« 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
« 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).
« 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
« 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 »
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 »
* 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.
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!.
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.