Mooooo - Posted - 11/14/2016:  22:58:47

Is there some reason that every banjo picker plays the version of this song where Lester Flatt is singing it instead of the one from the TV show where Jerry Scoggins is singing? I find the TV show version much nicer than the one on the Flatt and Scruggs records. Not just the voice, but the Banjo too, it is very different...maybe there is some bluegrass etiquette that I missed somewhere along the way that mandates the Flatt & Scruggs version, but I will say it now, The one from the show is way better than the one from the record. Maybe it's because I heard that version first. 

youtube.com/watch?v=NwzaxUF0k18

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/14/2016 23:04:43

Mooooo - Posted - 11/14/2016:  23:17:14

Sitting here trying to get this one down, I think it's in A using D Tuning with the capo on 2 so aEG#BE. Does anyone agree or disagree?

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/14/2016 23:19:12

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  03:06:32

It works very well in D tuning (E with capo), but I think it will be easier for most, and probably was recorded in G tuning capoed up two frets, but there is still a huge difference between the TV and the record versions. You gotta love Earl.

teletodd - Posted - 11/15/2016:  05:00:52

Maybe because the TV version tab isn't in Earl's book? For that matter, never seen the TV version tab anywhere, let alone in D tuning.

jhko - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:09:14

Are you talking about the slow part behind the Scoggins vocals? Or the faster part after the vocals have ended? The faster part to me is fairly close to the one in the the Scruggs book. Let me clarify- Earl rarely played things exactly the same way twice, so the difference between the TV version and the Scruggs book version is just a typical difference between two different Scruggs takes- the natural variations of a great musician playing a piece twice and naturally improvising a slightly different version each time.

jhko - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:11:22

PS - it is in capo'ed G tuning (A), not D tuning.

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:31:22

Yes, behind the Scoggins Vocals. I am thinking that the reason I like it better is because of the bounce, and not so much the notes played. As I was figuring out the TV version and comparing it to the Scruggs book, it is a lot easier than the Flatt and Scruggs version from the records. And yes, I also believe even the TV version was recorded using open G tuning. I am trying to tab it out a bit so show the difference, the big surprise to me is that the TV version doesn't go to the partial C# chord, it is more like an A7, which makes more sense to me musically. I will try to copy it or tab it out in this string so people can try it out and maybe help me improve it (get as close to how Earl played it on the TV theme)

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/15/2016 09:37:37

Banjophobic - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:41:30

Mike

The reason for this TV version being used is I am sure based on marketing and demographics. Lesters singing is more authentic country, while that version you posted is more of a "Made for tv and radio' voice. As for preference that's purely subjective. I myself prefer the FS version, both vocally and instrumentally but that's because I was raised on the actual BG vesions of songs, not the made for tv versions. 

Oh, I've seen you mention D tuning in some of your posts when replying to question about Scruggs picking. While D tuning is something Earl used, the songs he played in that tuning are limited to a specific set. you'll find the vast majority of tunes in G tuning, with keys played that's tuning, or capped. Earl also used drop C tuning but again, it was for  a particular set of tunes. You can save a lot of time trying to determine the key used for various songs if your default is "G" tuning. You'll  recognize more easily when D tuning and drop c is in use. 😊

Edited by - Banjophobic on 11/15/2016 09:43:34

Fathand - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:56:20

In the clip posted, the opening vocal seems to have a slower more syncopated bounce than we typically hear but about 32 seconds in when the banjo kicks into the instrumental part sounds pretty similar to what I hear most people play. I think I hear a change from 2/4 -4/4 when this happens but I am not too good with time signatures. 

Personally, I like the way Lester sings it with his smooth southern drawl. On the other hand I have heard some play and sing it so high and fast you might think you were listening to The Chipmunks.

jhko - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:57:45

"As I was figuring out the TV version and comparing it to the Scruggs book, it is a lot easier than the Flatt and Scruggs version from the records."

You are right about that. The Scruggs book version is actually quite difficult to play, if you actually play it true to the tab. Earl adds several nuances which increase the difficulty but greatly improve the musicality. Most players simplify the book version slightly to make it easier to play. But in doing so, they lose some of the subtleties that make Earl's playing so great.

