Topic: Ascending/Descending Turnaround

[Slack]

My old memory is failing me.   

There is a turnaround that has an descending bass line simultaneous with an ascending treble line -- and in fact I have been shown this several times by several PT instructors.  But I cannot remember it or which is a common position to play it out of.

Can anyone jog my memory?  If the above makes any sense that is -- Thanks!

[Prof Scratchy]

There's one I can think of in E where you travel down on the second string from fret 3 via fret 2 to fret 1 whilst ascending in the bass on 6 string fret 4, 5 string open, 5 string fret 1. I've only heard recent players (e.g. Del Rey) do this...there are probably more examples, perhaps some from pre-war players?

[uncle bud]

Slack - there's a turnaround that does this which appears in Blind Blake stuff in G that goes:

xx3003
xx2013
xx1323
320003

You can also do a similar thing out of A, landing on a long A chord. Sort of a more melodic variation on the well-known Robert Johnson turnaround.

Lemon has a turnaround in C that goes the other way:

3xx003
x0xxx2
x2xxx1
x32010

[frankie]

There's one that's very Lemon-y in C: 

Ascend from G to C in the bass:  G - A - B - C
Descend chromatically from G to E on the 1st string:  G - Fsharp - F nat - E

There's a nice one in G - Gary Davis uses it.  Bass voice descends, middle voice ascends, treble voice acts like a pedal point:

Descend from F to D on the D string: F - E - Eflat - D
Ascend from B to Dflat, really - never makes it to D:  B - C - Dflat - B
Pedal point on G, 1st string

Chords:  G7 - C - Eflat7 - G

If you bar with the index finger, this can be moved to just about any key...

[Slack]

Thanks guys!  I think Lemon/Lemon-y one in C is the one I'm looking for!  I do recall Del teaching this also Professor.

Great... ask and ye shall receive -- what a great resource! 

[Pan]

Hi

Of course you can also harmonize if the situation calls for it:

320003, x00212, x20031, x32010,

the chords being: G, D7/A, G7/B to C. The 3rd chord, G7/B, could also be x20001, which is easier to play. The choice is between the inner movement on the 2nd string.

Of course you can also play only the top 3 strings against the bassline.

I personally like a lot just the bassline and melody ? la Frankie, it tells the listener everything that is needed, but sometimes a little variation can also be nice.

Cheers

Pan

[frankie]

I personally like a lot just the bassline and melody ? la Frankie

Hi Pan - it's actually ? la Lemon...  or maybe au citron?  At any rate, that's how Blind Lemon Jefferson articulated it.  I've occasionally harmonized it the way you've suggested, but a little of that goes a long way, and nothing makes the stylistic house of cards crumble faster than over-working the harmony...