hannahannah - Posted - 10/10/2009:  11:46:50

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does anyone know the chords and possible lyrics to sugar baby?
thanks.

TomL - Posted - 10/10/2009:  13:54:16

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It's all I can do, for to sleep, eat with you (V)
And I can't get along this away (V)
Can't get along this away (R)

All I can do, It's all I can say
I will send you to your mama next payday
send you to your mama next payday
R V R
Got no use for a red rocking chair,
I've got no honey baby now
Got no sugar baby now
V R V
Who'll rock the cradle, Who'll sing the song
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone

I'll rock the cradle I'll sing the song
I'll rock the cradle when you're gone
I'll rock the cradle when you're gone
V R
All I can do, well it's all I can say
I will send you to your mama next payday
R
Laid her in the shade give her every dime I made
What more can a poor boy do
What more can a poor boy do
R V
Oh I got no honey baby now.
Got no sugar baby now
V V
It's all I cay say and it's all I can do
And I can't make a living with you
can't make a living with you.
R V R V


Tuning is G modal

Domestos - Posted - 10/11/2009:  06:04:47

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Erm... what does V and R mean? Is it related to i iv v or am i being thick?

Jim

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Edited by - Domestos on 10/11/2009 06:06:01

TomL - Posted - 10/11/2009:  09:21:08

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I used V and R to mean verse and refrain, to keep track of the instrumental parts on the 78.
(and I'm probably using the terms incorrectly at that)

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 10/11/2009:  10:32:29

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This is normally played out of the modal or sawmill tuning., gDGCD.Chords aren't usually fingered for it by banjo players, but would be by guitarists, most likely. Some old time guitarists, like Riley Puckett of the Skillet Lickers didn't play chord backup, using runs of bass notes instead. (I don't know if he ever recorded this song, though.)
Gm
Got no use for a red rocking chair,
F ////////////////////////// Gm
I've got no honey baby now
F ////////////////////// Gm
Got no sugar baby now
Bb//////////////////////// Gm
Who'll rock the cradle, Who'll sing the song
F //////////////////////////////////// Gm
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
F ///////////////////////////////////// Gm
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone?
Give this a try. Chord fingering is: Gm-all open strings, F,3203 Bb,0323. %th string is open in all cases here. Actually, it's pretty rare for a clawhammer player to finger notes on the 5th string. Not to common in Bg, either, but a little more than Ot. The other verses follow the same pattern as one or the other of these 2.
Paul

"A master banjo player isn't the one who can play the most notes. It's the one who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello
http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=128303 IBARD topic
http://ibard-rendesvous1840.blogspot.com/

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Edited by - rendesvous1840 on 10/11/2009 10:40:20

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 10/11/2009:  10:38:25

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Ignore the diagonal lines. They are only to keep the chord changes lined up with the lyrics where the change occurs. For some reaso, when i previewed this the changes were correct, but in the post they backed up against the previous chord. I'm not computer-savvy, so I ade spacers out of the slashes.
By the way, welcome to the Hangout.
Paul

"A master banjo player isn't the one who can play the most notes. It's the one who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello
http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=128303 IBARD topic
http://ibard-rendesvous1840.blogspot.com/

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Edited by - rendesvous1840 on 10/11/2009 10:42:09

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 10/11/2009:  11:47:17

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Now that the song is on the tip of my fingers, I'm trying sn alternativ chord. Try using Dm, 0223, in place of the F chord. I personally like the F better, but the Dm gives a little diferent character you may prefer. Just exploring possibilities.
Paul

"A master banjo player isn't the one who can play the most notes. It's the one who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello
http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=128303 IBARD topic
http://ibard-rendesvous1840.blogspot.com/

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 10/11/2009:  11:49:52

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Now that the song is on the tip of my fingers, I'm trying sn alternativ chord. Try using Dm, 0223, in place of the F chord. I personally like the F better, but the Dm gives a little diferent character you may prefer. Just exploring possibilities.
Paul

"A master banjo player isn't the one who can play the most notes. It's the one who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello
http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=128303 IBARD topic
http://ibard-rendesvous1840.blogspot.com/

banjosuffrage - Posted - 10/11/2009:  18:47:58

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Is Down South Blues also in this tuning?

