Let’s go to Missouri for this week’s tune, Scott No. 1, which comes from the playing of the fiddler Bill Driver (1881-1987). I am unable to find any information on who or what “Scott” refers to, but it is distinct from the tune “Scott No. 2.” A nice biography of Bill Driver can be found at the traditional tune archive. According to this biography, tune collector R.P. Christeson remarked,
“A gifted musician, he had a keen ear, kept steady time, and played vigorously. He was born at Eldridge in Laclede County, but I first heard him play in Iberia Miller County, in the late 1920's. My first recordings of Bill are from 1948 [many lost in a robbery]...Bill's was the best example of a strictly indigenous repertory that I know of; whereas Boone County fiddlers, for example, had their repertoires diluted with hornpipes, jigs and reels that came in via the phonograph, mail-order sheet music, or itinerant fiddlers, Bill stuck with the music and style of his locale. Although he won many local contests, he was never sponsored to appear in any that were statewide. He did play over WOS in Jefferson City once, and this appearance alone brought him mail from listeners in several states and Canada.’’
I picked up the tune at local jam sessions, but there are fine recordings available on youtube, including:
Walt and Clare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWPSFNdYt8I
Howard Rains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFA97OX2Gk4
Notation:
https://tunearch.org/wiki/Scott_No._1
I normally start the tune on the low part, but some versions start on the high part. If you start the tune on the high part you will be starting on the V chord. I hope you like the tune!
Edited by - Jim_VA on 06/27/2026 11:44:04
High part starts on the V chord, not the IV. Roy Pilgrim fiddles a nice version with the Ozark Highballers.
quote:
Originally posted by BobTheGamblerHigh part starts on the V chord, not the IV. Roy Pilgrim fiddles a nice version with the Ozark Highballers.
Thanks for catching that!
Your playing is delightfully loping, Jim. Bill Driver played at a galloping pace. He recorded this in 1950 and it's found on Slippery Hill. Did you notice he lived to be 104?! Many old-time fiddlers lived long lives. I haven't actually heard about banjo players yet, other than some heroes of mine like Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, Clyde Davenport and Doc Watson. They were all at least 88 years old, with Clyde getting close to 100.
You inspired me to try an up-the-neck B part (in the second time round in this mp3). I added a cello banjo for accompaniment. The chords are as simple as G and D.
At first I didn't like clawing the 5th string in the B part when the D chordal sound was being played, because the drone note G from the open G tuning clashed. I tried tuning the 5th string down to a D and it sounded pretty good with both the D and G chordal sounds. But then I listened again to Bill Driver and realized I could do the B part without the 5th string when the melody was on the D chord. I have this funny thing about usually not liking the discordant sound. Others aren't bothered. Perhaps it's because I play solo for myself and hear the 5th string note sounding "wrong." Sometimes (not today, though) I'll use a different string in its place that actually harmonizes nicely, like an open lower D string, which is just drop thumbing.
That is lovely playing, Janet. It is good to have both high and low versions in your pocket! It is a lovely melody at both slower and faster tempos.
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