Topic: Memphis Minnie & Joe McCoy's Playing: Queries and Tips

[funguy]

Anyone know anything about Rory Block's powerful arrangement of "Joliet Bound"?

[uncle bud]

I haven't listened to Rory Block's version but the original is in Spanish tuning (open G) I believe. I think waxwing was working up a version of the original, so maybe he'll chime in.

[waxwing]

Yup, the original Joe McCoy tune has both Joe, on the front guitar (I believe), and Minnie, seconding with bass runs, playing in Spanish (at A). Chord-wise they pretty much hang in the I chord but go to the V for a measure at the beginning of the third vocal line.

I just gave a listen and Rory does follow the 11 bar format (3 bars for the 1st vocal line and 4 each for the following two) but she kinda standardizes the chord progression, goinng to the IV for two bars at the beginning of the second vocal line and then again for a measure after the one measure of V at the beginning of the 3rd line. So that would be:

 | I | I | I | IV | IV | I | I | V | IV | I | I |

I'm not positive, but I think she's playing in Spanish at B. At least I get a lot of the same tonalities when I strum along. While Joe and Minnie really hang a lot on the bent minor 3rd, in both the I and V, for a pretty dark sound, Rory's harmonies seem a lot brighter with a strong Major feel from the IV chord. She really goes for the train feeling-gha more than anything-gha, if you know what I mean.

Hope that helps. I would definitely give a listen to the original on the Juke.

All for now.
John C.

[funguy]

Wow!
Thanks John.
btw the way I really enjoyed your saturday afternoon performance at PT (couldn't make the workshop...) and am wearing out Homemade.
respectfully,

[waxwing]

Uh...wrong John C.

I haven't yet known John Cephas to post on forums. Heck, we can't even get Phil to post. He at least has a computer.

Stop by the Weenie House next year and meet the real waxwing. See Pic -G-

All for now.
John C. (Cowan)

[funguy]

My oops.
But thanks anyway.

[GhostRider]

Howdy:

I've been working on Ice Man (Come On Up) by Memphis Minnie off the Proper 2 CD set "Me and My Chauffeur" (love Proper sets!). Great, swinging tune in G, Standard Tuning.

I'm not perfectly sure of the riff she plays over the first 3 bars, nor the detail of her accompanyment over bars 6 and 7. Any help in these areas (and any others) would be much appreciated.

I've attached a .tef (TablEdit) file of my TAB of the verses. If you can't read this, email me off board and I'll get it to you in some other fashion.

Ice Man, Ice Man come on, but don't get rough,
Alex

PS Chipmonk Doug: This would be a great one for your wife to sing!!

[GhostRider]

Hi:

Spent some time at these tonight and I've got them as good as I can. Hope others can hellp.

Alex

[Pan]

Hope others can hellp.

What about the mp3 file?

Pan

[GhostRider]

What about the mp3 file?

Pan

I'll try to get it up tomorrow.

Alex

[GhostRider]

Here's the .mp3.

Alex

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Pan]

Hi Alex

I couldn't open your TablEdit files, even though I downloaded their freeware version . Oh well, I'm not too keen on tabs or computer programs anyway.
Here's my scribbling of the melody line in the parts I believe you are unsure. Take this as just my subjective suggestion. Good luck with the transcription.
By the way, I believe she plays a 5/4 bar at bar #4, which was a little confusing at first

Cheers

Pan

[SteveMcBill]

Hi GhostRider

I hope you don't mind - I haven't really added anything to your transcription in TablEdit so far - but I have re-worked it slightly and wondered what you thought ?

Cheers

Steve

[GhostRider]

Pan:

I could open both files with Tabledit (as could Steve McBill).

I like to use a TAB program to document stuff I figure out, so I won't forget. My memory ain't what it used to be.

Steve:

I like what you did. There's two things I can't get Tabledit to do. First, this tune has a strong triplet feel throughout. I can't figure out how to get the program to get this.

Second, all the bass notes in ths tune should be muted. I can't figure out how to mute and brush the bass notes together.

Alex

[Pan]

Hi Alex

The TefWiew program I downloaded manages to open Steve's' file, but for some reason not yours'. That's no big deal, for me the mp3 is much more helpful.

It's good to notate things in any way you can, if just to be able to remember them later. Tab seems to be widely used in CB, so it makes a lot of sense too. I'm just too old and lazy to learn new habits, so don't pay me no attention.

I'm sure Steve can help you with Tab programs, he seems to be an expert on them. I'll just sit back and enjoy the fruits of your work ...

Let me know if you want to see my scribblings on any other detail.

Cheerily

Pan