Stutts - Posted - 10/11/2009:  22:23:08

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I'm sure Dock Boggs used f#DGAD for Sugar Babe.

Down South Blues
Apparently Dock Boggs played it in D [gCGCD capo2]

I'm going to the station,
Going to catch the fastest train that goes.
I'm a-going back South
Where the weather suits my clothes.

I'm going back South
If I wear out 99 pair of shoes;
'Cause I'm broken-hearted,
I've got those down South blues.

I was reared in the country
Where the snow it never fell.
I'm a-going back South,
If I don't do so well.

Oh my mama told me,
And my daddy told me too,
Don't you go off, honey,
Let those men make a fool out of you.

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Edited by - Stutts on 10/11/2009 22:49:34

banjosuffrage - Posted - 10/12/2009:  05:28:29

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Thanks! I'll be in the woodshed.

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 10/12/2009:  06:48:16

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According to Mike Seeger's notes for Dock Boggs' Folkways Years album, Boggs used gDGCD for "Sugar Baby" and gDGBD for "Down South Blues". Seeger knew, played with and recorded Boggs so the information is pretty trustworthy.

I don't play chords for "Sugar Baby". I made a rough demonstration of the way I play it a while back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFq2HEfO-U0

edit: He did use f#DGAD for things like "Pretty Polly" and "Danville Girl". If you don't have liner notes, this is a good reference for tunings: http://www.zeppmusic.com/banjo/aktuning.htm

Hunter

New album out: Casey Joe Abair & Hunter Robertson "If You Want to Go to Sleep, Go to Bed" (Yodel-Ay-Hee 074) - http://www.hunterrobertson.com/ifyouframe.html

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Edited by - Hunter Robertson on 10/12/2009 06:54:06

Emiel - Posted - 10/12/2009:  12:45:31

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Yes, "Sugar Baby" is played by Dock in sawmill tuning, "Down South Blues" in open-G. Maybe not at the normal pitch.

Emiel

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

Chris Berry - Posted - 10/13/2009:  01:21:01

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Regarding Boggs' playing of "Sugar Baby" -- he does play it in sawmill, gDGCD, but in the key of D, not G or Gm. The G drone note adds to the discordant sound of the tune, as does his constant plucking of the top two strings, giving a D7 chord without the third. If you were to accompany the tune on guitar, try a regular D chord and a regular A chord (which you only need briefly and sparingly, if at all). When you're playing the D chord, don't play the first string; you want to avoid the F# at all costs.

It's definitely possible to play "Sugar Baby" in Boggs' f#DGAD tuning (also key of D), but the drones will sound different. Left-hand fingering would be identical, however. Boggs, especially on the later recordings, is often tuned a half-step or full step low.

"Down South Blues" is played in the key of G in regular gDGBD tuning, as has already been mentioned. Here's a video of me playing "Mixed Blues" in the same style and key, which would give you an idea maybe of how to approach playing "Down South": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyaG...yer_embedded

Chris

Emiel - Posted - 10/13/2009:  02:00:11

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Thanks Chris. Very nice video, sounds just like Dock. Is that a Tubaphone you're playing?

Emiel

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

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Edited by - Emiel on 10/13/2009 02:01:19

Emiel - Posted - 10/13/2009:  08:34:20

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quote:

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Originally posted by TomL


It's all I can do, for to sleep, eat with you (V)

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Other sources say:
"All I can do is to seek peace with you"

Emiel

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

Chris Berry - Posted - 10/13/2009:  15:53:43

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quote:

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Originally posted by Emiel

Thanks Chris. Very nice video, sounds just like Dock. Is that a Tubaphone you're playing?

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Yes -- the pot's from around 1926, but the neck and resonator are later, I think. Pretty sure it was originally a Vegaphone tenor.
Chris

Emiel - Posted - 10/13/2009:  23:51:01

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It sounds great. Thanks for pointing out that Dock played "Sugar Baby" in D in sawmill tuning. I tried it and it finally sounded like Dock Boggs. On the old 78 recording he is tuned down to the key of C#, btw.

