grahame - Posted - 07/10/2022:  08:22:02

Hi everybody,
I have recently become obsessed with this tune by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra in the key of C. I have heard all kinds of versions on Guitar, Accordian and even a Harmonium.
I have a problem in the third line of the B part (if that makes sense),
it goes to A Flat for two bars then to A flat Diminished for another two bars before shifting to G7 to resolve back to C
I don't read music and I'm afraid my ears are not good enough to pick out the Diminished chord.
Can anyone help?
Thanks, Grahame.

35planar - Posted - 07/10/2022:  08:54:13

I can't but just wanted to say I'm happy that in my 10 years on BHO, someone mentioned Penguin Cafe Orchestra! I'll be looking forward to the replies.

Edited by - 35planar on 07/10/2022 08:54:47

blazo - Posted - 07/10/2022:  10:33:18

Not sure if this will help but Josh Turknett does a great clawhammer arrangement -- youtube.com/watch?v=MiKU--YfroM

grahame - Posted - 07/11/2022:  07:28:55

Thanks for the replys gentlemen,
As much as I admire Josh's playing, I think he's playing out of Double C tuning and I don't think I can get much from that as I'm in G tuning
playing C shapes with fingerpicks.
Not to worry, I shall persevere.
G

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 08/02/2022:  13:02:46

Keep listening for that chord change. Sometimes listening for a chord enough times helps A person to recognize it. Also. expriment to see if you can duplicate what you hear (it may take several attempts to get it. I am assuming that because you play by ear, you actually will figure it out.

One other idea would be to find a chord chart that shows that Ab dim chord. Play the fingering numerous times until you really recognize that "diminished" sound. A Chart might seem like a violation of the "play by ear" rules, but if everyone followed all the rules, we might still think the world is flat (sorry, Flat Earthers, but you don't have a clue about the natural world, and if the world really was flat, I feel certain you all would have fallen over its edge by now).

ndlxs - Posted - 08/03/2022:  06:24:51

Banjo Hangout tune of the week by myself on May 31, 2019:

banjohangout.org/archive/354353

grahame - Posted - 08/08/2022:  10:45:10

Thanks very much for your replys, G Edward Porgie and ndixs, I have been battling on with this tune and I think I'm getting somewhere
at last. After listening to a dozen different versions I'm amazed at the variations people dream up.
I've found something that sounds as if it should be a diminished something or other and I shall go with that.
I even found on youtube a version played on a Lute and a Hurdy Gurdy. Amazing.

regards to all
Grahame

mmuussiiccaall2 - Posted - 08/08/2022:  12:21:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by grahame

Hi everybody,

I have recently become obsessed with this tune by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra in the key of C. I have heard all kinds of versions on Guitar, Accordion and even a Harmonium.

I have a problem in the third line of the B part (if that makes sense),

it goes to A Flat 1111 for two bars then to A flat Diminished 0103 for another two bars before shifting to G7 0003 to resolve back to C 2012

I don't read music and I'm afraid my ears are not good enough to pick out the Diminished chord.

Can anyone help?

Thanks, Grahame.

---

I'd use those fingerings