Today we’re taking a trip to the “Dark Side”. “Jerusalem Ridge” is a bluegrass fiddle tune written by Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker.
Bill formed his band the Blue Grass Boys in 1938. He is considered to many to be the father of Bluegrass. The genre takes its name from the name of the band. Over the years many great musicians passed in and out of the group. Earl Scruggs joined in 1945. Other members include: Stringbean, Don Reno, Vassar Clements, Jimmy Martin, Sonny Osborne, Del McCoury, Byron Berline, Butch Robins, Peter Rowan, -really too many to mention. It’s essentially a Who’s Who list of Bluegrass greats.
Kenny Baker (1926-2011) didn’t come around until 1957. He was the featured fiddler for 25 years.
Here’s a link to Kenny and Bill playing: Jerusalem Ridge
I usually don’t try to learn tunes that are not in the Old-Time playlist. Mainly because once I’ve taken the time to learn one I never get the opportunity to play it. I’m fortunate that I am able to attend a lot of jams. I have never heard this tune called at any of them.
There are, however, a few examples of hotshot clawhammer players available on YouTube:
Mike Iverson playing on a cello banjo.
Hilary Burhans has a simplified version that is much easier to learn and sounds great. If you search around, she also has couple of instructional videos that teach this tune.
Rachel Eddy Playing banjo
Here's another example from BHO contributor Adam Hinkle
The tune has four parts and is played AABBCCDD. The C part is short (only 4 bars) and the D part is long (12 bars). It's played in the key of Aminor. At first, I wasn't sure what tuning to use for the banjo - but eventually settled on double D (aDADE). Here's a link to the version I came up with (the tab is attached):
Jerusalem Ridge -Clawhammer style
Edited by - banjukebox on 12/06/2024 07:04:53
Nice write-up and good arrangement. I enjoyed your playing as well. I played the tune on the CD, "I Once Loved a Lass," by Guilderoy Byrne, a Celtic group in Louisville. YouTube: Jerusalem Ridge. I am playing in support of the fiddle. There's no banjo solo.
I arranged it in G minor tuning (gDGBbD) capoed at the 2nd fret for the key of Am (aEACE). Your arrangement in double-D works well. That didn't occur to me. Here's my arrangement:
Jerusalem Ridge Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout
David
You've got that nice minor sound and feel, Pat. It reminds me of Bill Monroe describing how he loved listening to his fox hounds hunt all night on Jerusalem Ridge. David, the recording with the Celtic group catches the flavor, too, and really moves well.
When I listened to Kenny Baker to learn the tune, I used an A minor chordal shape. I worked so hard on the tune years ago that my left hand finger joints got really painful and had me seeking joint remedies of the day -- glucosamine with MSG. I didn't complete the tab until tonight and found I still play it the same way. It's too difficult an arrangement to easily play, so maybe I'll find another way to play Jerusalem Ridge this week....
JanetB dbrooks
Thanks for your additions to the TOTW. Who knew - three different tunings to tackle the same tune. I suppose the open Aminor tuning makes the most sense as it offers more open strings to use as melody notes. I tend to avoid alternate tunings because if the tune comes up at a jam I don't want to have to retune to access it. I should have made an exception in this case as the only time I play it is when I'm alone in the basement.
If Jukebox (Pat )does it it has to be good--this version came to mind
Edited by - Tractor1 on 12/08/2024 06:24:24
Thanks for this TOTW! I struggled to learn this tune for months, both in getting the entire melody in my head and in getting that melody into my fingers and the frets and strings of the banjo. I gradually learned the melody by ear from the Tony Rice version, but couldn't find a workable tuning for it.. I asked old time instructors at banjo camp what tuning they used for it, but few actually played. However Mark Johnson (of Clawgrass fame) told me that he tuned to A minor to play it. I tried that tuning and within a week, it mostly fell into place (I still didn't have the melody firmly in my head!). This video shows how it eventually came out.
Edited by - Lew H on 12/08/2024 16:57:16
Lew H I really enjoyed your version of the tune, Lew.
The note bending you slipped in there added a nice little twist. I think I'm going to explore the Aminor tuning to see what pops up.
Nice versions all!
Re: the original post and the statement as far as the excellent musicians who passed through Monroe's band ("-really too many to mention"), there is one more of note (sorry about the pun), even though he only played with Monroe's band for a few months.
Steve Arkin, cousin to the actor Alan, was described by Monroe as playing “the best back-up banjo I have ever heard.” More importantly, Steve Arkin was noted (there I go again!) for playing both bluegrass and old-time clawhammer banjo. See https://bluegrasstoday.com/steve-arkin-passes/
banjukebox Thanks! I love string bends (chokes in grass argot). I got started bending when I wanted to claw blues songs. They work for many other kinds of tunes, especially in sawmill tuning.
