Genre: Old Time Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time Key: D Tuning: Double C (gCGCD) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by etparadox, updated: 9/20/2014
Download: TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download]
Notes: The trad oldtime version of Bonaparte's Retreat with tabs and recordings for two octaves. The low A part uses a lot of left hand ornamentation, so some may find the high A part easier. For the B part the roles reverse. The high B part requires playing and staying up around the 10th fret compared to the low B part which never leaves first position. For this reason the easiest way to start with the tune is probably mixing the octaves. I’ve included a tab with this mixed configuration along with the tabs that stick to their octaves. No matter what octaves you choose, I recommend trying to stick pretty firmly to a bum-dit-ty pattern with a brush in the “dit.” This tune traditionally used a lot of drones and keeping the patter will help give that impression despite the short sustain of the banjo.
Genre: Old Time Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time Key: D Tuning: Double C (gCGCD) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by etparadox, updated: 9/20/2014
Download: TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download]
Notes: Here's a tab for William H. Stepp's 1937 version of Bonaparte's Retreat. It's rather different from the older version, being much faster and having an altered melodic structure, but the link is evident with some study and playing it sure is fun. To play the Stepp version on banjo one must use almost exclusively hammer-ons and pull-offs as the tune is a barrage of eighth notes alternating up and down the scale. With some practice it is doable, but it may take a while to get it up to speed. The A part is always the same, sans ornamentation, but there are two versions of the B part. The melodies are the same they are in different octaves (both in first position though). The traditional way of playing it is to play the low B on the first and the high B on the second. Repeat this cycle to the end of the tune.
Genre: Other Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time Key: D Tuning: Double C (gCGCD) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by etparadox, updated: 6/6/2014
Download: TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download]
Notes: This tune is by Roger Tallroth of the Swedish band Väsen. It is a slow waltz, played crooked with a 16 bar A and 24 bar B. Normal BPM is Quarter=140.
The Tabledit file has 4 tracks: Banjo, guitar, violin, and bass.
For more info see TOTW (OT) 6/6/14
Genre: Other Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time Key: D Tuning: Double C (gCGCD) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by etparadox, updated: 6/6/2014
Download: TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download]
Notes: This tune is by Roger Tallroth of the Swedish band Väsen. It is a slow waltz, played crooked with a 16 bar A and 24 bar B. Normal BPM is Quarter=140.
The Tabledit file has 4 tracks: Banjo, guitar, 5 string violin, and bass.
This is my personal arrangement.
For more info see TOTW (OT) 6/6/14
Genre: Other Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time Key: G Tuning: Standard Open G (gDGBD) Difficulty: Intermediate
Posted by etparadox, updated: 6/6/2014 - 1 Member Comments
Download: TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | TABLEDIT | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download] | PDF | MP3: [Play] [Download]
Notes: This tune is by Roger Tallroth of the Swedish band Väsen. It is a slow waltz, played crooked with a 16 bar A and 24 bar B. Normal BPM is Quarter=140.
The Tabledit file has 5 tracks: Two banjo tracks (one an octave above the other), a guitar track, a violin track and a bass track. For each banjo track I've uploaded a PDF and MP3
For more info see TOTW (OT) 6/6/14
