schlange - Posted - 09/15/2014:  10:01:02

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Key of D – aDADE 

In this, Tunetorial number 17, Dan "Clawdan" Levenson teaches the tune commonly known as Fisher’s Hornpipe. Here's what Dan has to say about it...

The tune, while one of the solid core of the old time fiddle and banjo repertoire, is not an easy one. Yes, you can play simple versions of it, but if you want to get the notes of the tune, you need to work at it just a bit. Granted, you may not need all of the notes at a jam session or playing a dance, but it sure is nice to have the option to pick and choose the ones you DO want to play.

I find this one a fascinating tune, not just because of the tune itself, but it’s history and morph-ography over the years. It seems that everyone has a version and most of them are 2 parts, not three, and while most also know it is not necessarily a tune about fish or fishing, it is mostly unknown that the tune was written by Mr. James Fishar – “the principal dancerer and ballet master at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden.” This is according to this link for “Sixteen cotillons, sixteen minuets, twelve allemands and twelve hornpipes, composed by J. Fishar” published in 1790 in London, Printed and sold by John Rutherford, [ca. 1790] (OCLC:78868076).

While I have tried to get the copy listed at the New York City Public Library, I have been thus far unsuccessful. If any of you are able to get there to see it and perhaps even scan the volume I would love to get a copy. With a 1790 publication date, I’m sure the copyright has expired. Of course once we do see it we may realize how wrong we really have this one, but hey, that’s the folks process right? LOL!!!

In this tunetorial, I will play the tune at a moderate speed adding to it as i goes. We break down sections on the fly. This one can be very basic or quite ornamental depending on how YOU want it to go. In this one it partly depends on how much work you want to do to get notes or how much you would prefer to stay in the back up realm. Variations can abound if you are of mind to find them.  Remember though, when playing “nice” with others, there comes a point when your personal variations can make it not work with other versions. Odd chords and rhythmic textures can really throw off the jam. No matter, we even look at some of those! 

Feel free to post any questions you have on it, remark on sections you would like clarified or things you might like added. Yes even the things you don’t like are fair game. It grows the tune and the community when you know what you like and don’t like as you build your own style.

This tune is tabbed out in Dan's book (tune 19 in) Old Time Favorites for Clawhammer Banjo (MB 30224).

You can purchase the video lesson (for unlimited streaming and download) here on the Banjo Hangout for $6.

Get it here >

Dan and I would love to hear any feedback you have on these videos, so feel free to post or email us. Our goal here is provide a steady, affordable way for people to learn a new clawhammer tune weekly (or as often as they'd like).

It would be great to hear some of your versions so far so post them here for all to hear!