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John Mark Batchelor - Posted - 11/24/2021: 14:28:31
In memory of the Chief, I wanted to ask everybody what songs or tunes they are working on that Sonny made either famous or influenced?
What Sonny tune would you like to see in an accurate video/tab format?
Thanks y’all!
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/24/2021: 15:18:31
Hi John,
Thanks for all the great work you've done over the years. Would you mind tabbing Sonny's "Siempre"?...I have a version but have never really fooled with it because I have to get the backup guitar finished and probably never will...Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/24/2021 15:22:14
beegee - Posted - 11/24/2021: 17:22:47
Our go-to tune is Sledd Ridin'
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/25/2021: 10:09:47
Sled Ridin has already been tabbed out several times. I've posted it several times...nice simple tune by Sonny. Let's give John B at least a good one to tab out and post...Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/25/2021 10:11:06
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/25/2021: 12:40:13
Listen to Jim Mills play this great tune. Jim is a master. This version I may tab out--so tasteful...Jack
youtube.com/watch?v=VD0jdBy6MfE
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/25/2021 12:41:01
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/26/2021: 14:29:28
Nothing matches Sonny's version though. At about 2:47 in the youtube...unbelievable...Jack p.s. I've already tabbed out Sonny's version actually now that I looked for it...
Sledd Ridin'
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/26/2021 14:31:13
Leslie R - Posted - 11/26/2021: 20:32:47
What a talent Sonny was. And in so many ways. One of the greatest banjo players to have picked up a banjo.
And he made it look easy, sometimes grinning ear to ear while playing something indescribably incredible.
He and I exchanged a few emails, he was always quick to respond and he genuinely tried to be as helpful and courteous as could be possible.
I have tried learning America the Beautiful, El Rondo, Dandelion, Siempre and Sledd Riding like Sonny.
I’m sure some of you have done this successfully . I simply have never been able.
Sonny did have talent. I’ve known many people who also had talent but never pushed hard at utilizing it.
Sonny devoted his life to making the most of what he was born with while sharing what he could selflessly.
He left this world a better place than he found it.
Tom Hanway - Posted - 11/28/2021: 09:33:13
I'll keep watching this thread for Sonny tunes and playing ideas. He played some really neat stuff on Ruby. I wonder if any of that stuff has been tabbed.
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/28/2021: 11:09:47
Hi Tom,
Which version of Reuben are you talking about Tom? Sonny recorded this tune many times and always put something new in every recording; he just went all over the neck with this tune...Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/28/2021 11:20:06
chuckv97 - Posted - 11/28/2021: 11:26:59
Thanks for posting “Surefire” , Jack. I’ve always liked that tune, trouble is it’s not jam-friendly so I’ve hesitated to work it up. I don’t seem to enjoy playing tunes on my own anymore - maybe I’ll introduce it at our jams with a chord diagram. Maybe if folks capo at the 3rd fret and play out of E position they can handle the modulation to F by playing in D position.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 11/28/2021 11:30:25
Jack Baker - Posted - 11/28/2021: 12:16:17
I don't think Sonny thought in jamming terms when he arranged his tunes. Just do the best you can Chuck. His imagination was all over the place...jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 11/28/2021 12:17:36
From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/29/2021: 05:09:50
Hello John Mark:
Thanks for offering this. since Sonny's passing I have been listening to a bunch of his stuff. I have been especially listening to The Essential Osborne Brothers Collection and love it as I can hear his banjo and backup so clearly. I have also been enjoying the Pinecastle releases that trace the Osborne's career steps forward starting with the album Hyden and then going to Dayton to Knoxville on another album and the 2 albums From Detroit to Wheeling. I don't think anyone ever picked better than Sonny.
One little break that has caught my ear has been Rose Connolly or as the Osborne Brothers called it: Down in the Willow Garden. I don't think Earl ever took a break on this one and the way Sonny plays it seems real "Sonny like" to me. Anyway I love the break he does.
youtube.com/watch?v=Fs6mgElzFLI
I know we all will benefit hearing how some greats did things thru your expert ears. Thanks for doing this.
ken
monstertone - Posted - 11/29/2021: 11:11:44
Sonny could play as fast as anyone, but no one could match him when it came to slow songs. To my ear, Sonny's masterpiece was America the Beautiful. If that fails to bring tears to your eyes, there's something wrong with you. Those slow numbers are not exactly jam friendly, even if you can play them. The challenge all us banjo pickers face is finding someone who can sing them. 
I have heard Once More done, now & then, but I suspect the core group had previously worked it out. Sonny's instrumental medley, (Sweden gig) contains stuff compatible with most jammers, & Sledd Ridin' ain't all that difficult.
The band I was in did Don't Let Smokey Mountain Smoke Get In Your Eyes, & River's Goin' Down. Most of the other stuff we tried, just didn't sound right without a voice like Bobby's.
fwiw: Sonny tabbed out Down in the Willow Garden in that Mel Bay book. Sadly, I loaned my copy out, & never got it back.
From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/29/2021: 11:31:34
quote:
Originally posted by monstertone
Sonny could play as fast as anyone, but no one could match him when it came to slow songs. To my ear, Sonny's masterpiece was America the Beautiful. If that fails to bring tears to your eyes, there's something wrong with you. Those slow numbers are not exactly jam friendly, even if you can play them. The challenge all us banjo pickers face is finding someone who can sing them. I have heard Once More done, now & then, but I suspect the core group had previously worked it out. Sonny's instrumental medley, (Sweden gig) contains stuff compatible with most jammers, & Sledd Ridin' ain't all that difficult.
The band I was in did Don't Let Smokey Mountain Smoke Get In Your Eyes, & River's Goin' Down. Most of the other stuff we tried, just didn't sound right without a voice like Bobby's.
fwiw: Sonny tabbed out Down in the Willow Garden in that Mel Bay book. Sadly, I loaned my copy out, & never got it back.
thanks for the heads up about willow Garden JD, I sure don't want John M doing duplicitous work.
ken
chuckv97 - Posted - 11/29/2021: 12:03:22
Down in the Willow Garden, I believe, is in Pete Seeger’s book. I have Sonny’s Mel Bay book,, it’s not in there. Just FYI 
monstertone - Posted - 11/29/2021: 15:56:32
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97
Down in the Willow Garden, I believe, is in Pete Seeger’s book. I have Sonny’s Mel Bay book,, it’s not in there. Just FYI
OK, I stand corrected. Many moons ago during that time span, a lot of this was new to me. Being so, a good part of it just kinda merged into one over the years. I doubt I still have the Seeger book either. Is OJC in Sonny's book? Are there staffs & flags in the tab, or music notation above? How about Red Wing?
chuckv97 - Posted - 11/29/2021: 16:53:15
Hi JD,,, yes, OJC and Red Wing are in his Mel Bay book. I had the original years ago, but I bought the revised edition (by Neil Griffin) a few years back for sentimental reasons. It has music notation and tab. Other tunes are Cumberland Gap, Sonny’s Chimes, John Henry (G tuning), and Sonny’s Breakdown.
