Anniebo - Posted - 02/20/2024:  13:46:41

Hello- I belong to a young band that is figuring out an arrangement for Fiddler's Elbow by Jay Ungar. I could play this tune with my D penny whistle, but I am trying to see if I can create a clawhammer version. I'm having trouble with everything- tuning (trying it in both double C and open G- it's in Em. I think!) and getting a good clawhammer groove for it. Maybe some tunes are not meant to be learned in the clawhammer style? I want to try anyway, and maybe someone here has some advice? Thank you so much for your kind 2 cents....

youtube.com/watch?v=gvv5r9qeId...&index=12

Bill Rogers - Posted - 02/20/2024:  14:05:09

Can you play melodic clawhammer? If so, you should be able to find the notes and go from there. I’d try either G tuning or Cm tuning capoed at the third fret.

Anniebo - Posted - 02/20/2024:  15:01:26

I can pick out the tune pretty well- it's just challenging to play and didn't know if any tuning would make it easier. I guess that's why I'm a melodic-ish clawhammer player... more the essence than note for note. I'll try Cm tuning, though- I haven't done that before. Thanks.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 02/20/2024:  15:24:56

I screwed up; you’ll need to capo to the 4th fret for Em, not the third. To get the tuning, from Double-C, raise the first string one fret.

@Anniebo

trapdoor2 - Posted - 02/20/2024:  16:16:39

According to the "unofficial" sheet music I can find, it is in A minor. I played both the youtube video and the sheet music, they sound in the same key to me.

A part 2X: | Am-Am | Am-G | Am-Am| Am-D |Am-Am |Am-G | Am-Em | Am-Am

B part 2X: | Am-G | C-G | Am-Am | D-D | Dm-Am | G-Em | Am-Em | Am-Am

Coda: | Am-Am | D-D | Am-Am| Am-Am

Nice tune. I think it might be pretty, sketched in drop-thumb...in whatever tuning suited it. If I had to play it note-for-note, I'd get out the Irish Tenor Banjo.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 02/20/2024:  17:06:56

Am is easy. Gm tuning; capo 2.

janolov - Posted - 02/21/2024:  02:52:23

To play in Am you can also try standard G with the fifth tuned/capoed/spiked to seventh fret: aDGBD. When looking at the lead sheet (musescore.com/user/12544/scores/2267296) this tuning seems to work.