mix them up.

********************************************************************''
The YOUTUBE videos of the Really Big Banjo Show
are now available (23 of them) for your viewing and
listening pleasure. Check them out. Go to YOUTUBE and
look for "banjojudy" and you''ll see the files. I made a
playlist for the show, but I am not sure if you can access
it. ENJOY and be sure to rate the videos and leave comments.
*********************************************************************

Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 05/22/2009:  09:06:05

---

Thanks Banjo Judy for the link to the manuscript - very helpful to me, now I just have to work out the double thumbing ;-D (and thanks to Chris for clarifying that for me )

---

Edited by - Bluegrass-Gibbs on 05/22/2009 09:08:55

chip arnold - Posted - 05/22/2009:  13:50:43

---

A friend sent me a copy of Ms Baker playing Marchimg Jaybird a year or so ago. I figured out a rough version and had since forgotten it. So thanks for the dots Judy. I just learned it again. My way as I can't find the Etta version. I like the B part because you can have fun just rolling chords all over the neck then settle down to the melody again.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

Boyd1 - Posted - 05/22/2009:  15:09:14

---

Chip, I would LOVE to hear it. Would you consider posting it?

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

chip arnold - Posted - 05/22/2009:  16:47:30

---

Well, I learned it in G from the music Judy provided. Then I found (re-found) Boxcar's version which is quite different from the written music so I learned that in G. But I liked the tone Boxcar was getting in D so I learned it there. Then I figured out he was capoed to E so..............!!!! Anyway, Judy's music has the A and B parts repeat with the first time through ending differently from the second time through like a lot of tunes do. Boxcar's and I think Etta Baker's versions have only one A and one B and they land on the home note every time. So now I'm playing it in D (dDF#AD) but with the repeats for the A and B parts. I don't know any fiddlers that play it so if I play it with a live human being, I'll probably be leading and I can play it however I want. Right? :-) And if somebody knows Ms Baker's version I can go back to that. Anyway, when I get it smoothed out and can get Tish to help me play it, I'll post it.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

Boxcar - Posted - 05/22/2009:  18:24:55

---

I'm glad to be a part of that proccess Chip. Can't wait to hear your version!

Blake

torhougen - Posted - 05/22/2009:  18:42:31

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bluegrass-Gibbs

Hi all, I'm re-igniting this thread to ask another question about "marching jaybird" I've been trying to play it for a while now, and I have my own take on it, but I'm desperate to get it sounding like the Etta Baker version - my question is ( and I have to ask this as a beginner as my ear isn't quite trained yet to the variations of banjo styles ) my question is, does Etta use "double thumbing" in her version? and is this the key to getting my version to sound like hers? I'm hoping to get some recordings done of my take on it, so maybe you can all help me after you've heard it - and tell me where I'm going wrong . . . :-)

---

I have a recording of Eric Prust playing a version of "Marching Jaybird" on my music page.
He tells me he was up-picking on the banjo...thanks to Becca for the interest.

Tor

Boyd1 - Posted - 05/23/2009:  03:16:49

---

A compliment or two: When I first started thinking about Marching Jaybird because of this post, I thought of you Chip. I think your style of playing and touch would really go well with this song! And I'm very glad to hear you are looking at the dDF#AD tuning, even if Etta Baker is in G. After all the weeks of this post, I've still got my second banjo tuned that way so that I can play Marching Jaybird in D. It is just fun and lovely.

And, once again, Boxcar's version is just great!



***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

RWJones1970 - Posted - 05/23/2009:  07:45:39

---

*** Chip, not to be pushy but......... please get going on this Marching Jaybird as I am real anxious to hear your version !!!!

" For God so loved the world that He gave up his only Son, that whosoever will believe in Him shall not perish, but instead have eternal life." John 3:16

chip arnold - Posted - 05/23/2009:  08:17:54

---

I just took Tish's computer to the fixit guy in town. It will be mid week at the earliest when we get it back. That's the computer that has the Wavepad recording program in it so there won't be any Jaybirds marching 'till we get it back.

The way I've settled on playing it is two A's and two B's. First A and first B end on an A note. Second A & B end on a D note. I got that from the G version that Judy supplied and moved it to D. In G the first A & B would end on a D and the second A & B would end on a G. To make it work with Boxcar and Etta I'd just play the second A and second B.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 05/30/2009:  05:52:23

---

I wonder if Chip has seen any Jaybirds on the march a lately? hope we hear something soon . . . :-)

Boyd1 - Posted - 05/30/2009:  09:38:10

---

I'm chompin' on the bit!

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

chip arnold - Posted - 05/30/2009:  14:27:53

---

got Tish's computer back yesterday evening. We played six hours at an art festival today and will again tomorrow. Couple more days and I'll record it. But don't get your hopes up so much! It's just a D tune and I probably won't be turning in a stellar performance anyway. Oh, the pressure :-)

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

RWJones1970 - Posted - 05/31/2009:  09:07:48

---

*** Pressure he says.......geez !!!! I wish I could play half as good as you Chip !

"God has overlooked the past times of ignorance, but God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus whom He''s appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." ACTS 17:30-31

chip arnold - Posted - 06/05/2009:  18:04:30

---

I finally got Tish and her guitar cornered and put this one on my music page. It's not just like anyone's version and somewhat like several. Thanks Boxcar for inspiration :-)

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

olderisbetter - Posted - 06/05/2009:  22:02:15

---

love your version!

Boyd1 - Posted - 06/06/2009:  03:39:11

---

Just great. I'll say the same thing I said to Boxcar- I think it is so very considerate and nice that you took the time to do that at our request and for our interest. Thank you so much Boxcar, Chip and Trish.

Now I have to listen to both versions a BUNCH more. But after listening to Chip's version only three times, I'm struck by the comparatively heavy touch he is using here. This is not a criticism- the tune is wonderfully musical and entertaining to me. I'm just suprised. I thought he would treat it more.., delicately. Oh, and Trish's guitar is just wonderful once again. It really fills out the song in such a complimentary way.

Thank you all again,

-Boyd



***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

RWJones1970 - Posted - 06/06/2009:  04:13:14

---

*** Thank you Chip and Tish for your excellent version of Marching Jaybird ! !

"God has overlooked the past times of ignorance, but God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus whom He''s appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." ACTS 17:30-31