WGE - Posted - 02/13/2010:  14:49:49

This is a nice and for me very difficult tune to play that I may propose as a clawhammer Tune of the Week. I don't think it is too widely known. Learned this from my teacher Todd Wright but I don't know where he got it. John Burke has a tab based on the fiddling of Doc Roberts on page 55 of his "Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo" book set in C on page 55.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...69&archived=

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 02/13/2010:  16:53:29

Sounds great to me. I always liked Rocky Mountain Goat. First heard it, I believe, played by Ken Perlman - actually he has a tab in one of his books - but it is not played in these parts (New Mexico), very often, but I am glad to hear it from you - very nice playing.

If you want to do a Tune of the Week, you merely have to volunteer by emailing me and then you get assigned a date - no need to tell what tune you want to do or will do - that's a surprise - only you don't want to repeat one that has been done.

Judy

WGE - Posted - 02/14/2010:  03:24:27

Alan Jabbour and Ken Perlman have done this as a fiddle-banjo duet on Southern Summits but I have not heard it nor do I have Perlman's book. I need to research this tune a little more. One of the alternate names is "Railroading Across the Rockies" which I find pretty cool.

vrteach - Posted - 02/14/2010:  12:27:14

By all means do this as a TOTW. I didn't know of this tune until sometime in the last year when I learned it from LyleK, who describes it as 1/2 Whiskey Before Breakfast and 1/2 Straw Bonnet.

If you search for "Rocky Mountain Goat" on emusic you find several old recordings, one of the best (my opinion) by Fiddling Doc Roberts. It's a good tune.

WGE - Posted - 02/14/2010:  12:50:38

Burke cites Doc Roberts as his source as I mentioned above and I'll try to find his version (Country records 412 "Old Time Tunes" features Doc Roberts with RMG but it doesn't appear on their current CD list). I have been told that since Burke wrote his book that Doc Roberts has become much better known. I also have heard that the cadence of RMG is somewhat like Soldier's Joy but with different notes (duh). I have reserved this on the TOTW schedule to come later.