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  10:34:35

John, I agree (for the 3rd time in this thread) it's not in D tuning (I thought I heard some notes double picked which would have been easier to do in D tuning, but upon further investigation, I decided against it). I think that since you were brought up on the F&S version that's why you prefer it, and since I was brought up on the TV version, that is my favorite one...it is one of the reasons I started picking banjo....I probably never heard the F&S version until the '80s. I thought I would be in the minority on this matter, don't get me wrong, I still love Lester's voice, but I was brainwashed as a kid from the TV. 

Rick (Fathand). both the vocal and the banjo have that bounce...also at the up-tempo part of the song, I am not sure about the time signature, but I agree it is closer to the record version of the song, but I am not sure how exact it is, I will find out. I have tabbed out the slower half (takes me a long time to put it on the computer, I wish there was some easy tab tools in the Rich Text tab so we can easily align everything and put some indication of note lengths (?) but that's another thread in another section...

Joe, the more I listen to the TV version, the more I appreciate the F&S version. This has been educational for me, I always knew there was quite a difference between the two versions, and it is kind of cool that both Lester and Earl were picking on the TV version of the song. I really like the bounce though. up until recently I was playing the  Earl and the 5-String Banjo arrangement with a bounce, but late last night I decided to break down the TV arrangement.

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  12:35:55

it is hard to put so much typed tab into this thread

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/15/2016 12:37:15

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  13:33:01

Dear lord, after a lot of frustration, here's what I got for the slow part...the hardest part was figuring out how to attach it here...anyone got a more accurate way to play this version?

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/15/2016 13:43:14

Ballad of Jed Clampett TV version

 

 

 

Rick McKeon - Posted - 11/15/2016:  16:56:11

Hey Mike,

Here's my arrangement: youtube.com/watch?v=qligQxRGYWU The interesting thing about the Earl Scruggs book is that, when he played with a band, he didn't really need to play all the melody notes because the band and the vocal could cover that. In this arrangement I try to bring out melody notes. Tabs are on my website at rickmckeon.com/banjolessons.html

Rick

Edited by - Rick McKeon on 11/15/2016 16:57:23

Banjophobic - Posted - 11/15/2016:  18:31:02

Mike

The only reason I mention the D tuning thing was not to be the third guy,haha, but to make sure you knew G tuning is the default tuning most of the time in  Srcuggsdom. You had mention D tuning in a few other threads and it just made me think D tuning was your default tuning, which means getting confused more often when figuring out these songs, that's all. 

Yep, as I stated earlier the reason I prefer the Fs version was because that was a BG version. But scroggings was an excellent player and he had a command of Scruggs style too. The TV version was more in,one with what the populist tv expects wanted for the mainstream format.

chuckv97 - Posted - 11/15/2016:  18:36:46

Here's my version, sans capo...😳

VIDEO: Grab That Capo and Clampett On!
(click to view)

 

 

 

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  19:44:50

Rick, nice arrangement, I usually play one that is similar to the Scruggs book, learned it from there a long time ago, but since I have forgotten the exact arrangement so, as usual, I just stick in some typical (and some not so typical Scruggs licks that I have learned over the years. But for some reason, I have never learned the TV show arrangement, Now I am thinking, it is because, as Teletodd said earlier, because no tabs existed for that version. Also, maybe because it was hard to figure it out precisely over a TV set, without the modern slow down technology etc...

John, I know exactly why you think I usually play in D from two posts that we both commented on. The most recent one was a mistake, I was in D tuning (and D thinking) when I read the post so I picked up my banjo - tuned in Graveyard tuning because I was playing Hard Times, so I wrote that tab out in D tuning without even noticing it. hahaha...I should think before I post, but, I usually don't. But believe me, about 99% of the tunes/songs I play are out of Open G tuning. By the way, I never knew Scoggins played Banjo, I have read that Earl and Lester were Banjo and Guitar for the TV version as well as recording their own rendition, and the song was written by the shows creator. please correct me if I am wrong.