Emiel

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

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Edited by - Emiel on 10/13/2009 23:51:20

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 10/14/2009:  19:56:07

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That would make the chords I recomended above wrong, as they are in the key of Gm. Those would suit the Gm version as I learned it. I don't have Dock's version.
Paul

"A master banjo player isn't the one who can play the most notes. It's the one who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello
http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=128303 IBARD topic
http://ibard-rendesvous1840.blogspot.com/

Emiel - Posted - 10/15/2009:  00:51:19

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On the 1920s recording the guitar is played by Hub Mahaffey, on the 1960s version by Mike Seeger. Both versions are in the key of C#. Banjo in Sawmill tuning, played in D but tuned down half a step. The guitar sound very similar on both recordings. Mike Seeger tried to copy Hub Mahaffey. Little bass runs and chords struck or picked. The guitars sound pretty low, I guess they are also tuned down half a step from standard guitar tuning. Dm-chord shapes, no doubt, maybe alternated with C-chord shapes, hard to tell...

Emiel

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

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Edited by - Emiel on 10/15/2009 00:51:38

supah_g - Posted - 10/16/2009:  17:55:25

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Just wanted to say, great job Chris. I've seen several of your vid's previously, and enjoyed them all. Prolly watch some more just now. I was like... hey it's that guy!, that banjochris guy!!! really good man!!! Many props!

Also like Hunter's stuff real good!!! (Is that a bakelite pot, Hunter - of the Harmony Reso-Tone variety?) ;-) Gotta love them Harmony Reso-Tones!!!

Thank fellas!
g.

Oops, almost forgot, that I really, really like Scott Ainslie's version of Sugar Babe as found on Banjo Gathering. It ain't like Dock Boggs, but it is entirely mesmerizing to me, and I have no idea what he is doing. I think he told me the tuning he used - I'll have a look, but it weren't normal. Check it out anyhow: http://cattailmusic.com/mp3/banjogathering-45.mp3

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 10/17/2009:  10:45:32

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quote:

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Originally posted by supah_g
Also like Hunter's stuff real good!!! (Is that a bakelite pot, Hunter - of the Harmony Reso-Tone variety?) ;-) Gotta love them Harmony Reso-Tones!!!

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Thanks Grant. It is indeed a genuine Reso-Tone, in all its glorious plasticness. My favorite banjos these days.

On other strains of "Sugar Baby", this one by John Specker is one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN5FZs3ZxV4 - whenever I'm feeling down I listen to it and cheer up. Hot dog!

Hunter



New album out: Casey Joe Abair & Hunter Robertson "If You Want to Go to Sleep, Go to Bed" (Yodel-Ay-Hee 074) - http://www.hunterrobertson.com/ifyouframe.html

Chris Berry - Posted - 10/17/2009:  18:41:25

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quote:

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Originally posted by supah_g

Just wanted to say, great job Chris. I've seen several of your vid's previously, and enjoyed them all. Prolly watch some more just now. I was like... hey it's that guy!, that banjochris guy!!! really good man!!! Many props!

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Thanks very much!
Chris

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 10/17/2009:  19:13:31

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I remember John Specker from back in the Correctone Stringband days. I doubt there is a second of video of that group, but here is John with Donna The Buffalo. That bunch could all be thought of as his kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1S1...ture=related


http://www.rsb.pricklypearmusic.net
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site

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Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 10/17/2009 19:16:59

harvey - Posted - 10/18/2009:  09:13:57

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On a side note, Folkways have re-issued the LP "Legendary Singer and Banjo Player" on vinyl. It's on my turntable right now. Comes complete with the original booklets by Mike Seeger and Ralph Rinzler on Boggs and his style, including tunings, lyrics etc. All in all lovely package. So all you vinyl fans should rush out an get it -- amazing stuff.

TomL - Posted - 10/18/2009:  11:43:10

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quote:

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Originally posted by Emiel

quote:

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Originally posted by TomL


It's all I can do, for to sleep, eat with you (V)

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Other sources say:
"All I can do is to seek peace with you"

Emiel

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

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That sounds MUCH better than what I heard -- thanks
I won't have to slur my words as much to avoid embarrasment