carlb - Posted - 04/29/2021:  21:24:09

LITTLE REED ISLAND CREEK

This tune is not really difficult to play. I definitely prefer the tuning I use as one can use quite a few open strings when playing some of the phrases. The phrase I consider the most difficult is in the third part and the difficulty is in getting the right hand to execute it. Also, I have a tendency to play so that you also hear the chords as well as the melody. I recorded the tune for my first CD in 2000 and have re-recorded just to see how it compares (have pasted the two together; 2000 then 2021).

I learned the tune while attending a party at John and Betsy Coffey's in Baltimore  in the late 1970s.  Betsy had made this tune up on the banjo and John had figured out a way to play it on the fiddle.  My setting was from John's fiddling, though he thought that it came out well on the banjo in the gDGde, which I use for over 95% of my G tunes.  Betsy played the tune in gDGbd, though I never heard her play it nor know of a recording.

from

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Rutherford

Betsy Rutherford (Born February 11, 1944 in Galax, Virginia – Died March 12, 1991 in Galax)

    Betsy Rutherford was raised in a musical family. She was related to acclaimed Galax-area musicians and early recording artists Fields [her uncle, who also had moved north near Baltimore, who had a great influence her musical style], Crockett and Wade Ward, and Henry Whitter.

    Although she was born in Galax, Betsy Rutherford grew up in the Baltimore area. She recorded her album, "Traditional Country Music," with string band musicians who were associated with Old Joe Clark's, a music cooperative in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On December 17, 1971, she married John Coffey (April 24, 1940 - June 30, 2016), a certified nurse anesthetist and string band musician, who accompanied her on the album and wrote the liner notes.

I also dedicate this to my friends Betty Vornbrock and Billy Cornette who live on Little Reed Island Creek, just outside of Hillsville, Virginia.

Little Reed Island Creek

 

Hay-on-Wye - Posted - 04/30/2021:  02:20:40

That’s a great tune. Got a bit of Rubin’s train in it. Have your a tab of it Carl?

carlb - Posted - 04/30/2021:  05:24:12

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Originally posted by Hay-on-Wye

That’s a great tune. Got a bit of Rubin’s train in it. Have your a tab of it Carl?

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Glad you liked the tune. Sorry, no tab; you'll have to create your own setting by ear.

Hay-on-Wye - Posted - 04/30/2021:  06:08:51

I’ll wait for Janet, would take me weeks to work it out. Last kind word blues took me a month!!!!

Tamarack - Posted - 05/01/2021:  05:44:24

A fine tune - kinda laid back but with a sense of urgency

JanetB - Posted - 05/03/2021:  08:37:55

Well-played, Carl, you certainly knew it well when you recorded it for your CD "Banjo Stuff", which is my source for attempting it. I used the open G tuning, same as the composer, but I'm curious as to how you worked it out in the old guitar tuning you like so much, gDGBE. Maybe you'll make us a tab.

Neill, my arrangement is a toughie for me to play. I'd wait for Carl's if it comes to us here. The B part is the hard part, with its tremendous syncopated rhythm. The C part is rather fun, with my partial G chord up-the-neck. But Carl says he plays this part on one fret with open strings. I'd sure like to see it tabbed -- that's the easiest way for me to see what he's doing.

It's interesting to know of the old-time family members related to Betsy. How sad that she died young and that there isn't a recording of her and John playing. John Coffey did well at the Galax Fiddlers Convention, so he must have been great to hear.

Little Reed Island Creek (CH) tab

 

JanetB - Posted - 05/03/2021:  09:14:12

Apologies, I had to re-load the mp3 from the above post.

Little Reed Island Creek (TOTW)

 

carlb - Posted - 05/03/2021:  09:16:56

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Originally posted by JanetB

.....but I'm curious as to how you worked it out in the old guitar tuning you like so much, gDGBE. Maybe you'll make us a tab.

 

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Tuning is gDGde (known as Sandy River Belle tuning when I was introduced to it in 1973 and now know as Old G) and not what you wrote.

JanetB - Posted - 05/03/2021:  09:33:18

quote:

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Originally posted by carlb

quote:

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Originally posted by JanetB

.....but I'm curious as to how you worked it out in the old guitar tuning you like so much, gDGBE. Maybe you'll make us a tab.

 

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Tuning is gDGde (known as Sandy River Belle tuning when I was introduced to it in 1973 and now know as Old G) and not what you wrote.

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Sorry for the mix-up, Carl.  My memory for tuning nomenclature isn't so hot as it is and sometimes I actually state "Old G" on my arrangements, as you would do.  I use Anita Kermode's alphabetical list of tunings a lot and that helps, but of course it's only one resource and other people have different names for various tunings.  She calls gDGBE an "open G variant" and a "guitar tuning."  Old G is a good name.  Sandy River Belle tuning as a name is confusing for me because there is more than one or even two with that name, so I'd personally avoid it. Here is Anita's gDGBE tuning description.

rickhayes - Posted - 05/03/2021:  11:54:45

Nice pick. Funny how Carl says the third part is the toughest while Janet believes it is the second, Both well played.

Hay-on-Wye - Posted - 05/03/2021:  12:37:37

Ahh, nice playing Janet and I don’t know how you manage to work a tab out so quick. Certainly give the tune a try

carlb - Posted - 05/04/2021:  04:19:33

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Originally posted by JanetB

Apologies, I had to re-load the mp3 from the above post.

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OK! Nice to hear how you got the syncopation in the third part.