Steve Martin playing "The Crow" in his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry
This is the newest tune we've covered in our Scruggs-style tunetorial series... it was first released on Tony Trischka's "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" album in 2007, then released as the title track of Steve Martin's album in 2009. As far as I know only Trischka and Martin have recorded it.
Martin's "The Crow" album was big for the banjo world in several ways--one being that it helped bring the banjo further into the spotlight, backed by Martin's star power. I personally know of many folks whose biggest exposure to the banjo has come thanks to Martin's recent playing. (Although Martin had played banjo for many years, this was his first music album of his career. The album would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in January 2010.) Here's an interesting interview with Martin about his renewed interest in banjo and his first album.
The tune was written by Steve Martin, and Martin's album includes Tony Trischka as well as Martin playing it. Tony plays the crazy up the neck stuff, while Martin plays the main melody line.
The actual tune itself is a beautiful and very unique one--an instrumental played in a modal tuning, with a distinctive melody and non-standard chord progression (see attached chord chart).
In The Crow's liner notes (see attached) Martin explains how the tune came to be written: "The song came to me after listening to Tony Ellis' great banjo tunes, many played in C or double C tuning (also known as C modal), and I started looking at that tuning again. 'The Crow' came easily; it just seemed to flow from the finger tips."
Oddly enough, though Martin and the tab book for the album refer to the tuning used as C modal, the tuning used in the tab book is actually G modal (gDGCD) while the song is played in the key of C. C modal (aka "Double C") tuning is gCGCD. Can anyone explain this mystery? Inquiring minds want to know!
Enjoy the tune! I know I'll be working on it this week!
Learn the Tune:
Hear It using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.
Casey Henry has posted a video lesson teaching you the complete lead break for the tune, in G (C?) modal tuning. Only $6 thru the end of the week. Get them here >
Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.
Started working on this tune this morning, with the help of Casey's lesson. Man, I just love the sound of it--that G modal tuning is sweet. I've got the "A" part figured out, but slowly--it uses some right-hand picking patterns I'm not really used to yet.
Seems to me that since the tune doesn't hit the 4th string anyway, the only difference could be in the resonance, so it isn't really necessary to retune the 4th string. It does give a deeper sound, though.
Just purchased Casey's lesson. I've had the Martin book for awhile just to learn The Crow, but the lesson will push me to work on it now. Love the tune.
Seems to me that since the tune doesn't hit the 4th string anyway, the only difference could be in the resonance, so it isn't really necessary to retune the 4th string. It does give a deeper sound, though.
Arnon
I was thinking the same thing this morning, Arnon, as I was looking at the tab. It's strange--in "The Crow" tab book, it says the tuning is gDGCD, but then in the actual tab (to the left of the measures) it says the tuning is gCGCD. I think somebody made a boo-boo.
After seeing the videos and reading the comments, I, too, pulled out the book and began working on this song.
Steve's book was the first TAB book I owned. (I remember them offering this book and, I believe, a Deering banjo as a beginner set). I soon realized Steve's book was NOT for beginners! lol
Anyway I began working on it last night. I think I will enjoy this.
I've attached my version from a couple years ago (not perfect!) -- I used a tab for most of it, but I think I deviated a bit here and there -- the timing (and/or right hand pattern) is tricky on the C part! I was tuned to double C tuning -- g C G C D.
The chords that Casey teaches in her video are different than the chord listed on the chord chart provided here. Anyone know which ones are correct?
Casey (and Arnon) has them right--my chord chart was wrong. I just updated it. I'll update the backing track MP3s soon as well--they still work decently for playing along with, but aren't exactly right.
I don't bother with re-tuning I play in " C " position which works out nicely. I got this one down shortly after it hit the air waves. Deff a fun tune to play.
Coming along well. I can play it through at 80-90BPM consistently. The first part is actually presenting the biggest challenge to me--once I get through the first few measures I'm good. It's the funky two and three-finger at a time plucking. But the song really plays nice once you get used to the few patterns it uses, and I love the sound.
I've been playing it in C modal tuning, because I like how the low C note rings out even though it's never actually picked.
The C bass still resonates even though you don't play it in The Crow--maybe a quick brush at the end of the song, depending on the version I guess...Jack p.s. but Steve Martin did use the g,c,g,c,d tuning.
Was playing this this morning in my incredible garage studio and thought I'd shoot a video. Here's the result! It's not terribly pretty, and I forgot where I was going into the B part the 2nd time through, but... well, it is what it is. No second takes!
THis is a tough one. Steve Martin is a genius. Thanks everyone for all the postings. I don't know why but this piece seems really hard to get into my brain. I love listening to it and can hear it it. Bur so much seems to be going on.
Well, no one ever said TOTW would always be easy. That's why I love BHO. As long as I play stuff I know and spend some time messing with the community posts, I always feel like I am learning or trying something new every day.
No second takes!
