Posted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 643
Size: 1,701kb, uploaded 5/16/2015 9:52:05 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/15/15. This comes from Samuel Bayard's Hill Country Tunes collection (link in TOTW: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/303774). My first effort to play Sweet Ellen was in open G tuning with a raised 5th string. This version is in double C tuning (capo 2 for its original key of D). It's really a sweet tune and I'm interested in anything from Samuel Bayard's collections. I'll never know if my father knew Sam Bayard -- same college, about the same time, same major....We all find personal connections in this old-time musical journey and that's one of mine.
2 comments on “Sweet Ellen (TOTW)”
Don Borchelt Says:
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @4:07:28 AM
Sweetly played, Janet, well done. In Dance to the Fiddle, Bayard gives Sweet Ellum as an alternate title. So what is "ellum"? I know Deep Ellum used to be the Dallas red light district.
bd Says:
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 @9:39:34 AM
Don--I've read that "ellum"=elm as in the tree. I've never heard of elm trees being called sweet tho' their shade is.
Janet--excellent version! I just can't seem to fit as much of the melody in as either you or Don & retain any rythm.
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