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Feb 4, 2025 - 8:22:34 PM
15 posts since 5/31/2024

Which is the harder Bela Fleck tune to learn, "Whitewater" or "Big Country"?

Feb 4, 2025 - 11:42:46 PM

3651 posts since 4/19/2008

quote:
Originally posted by techman

Which is the harder Bela Fleck tune to learn, "Whitewater" or "Big Country"?


Whitewater is Scruggs style, = Scruggs

Big Country is Bela style, = Scruggs, melodic, jazz

Feb 5, 2025 - 4:18:48 AM
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Texasbanjo (Moderator)

USA

31215 posts since 8/3/2003

I think that would depend on where you are in your banjo experience. Either would be difficult to impossible for a beginner, hard for an intermediate and, according to one's talents, both could be easy or impossible.

It's one of those questions that has no right answer.

Feb 5, 2025 - 6:36:14 AM
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5004 posts since 3/28/2008

"Big Country" (which a couple of my students have taken a stab at on their own) seems to be predominantly Scruggs style. But "Whitewater" strikes me as more typically so, and therefore more accessible.

Feb 5, 2025 - 7:28:39 AM
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10110 posts since 8/30/2004
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Robert,
I just put  both of them in the Newest Tab Archive. Bela is a little bit of everything. Don't analyze too much--just play them and enjoy them....Jack Baker

Originally posted by techman

Which is the harder Bela Fleck tune to learn, "Whitewater" or "Big Country"?


Edited by - Jack Baker on 02/05/2025 07:30:56

Feb 5, 2025 - 7:48:44 AM
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3009 posts since 9/18/2010

I learned (and later forgot!) both tunes back in the day. I think perhaps Whitewater was a little harder to learn and most definitely harder for me to play. I had to play Whitewater regularly to keep it together but I could ignore Big Country for days and still get through it.

Feb 5, 2025 - 8:34:04 AM
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KCJones

USA

3422 posts since 8/30/2012

The basics of the song, or note for note reproduction? Two different things.

If we're talking general progression, to me, Big Country is way easier. Mainly because it's a slower tempo and fewer notes. And Whitewater has quite a few of those syncopated Scruggs licks with counterintuitive timing, where Big Country is pretty "square" with its rhythm. Also the core melody of Big Country is so intuitive that many people accidentally learn how to play it without even trying. It's basically a scale exercise, great for a beginner learning the fretboard.

Proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Look how many videos there are of beginners covering Big Country with reasonable success, then try to find the same for Whitewater. You'll see quickly that beginners can figure one out but don't even approach the other.

Edited by - KCJones on 02/05/2025 08:36:59

Feb 5, 2025 - 8:41:05 AM
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6376 posts since 3/6/2006

Difficulty aside, I would look at it more from the POV of What will each tune teach me?
Whitewater is fast and driving, if that’s your focus. But Big Country is more musical and will teach you many things.

Feb 5, 2025 - 8:50:47 AM

Corwyn

USA

1714 posts since 1/9/2006

quote:
Originally posted by KCJones

Proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Look how many videos there are of beginners covering Big Country with reasonable success, then try to find the same for Whitewater. You'll see quickly that beginners can figure one out but don't even approach the other.


Big country is a better tune, so I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from just that.

Thank you kindly.

Feb 5, 2025 - 8:56:01 AM
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KCJones

USA

3422 posts since 8/30/2012

You know that's a fair point. It's also a Flecktones tune so that probably adds to the relative popularity.

Feb 5, 2025 - 9:45:18 AM

5359 posts since 9/12/2016

slower can be harder imo

Feb 5, 2025 - 10:48:47 AM

16100 posts since 6/2/2008

Both are within reach of intermediate players.

But each has tricky moments that -- for me, at least -- can run counter to one's habits, expectations, and tendencies.

I don't have tab in front of me, so I can't be specific. Doesn't matter. He's Bela, I'm me. You're you. Bela's sound and style is based on his having lots of habits and tendencies that vary from the typical picker's. Phrases last longer or shorter than you expect. Moves happen at different times. Changes come where not expected. Notes anticipate changes to follow. These are types of syncopation.

I think Big Country has instances of extra-beat measures.

KCJones asks an important question: Is the OP asking about learning these as played by Bela or learning the structure for improvisation or one's own version? Both are doable. I've spent a little time on both, never "learned" either one all the way through.

Whitewater is worth mining for some licks and general "noise" to play against G. Big Country, as written, is good as an etude in melody on a single string within a roll. Again, not looking at tab, but I believe Bela does the up-the-neck melody on first string. This is something outside my typical inclination which would be second string.

If I had anyone to play these with, I'd probably have learned them.

Have fun.

Feb 5, 2025 - 12:50:36 PM
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4392 posts since 7/12/2006

Whitewater is one of Bela's "easy " tunes. Playing it up to speed is the REAL challenge

Feb 5, 2025 - 1:12:10 PM
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banjoy

USA

11657 posts since 7/1/2006

When it comes to Bela tunes, for me, they're either attainable, or they're not.

These two tunes are in my opinion, for me, attainable, and both fun to play. I'm partial to Big Country, love that low-E tuned banjo. It's almost haunting and I agree it's very musical, tasteful. Whitewater is full steam ahead but has some very cool licks and fingerings that you won't encounter if not for Bela.

Finding someone to jam or pick with on these tunes, is another thing entirely though...

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