Jack Baker Says:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 @5:02:08 PM
Nice tab Jack. It's an entirely different melody than what I'm used to playing in either Claw or Bluegrass style. Here's a little of what I'm talkin about...Jack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-52uUYoK8

jack_beuthin Says:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 @5:52:47 PM
Thanks Jack! Bertie often had her own versions of tunes, this being one particularly fine example. And of course, I don't play it exactly like she did, nor could I, but I tried to capture some of the essence.

Jack Baker Says:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 @6:25:36 PM
Thanks Jack, It is confusing to many of my students that tunes can be called by any name even if the standard version of the tune is established...I'll try to educate them...Jack

Jack Baker Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @8:07:49 AM
Seems to me that with Clawhammer and Old Timey there are no rules. You just make up what ever you want and call it anything you want. OK with me but very confusing to a non pro....Jack

jack_beuthin Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @8:35:49 AM
I think it all goes back to the regional nature of "Old Time" music. The repertories, and styles, might have been different on two sides of a mountain way back when. Learning was mostly by emulation, rather than actual focused instruction. Room for lots of mutation there. Maybe you heard a fiddler or banjo player at a dance, then went home later and tried to recreate what you heard, only remembering so much, then filling in the rest. Also, playing styles, be it clawhammer, 2F or even pre-Scruggs 3F were much less codified than they are today. You're right Jack--rich sources indeed, but not very straightforward for someone who isn't "in the know". When introducing a new song/tune to students, I always tell them that this is a version (not the version) of the tune. This is also why I like to teach "bare bones" versions as well as fully rendered versions-- having a base line for adapting to different versions comes in handy in the Old Time realm where broad variations, or even different tunes by the same name, are part of the norm.

Jack Baker Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @1:24:10 PM
Thanks Jack, The students I teach would never go for the ethnomusicologist approach. But thank you for your Scholarly approach. I think this is better appreciated for the people on BHO.....my best, Jack

Jack Baker Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @1:26:42 PM
I might add that my students simply like the bum ditty sound and don't care where I get it from...HA!

Jack Baker Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @1:33:38 PM
New Yorkers aren't all that interested in "why or musical history" just "how much" I've learned to live with it...Jack

jack_beuthin Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @2:20:31 PM
Ha, well I typically don't get that deep into either, unless someone is curious about it. Tunes and techniques make up the bulk of lessons here too. Usually, my only caveat is "someone might play this a bit differently". Sometimes I will get a request to learn a tune as played by someone specific. Always glad to oblige, to the extent that I can work something out, or create an accessible proxy.

Jack Baker Says:
Monday, August 21, 2023 @5:14:21 PM
All Smiles....