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They call me Lazy, God knows I'm only tired - Lazy Lester

Author Topic: Miller's Breakdown  (Read 244525 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1755 on: December 13, 2017, 09:29:18 AM »
Hi all,
I have a new puzzler for folks who are interested.  The song is "Broke Down Engine", as performed by Tony Bryant, who was recorded by Art Rosenbaum.  Here is Tony Bryant's performance:



The questions on Tony Bryant's "Broke Down Engine" are:
   * What playing position/tuning did Tony Bryant use to play the song?
   * Where did Tony Bryant fret what he played from :22--:27?

Please use only your ears and your guitars to arrive at your answers, and please don't post any answers before 8:00 AM your time on Friday, December 15.  Thanks for participating and I hope you enjoy the song.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1756 on: December 17, 2017, 02:02:34 PM »
Hi all,
Any takers on the puzzlers on Tony Bryant's "Broke Down Engine"?  Come one, come all!
All best,
Johnm

Offline alyoung

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1757 on: December 18, 2017, 02:09:22 AM »
Well.... OK.  He?s in Spanish tuning, key of G, on a 12-string guitar. The 022-027 run is played on the bass string, open and 2nd fret, and the fifth string open and third fret (bent). (Interesting, but I think I still prefer McTell's version).

Offline Old Man Ned

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1758 on: December 18, 2017, 12:39:15 PM »
I'm hearing this in open G too. For the bit from :22--:27 I'm hearing:

0-----0--3b-3b-0-0---0
---2b----------------2b

on the 5th & 6th strings, where b is a bend (of varying degrees).

Offline frailer24

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1759 on: December 19, 2017, 03:00:19 PM »
I have to agree with Ned here, as it all sounds correct to me!
That's all she wrote Mabel!

Offline harvey

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1760 on: December 21, 2017, 06:48:46 AM »
I didn't have a clue on the last two so I chose not to respond... however I will go for Spanish on this one like those before me

 

Offline blueshome

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1761 on: December 22, 2017, 03:48:17 AM »
sorry just got to this, been afflicted by some horrid throat infection.

My first thought without a guitar was C tuned down but having messed about and tried to play -  Spanish

Offline islandgal

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1762 on: December 22, 2017, 08:54:56 AM »
from 22-27,
My guess is: Open G tuning
6th string:  open, 2rd fret,
5th string:  open, 3rd fret twice (bending), 5th string open
6th string:  open, 2rd fret, 5th string open

Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1763 on: December 26, 2017, 02:38:04 PM »
Hi all,
I hope you had a Merry Christmas.  The puzzler on Tony Bryant's version of "Broke Down Engine" has been up for a while with no recent responses so I think I'll post the answers.  Here they are:

For Tony Bryant's version of "Broke Down Engine":
   * His playing position/tuning was Spanish tuning, as every responder had it--well done!
   * In the passage from :22--:27, he fretted it as follows:  On the + of beat one, he hit the open sixth string.  On 2+ he went from the second fret of the sixth string to the open fifth string.  On beat three, he hit the fifth string at the the third fret, bent.  On 4+, he went from the bent third fret of the fifth string to the open fifth string, tying that open fifth string into the downbeat of the next measure.  On the + of beat one in the next measure, he again struck the open sixth string.  On 2+, he went from the second fret of the sixth string to the open fifth string, tying the open fifth string into beat three.  That pretty much captures the passage in question.  Old Man Ned and islandgal both had this passage sussed out really nicely.  It's interesting that by playing the piece on a 12-string in Spanish, Tony Bryant was able to get this passage sounding in octaves despite essentially fretting single strings (though his pairs are tuned in octave courses).  For some reason, I feel like the same sound would be more effective on a 6-string guitar with the octaves fretted on different strings, much as Skip James played "Special Rider" or Charlie Patton played "Pea Vine Blues".

