It’s strange because on other recordings of the same tune, Fred plays it straight, only on the “High Atmopshere” recordings he adds some beats to the low part!
I know, right? Very strange! I wish I could talk to Fred about it! My take home: these tunes are extremely malleable, so we should feel free to explore and make changes that suit our tastes.
Totally respect you digging into this song! Such great playiing. This album is also one of my favorites! Just my two cents here; take it or leave it! I am hearing a drop thumb after the first two bum ditty's and that gives it a more mysterious sound in the beginning. Also, I don't hear that he's going to the 4th fret on the 2nd phrase. I think it's a 3rd fret that is just slightly out of tune. I think he may have been playing on a fretless banjo so we're hearing some of that discrepancy! Thanks! And please , I hope my commenting is insightful and not aggravating!! Much respect to you!
Hey Hilary, thanks so much for the great comment! Totally not aggravating! Yeah, on the recording he's playing a fretless and hits that G# as a G#+ (sometimes!), and throughout Round Peak style those microtones are everpresent. Fred is hard to pin down because each pass is different, so I tend to go through the whole recording and "average out" the arrangement as I transcribe it. I had to make some concessions for the sake of brevity. What I tell my students is that once you've got the tab down, you're 10% done with the tune (so that covers my butt a bit!!). Variations, dynamics, groove...whew. So much to mine and discover...a lifetime's worth at least. Here's to Fred and his amazing legacy!
Thanks, Mike! I have puzzled and puzzled over why this version is so different from his peers' versions, and from other recordings Fred has done. Part of me thinks he might have taken the tune as far out as he could go musically, the other part of me thinks that he might have heard someone play it like this at some point. Who knows??
Congratulations on the new place. This tiny corner of it looks lovely.
But how did you know I like old things?!
It’s strange because on other recordings of the same tune, Fred plays it straight, only on the “High Atmopshere” recordings he adds some beats to the low part!
I know, right? Very strange! I wish I could talk to Fred about it! My take home: these tunes are extremely malleable, so we should feel free to explore and make changes that suit our tastes.
Love the new place. Great tune! Thanks again.
Hi, All the best with your new home. