I’m thinking of the Shave and a Haircut lick specifically, it just sounds good with many a bluegrass and even old time endings. I guess the version I learned is technically in the key of G. So if I play a song in C or D, should I transpose it up or down or will it sound just fine keeping the fretting locations the same? (It sounds fine to me not transposing)
It should (must) fit the key it is used in.
If you want it to note the same a capo for A,C or even D can be done with a 5th string spike or capo.
A good shave can be found in any key without a capo,too.It just might be constructed differently.
Edited by - steve davis on 10/08/2025 14:02:08
You’d have to locate on the neck where it works for different keys (I’m assuming you mean without a capo)
If the lick sounds okay in other keys, I would leave it as is. Sometimes you can play licks in different keys and they do fit in. Other times, it sounds bad and you have to figure out how to transpose. It's not a one size fits all when it comes to licks.
A G "shave and a haircut" at the 12th fret wouldn't sound good with a C or D tune that ends on its root.
I'm trying to think of a key to use it in other than G and I'm not getting anything.
It sounds pretty good with Turkey in the straw or Old Dan Tucker in C, perhaps ending on the dominant G helps?
I like playing Old Dan Tucker in C,but I don't get how a G ending could work with it.
Edited by - steve davis on 10/08/2025 14:47:17
Shave & a haircut has to end on the root note of that key. It’d be weird to be in the key (no capo) of D and play a G shve & hrct that ends on a G note.
quote:
Originally posted by The Eclectic BanjoI’m thinking of the Shave and a Haircut lick specifically, it just sounds good with many a bluegrass and even old time endings. I guess the version I learned is technically in the key of G. So if I play a song in C or D, should I transpose it up or down or will it sound just fine keeping the fretting locations the same? (It sounds fine to me not transposing)
Some licks work across G, C & D. But it is not always possible to transpose every note for note and it is worthwhile doing a little experimentation in different keys to get a feel for what is possible. Check out these two video's and see if they help to answer your query.
Need to find a good simple ending lick in C then. Going from G to C might be a bit wonky.
Try this
All keys can have a great,basic shave and a haircut,but you can't fit a square peg in a round hole.
To add to what I posted earlier. In Banjo Ben 's most recent banjo lesson Ben teaches a great variation of Save & a Haircut in the Key of D but you would need to sign up to access this lesson as it is the last lick he teaches in this one. Listen for it at the end of LEVEL 4 in the video.
I'm hoping the "Save & a Haircut" is keyboard carelessness, and not a misunderstanding.
Never forget the “two bits” part, btw
It's a very simple set of notes.
See how many variations you can build.
It can also be done as a repeating closed chord melody that you can take anywhere on the neck.