Chuck, that is a fine arrangement and also possibly could be a good advertisement for capo usage! haahahaha...This is your Banjo. and this is your Banjo without a Capo - any questions?

chuckv97 - Posted - 11/15/2016:  19:52:05

"In 1962, Scoggins was working as a stockbroker and singing on weekends when he was asked to sing the theme song for a new sitcom, called "The Beverly Hillbillies". Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs played guitar and banjo while he sang the lyrics. The Ballad of Jed Clampett was a smash hit on the charts." - wikipedia.

And I believe it was Don Parmley who played the incidental banjo music throughout the show.

Mooooo - Posted - 11/15/2016:  20:00:16

Really cool, thanks...I always hoped it was Earl playing throughout the show, but ya can't have everything. Although they did have a few great guest appearances...

Banjophobic - Posted - 11/15/2016:  20:35:48

 just realized I was referring to Jerry scoggins as Jeff Scroggins in my earlier post,haha. The Jeff won Winfield a couple times..senior moment, . Don did a great job on the shows sound track I thought, but Earl was the player on the theme song obviously. 

Edited by - Banjophobic on 11/15/2016 20:38:11

KYSLOWFINGERS - Posted - 11/17/2016:  11:34:16

For a bit more intrigue, there's also the JD Crowe version on the Live in Japan album, where Keith Whitley imitates Lester.  Would be interesting to see which version JD's was closer to, if I had to bet, I would imagine the F&S bluegrass version.

Edited by - KYSLOWFINGERS on 11/17/2016 11:35:49

KYSLOWFINGERS - Posted - 11/17/2016:  11:42:03

I just listened to the beginning of JD's and F&S on my iPod, don't have the TV version.  I don't have a great ear, but JD's is almost identical to the bluegrass version.  Again, that's to my ear, some of you guys may pick it apart.

KYSLOWFINGERS - Posted - 11/17/2016:  11:54:18

P.S. I had to edit my first post after I got on my iPod, I put Made in Japan.  I think that was a Deep Purple album LOL

Mooooo - Posted - 11/17/2016:  11:56:03

JD Crowe and the New South in Japan playing the Ballad of Jed Clampett

youtube.com/watch?v=XAmfGtKMOC4

​I wonder if Deep Purple ever covered this song. 

You can check up top to my original post for a link to the TV version

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/17/2016 11:58:39

teletodd - Posted - 11/20/2016:  06:32:01

I saw Bela Fleck play his classical opus with the Cleveland Orchestra. It was great, however the hoyty toyty orchestra crowd (think Thurston Howel III and Lovey  from Gilligan's Island)really woke up when he played his encore of Jed Clampet. The crowd started clapping along and some were singing along.

doley50 - Posted - 11/20/2016:  07:47:57

It's funny this thread just showed up , last night I was listening to Sirus XM's Bluegrass Junction, Del MeCory has a show on there and he was talking about this song . 

I never realized that Lester didn't sing the TV version! Del , said " Lester didn't want to sing it ,that was the reason it was sung by Jerry." Apparently Lester never really liked the song . Del said , " Lester said , " I never really liked that song , but after it sold over a million copies I started to like it ! " lol .

I have always played a jacked up version of this sone and decided to learn how to really play it from Earl's book , I always wondered why the book and the many Flatt & Scruggs versions didn't have the slow part , guess I know now . 

The biggest challenge for me is the D chord, I feel the best way to play it frett the full chord and unfret and fret the correct notes , while it is harder for me this way , I feel the notes don't fly away from me , I can keep sounding clean and crisp! 

BTW Flatt and Scruggs played this song fast !!! At least to my slow fingers !!! 

You all come back now here . 

pickingfive - Posted - 11/20/2016:  08:56:50

MkeSaysMoo:  I do not believe you missed any bluegrass etiquette is saying you prefer the TV show version of the song.  It is a matter of individuality that largely determines which version of the song a person likes.  It is one of those instances where there is no "right" or "wrong" or "better" or "worse," but rather a matter of everyone is their own individual opinions/tastes/preferences.

jhko - Posted - 11/20/2016:  13:40:06

"The biggest challenge for me is the D chord, I feel the best way to play it frett the full chord and unfret and fret the correct notes , while it is harder for me this way , I feel the notes don't fly away from me , I can keep sounding clean and crisp!"

Don't feel bad, I think that D chord is the biggest challenge for anyone! I agree, I think it is better to fret the full chord and then move your fingers when necessary.