I hope you enjoyed "Broke Down Engine", and thanks to all who participated in the puzzler.  I'll look for another to post soon.
All best,
Johnm

 
« Last Edit: December 26, 2017, 03:09:42 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1764 on: January 03, 2018, 10:59:02 AM »
Hi all,
I have a new puzzler for folks who are interested.  It is by Lovey Williams, and it is his version of "Coal Black Mare", recorded by Bill Ferris in Morning Star, Mississippi in 1968.  Here is Lovey Williams' "Coal Black Mare":



(Spoken:  This is a little piece I like, that "Coal Black Mare", I'm gon' holler that right quick, I ain't gonna play it long.)

INTRO

Yes, I loves that old mama, because she was good to me
Yes, I love that mama, because she's so good to me

Yes, I curl her mane, I put sterilized shoes on her feet
Yes, I curl her mane, mama, I put shoes all on her feet
Yes, I love that horse because she was good to me

She's got cut in place, and I know she's gon' win her race
She put cut in place, and I know she's gon' win her race
Ain't no need of you worryin', and I sure ain't gon' give her 'way

Yes, I love that horse, she got long black curly mane
Yes, I love that horse, she got long black curly mane
Yes, I love that mama, I can tell 'er from another man

I got a coal black mare, mama, oh Lord, how my horse can run
I got a coal black mare, mama, oh Lord, how my horse can run
Yes, I love that horse, 'cause she sure gon' win her race

Here are the questions on Lovey Williams' "Coal Black Mare":
   * What playing position/tuning did Lovey Williams use to play the song?
   * Where did Lovey Williams fret the fill he played from :25--:27?
   * Where did Lovey Williams fret what he played under the first four bars of his verse, from :40--:52?

Please use only your ears and your guitars to arrive at your answers, and please don't post any answers before 8:00 AM your time on Friday, January 5.  Thanks for your participation and I hope you enjoy the song.
All best,
Johnm 
« Last Edit: January 17, 2018, 04:14:55 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1765 on: January 06, 2018, 03:46:28 PM »
Hi all,
Any takers for the Lovey Williams puzzlers?  Come one, come all--answer one question or all of them!
All best,
Johnm

Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1766 on: January 07, 2018, 08:22:48 AM »
Not sure about this one, but I'll say:


* What playing position/tuning did Lovey Williams use to play the song? - standard tuned a half step low?
   * Where did Lovey Williams fret the fill he played from :25--:27? - on the second string he goes from first fret to second, then hammers on and pulls off the third. He then plays the G string open followed by the bent third fret of the G string, then the G string open again.
   * Where did Lovey Williams fret what he played under the first four bars of his verse, from :40--:52? - bends first string at 6th fret resolving to third fret, then second string at the 6th fret, then back to bent first string, sixth fret and first string third  fret.

Offline Lyndvs

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1767 on: January 07, 2018, 10:06:46 AM »
Crossnote?.
:25-:27 third string-1st fret,2nd fret,slide to fourth fret,2nd fret,4th string open,4th string 3rd fret bend,4th string open.
:40-:52  bend 2nd string 8th fret with first string open,5th fret 2nd string with first string open,3rd string seventh fret,bend at 8th fret 2nd string(bend up then hit string again releasing bend )first string open,5th fret 2nd string with first sounding open.
I dunno....I like it though!.

Offline Old Man Ned

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1768 on: January 07, 2018, 12:04:58 PM »
I'm hearing Lovey Williams' "Coal Black Mare" in G standard too.

The fill he plays from :25--:27 I'm hearing as:
---1-3b-1------------
3b---------3b-0-3b-0
on the 2nd and 3rd strings out of a C7 shape

I'm getting similar sounds to what he plays under the first four bars of his verse, from :40--:52 from a G minor chord:
--6
--8
--7
also using the f at the 6th fret on the 2nd string, but not sure this is what Lovey Williams is doing.

Yeah, great tune.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Miller's Breakdown
« Reply #1769 on: January 09, 2018, 06:04:05 PM »
Hi all,
Any other takers for the Lovey Williams puzzler, "Coal Black Mare"?  Come one, come all!
All best,
Johnm

 


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