Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/03/2025:  09:18:57

Is this in 5/4 time or did I just fail 1st grade arithmetic?

Dirk Powell and Transatlantic Musicians Waterbound

janolov - Posted - 11/03/2025:  10:57:42

It is 5/4, or perhaps 5/2 depending on what notes you use!

In OT music we don't count the beats, we just call it a crooked tune.

carlb - Posted - 11/03/2025:  11:00:42

Can't say but hope you saw this.

mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=130431

banjered - Posted - 11/03/2025:  13:24:38

Humm. I really enjoy playing and singing this song. Dirk backed Joan Baez when she played here in Ashland Oregon a couple years ago. He backed her with banjo, guitar, fiddle, squeeze box, fiddle, piano...all played superbly, what an incredible musician! Dirk plays Waterbound as described above but I basically play it in E minor out of standard G tuning, but lowered down to the key of D with Minstrel nylguts. I play it in plain ol' clawhammer but confess I play it in standard 4/4 timing and I think it sounds just fine that way without noticing any timing issues. I adapt most songs to fit both my level/limitations of banjo playing and how I care to interpret/alter it. Good Luck! banjered

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/03/2025:  13:28:23

quote:

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Originally posted by carlb

Can't say but hope you saw this.

mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=130431

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Thanks!  I had not seen that.  I scoured youtube and listened to every version I could find, tried at least 3 different tunings until I found one that worked with the TS recording.  Your link proves an overwhelming interest in the tune and wow...  a lot of opinions too.  It must be very flattering to be the composer of a song that garners so much interest.

I just ordered the CD with the original studio recording.  (Yes, I still order CDs.  There's something about physical artifacts...)

Thanks again for the link!

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/03/2025:  13:42:14

...and then there is this version in 4/4 (?)

Waterbound

That $299 chinese fretless sounds pretty good, huh?

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/03/2025:  18:52:02

And this one:

 

Waterbound  Rakish

Sounds like the instrumental parts in 4/4 and the verses in 4/4 + 3/4  

I find this one tough to count, what do you guys think?

Beautiful version (even though the banjo is missing).

banjered - Posted - 11/03/2025:  20:09:56

Songs can drive fiddle players/tune heads nuts with their extra or dropped beats from verse to verse. I once heard Kenny Hall complain about a famous singer, "She sings it different every time." As is sometimes said here on BHO, "It's your banjo kid, play it any damn way you want!" banjered

gusmac - Posted - 11/03/2025:  20:58:32

quote:

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Originally posted by Jon Borcherding

Is this in 5/4 time or did I just fail 1st grade arithmetic?

Close, but not quite.

The structure of each line is a 4/4 bar, followed by a 2/4 bar, followed by a 4/4 Bar. That adds up to 10. Which is divisible by 5!

It''s a beautiful song, my band have played it for years.

Dirk Powell and Transatlantic Musicians Waterbound

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kantstandya - Posted - 11/04/2025:  06:15:16

Can’t tell you what the time signature would be but I like this version by Riley Baugus. May be some ads. And I don’t know how to paste a good copy, you’ll need to copy and paste!
youtu.be/mwq-Q89Tshc
Enjoy, Kent

kantstandya - Posted - 11/04/2025:  06:54:02

quote:

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Originally posted by kantstandya

Can’t tell you what the time signature would be but I like this version by Riley Baugus. May be some ads. And I don’t know how to paste a good copy, you’ll need to copy and paste!

youtu.be/mwq-Q89Tshc

Enjoy, Kent

haha well I guess I did add the link. I surprise myself! 

Kent