Topic: Rev. Gary Davis' Guitar Style--Queries and Tips

[Vermonter]

Don't wait too long, Mr. O'Muck. Nobody around here is getting any younger.

[EddieD]

I would love to hear them as well. I love everything and anything I can get when it comes to Reverend Gary Davis. I would gladly pay for a CD of his lessons to listen to.

[bluespreachercreighton]

hi folks I was wondering if anyone knows what the chords for got on my traveling shoes is? is he capoed or is he below standard tuning?

[banjochris]

Sounds to me like the Rev. is tuned a step flat and playing in G position, sounding in F.

[frankie]

Agreed. The accompaniment for the verses uses ideas that also appear in the verses to If I Had My Way.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I merged a recent thread on Rev. Davis's "Got On My Travelin' Shoes" into this thread.
All best,
Johnm

[Lastfirstface]

Maybe this is common knowledge around here, but I didn't realize that the "Kinney Peebles" singing with Gary Davis on "Travelin' Shoes" was Thomas McKinley Peebles AKA Sweet Papa Stovepipe who earlier recorded the great "Mama's Angel Child" and "All Birds Look Like Chicken to Me" on 78 in 1926.

[ZigZagWanderer]

I have a question for anyone who has figured out Buck Rag in its entirety.  I'm trying to unravel the turnaround that starts at about 2:25.  The bass notes are E-F-F#-G but I'm having a hard time figuring out what chords/notes he is hitting with his index finger.  Thanks for any tips...

[Rivers]

Try this. When your fretting thumb leaves the F# on the bass change the underlying shape to a G chord (I play G7 only because it's faster for getting back to the C, probably, as the top string doesn't sound).

[banjochris]

I have a question for anyone who has figured out Buck Rag in its entirety.  I'm trying to unravel the turnaround that starts at about 2:25.  The bass notes are E-F-F#-G but I'm having a hard time figuring out what chords/notes he is hitting with his index finger.  Thanks for any tips...

I think it's a quick open E note, then an F chord, then the F#dim or whatever the name of that chord is that Davis plays in a bunch of tunes, namely:
2-X-4-2-1-X, followed by the G as Rivers says.
Chris


Edited to put a 2 instead of a 3 in the chord I mentioned!

[Rivers]

OK... I just move the bass from F up to F# while still holding the rest of the 1st position F chord (muting the top F). What would that be, a slash chord, F/F#? Then G, and back to C. Works for me, and the notes seem to be right.

[Pan]

Difficult to say, as the passage is quite fast.
I think I'm hearing a F#dim(7) chord (2-X-1-2-1-X; or maybe even a 2-X-4-2-1-X, with a thumb wrap) in between there, but it might be just because how I'm used to hearing a bass line like this being harmonized.
I agree with others on the F and G chords before and after the F#. The G chord sounds like it's having an open B string top melody note, changed to a D note on the 3rd fret, before resolving to a C chord.

Cheers

Pan

[banjochris]

I made a mistake typing the F#dim7 chord above, by the way. The way Pan has it is what I meant.
Chris

[ZigZagWanderer]

Thanks everybody!

[Zoharbareket]

Hi there people, I have only recently heard Davis' "I will do my last singing in this land". Has this song been transcribed or taught anywhere? I'd LOVE to learn it!
Thank you!
Z

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