Topic: Miller's Breakdown

[banjochris]

G standard for Charlie

D standard for Tallahassee

A standard for Minnie

Chris

[blueshome]

I'll go with the Professor.

[Prof Scratchy]

You made that mistake the last time, Phil! Some folk never learn!


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[Johnm]

Hi all,
Thanks to all who responded to the puzzlers.  I'm going to post the answers now, since I'll be away with probably only intermittent access to a computer for the next little while.  Here goes:

For Rosie Mae Moore's "Staggering Blues", Charlie McCoy's playing position was G position in standard tuning, as Ross, Marty and Chris had it--well done!  The left hand Charlie McCoy employs lays out considerably easier in G standard than in Spanish, particularly an ascending run he plays on the fifth string at :05.  The identification was made harder than it would otherwise be by the fact that he never plays a IV chord in the course of his rendition, and the IV chord would have made the choice between Spanish and G standard  much easier to make.  It's interesting that both Charlie McCoy and Ishmon Bracey gravitated to G position at this stage of their careers, since G position was so rarely used by the Delta players who recorded at the same time.

For Tallahassee Tight's "Heaven In My View", his playing position was D position in standard tuning, as Prof Scratchy, Chris and Phil had it--well done!  Louis Washington never plays a root of his I chord in the bass lower in pitch than the fourth string, and everything else he plays gibes perfectly with D position in the left hand.  It's not unheard of for players playing in E position to avoid the open sixth string--Bayless Rose did it, and Clifford Gibson did it in EAEGBE tuning, but it is pretty darn rare and kind of counter-intuitive.

Memphis Minnie played "Caught Me Wrong Again" out of A position in standard tuning, as everyone who responded had it.  From the sound of the I chord, she could have been in A position, G position or Spanish, but from the sound of her IV chord, she landed squarely in A position in standard tuning.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and I hope you enjoyed the songs.  I'll try to post some more puzzlers the week-after-next.

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I'm back around again for a few days and thought it might be fun to have a couple of puzzlers.  The first is from T-Bone Walker, his very early (1929!) recording of "Trinity River Blues", with Douglas Fennell joining T-Bone's guitar with a piano accompaniment.  Here is the duo's performance:



That dirty Trinity River sure have done me wrong
That dirty Trinity River sure have done me wrong
It came in my windows and doors, now all my things are gone

Trinity River Blues keeps me bothered all the time
Trinity River Blues keeps me bothered all the time
I lose all my clothes, baby, b'lieve I'm going to lose my mind

SOLO

They are build a levee now, I have no more to worry 'bout
They are buildin' a levee now, I have no more to worry 'bout
If that river should happen to rise, won't have to move my things out

Trinity River rising, it came in my windows and doors
Trinity River rising, it came in my windows and doors
If they was to swim mighty hard, baby, honey, it won't rise no more

SOLO

The questions on "Trinity River Blues" are:
   * What playing position/tuning did T-Bone Walker use to play the song?
   * Where did T-Bone Walker fret the bass fill he plays from :58--1:00?

The second song is Leadbelly's "You Can't Lose-A Me, Charlie".  Here is his performance:



What playing position/tuning did Leadbelly use to play the song?

The third puzzler is Mance Lipscomb's "Evil Blues".  Here is his performance:



My man's studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Yes, I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
My man's studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
'Time I wonder, what in the world I'm gonna do

Now, you brought me to this, daddy, and you done left town
Brought me this here, daddy, you done left town
Yeah, you brought me to this, daddy then you done left town
Stayed with me 'til you drug me down

That's why I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
Yes, I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
Yes, I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
My gal done quit me, don't know what to do

Standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
Oh, I'm standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
Standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
My daddy done left me, and I'm got to stay

I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
Yes, I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
Yes, I'm evil, you'd be evil, too
Sometime I wonder what in the world I'm goin' to do

SOLO

I'm standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
I'm standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
Standin' here, lookin' one thousand miles away
My daddy left me, and I'm got to stay

My man's studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Man's studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Mans studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Sometime I wonder, what I'm gonna do

SOLO

The questions on "Evil Blues" are:
   * What playing position/tuning did Mance Lipscomb use to play the song?
   * Describe the form of "Evil Blues" using roman numerals to name the progression.
   * Name at least one other song sharing the same form and chord progression as "Evil Blues".

Please use only your ears and instruments to arrive at your answers and please don't post any answers before 8:00 AM your time on Tuesday, August 9.  I hope you enjoy the songs.
All best,
Johnm

[Prof Scratchy]

T Bone Walker = A standard capo 2 to sound in B. Bass riff : 6/0 5/3b 6/0 5/3b 5/0

Leadbelly = 12str tuned to C playing in D standard

Mance = E standard ; I / IVm  /  I / IVm / V /  I 

What song has the same form? I know I'm going to kick myself when somebody tells me!

[One-Eyed Ross]

I only got as far as Trinity River - it sounds in B, so I going with A std, capo at 2. 

[Prof Scratchy]

Sorry for jumping the gun on this one. I've just realised that today isn't Tuesday! This is what comes of being retired and/or extremely old!

[Johnm]

No worries, Prof!  There's no particular reason for waiting until tomorrow to post answers at this point, so everybody should please consider the puzzlers open for responses now.  Come one, come all!
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

T Bone Walker = A standard capo 2 to sound in B. Bass riff : 6/0 5/3b 6/0 5/3b 5/0

Leadbelly = 12str tuned to C playing in D standard

Mance = E standard ; I / IVm  /  I / IVm / V /  I 

What song has the same form? I know I'm going to kick myself when somebody tells me!

Lemon's Wartime is the one you're thinking of, although Fuller's Weeping Willow would qualify too.

[Prof Scratchy]

Doh!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Any other takers for the T-Bone Walker, Leadbelly and Mance Lipscomb puzzlers?  Come one, come all!
All best,
Johnm

[David Kaatz]

Lemon's Wartime is the one you're thinking of, although Fuller's Weeping Willow would qualify too.

Weeping Willow isn't really the same - its in a minor key, while Wartime and Evil start on a major key, then go to the minor IV chords.

[banjochris]

Lemon's Wartime is the one you're thinking of, although Fuller's Weeping Willow would qualify too.

Weeping Willow isn't really the same - its in a minor key, while Wartime and Evil start on a major key, then go to the minor IV chords.

The A chord in Weeping Willow is major, not minor. It's only the IV chord that's minor.
Chris

[Gumbo]

Today isn't tuesday either, so I'm glad you're all still here. Been very distracted of late but she's gone so I'll give this one a go!

T Bone sounds like capo on 2 and A position but the strings sound a bit loose compared to mine. How does he get that?

Leadbelly I'm not sure about at all.

Mance sounds like E standard

progression goes
I I7 I I7
IVm/IV7 I
IVm/IV7 I
V V7 V I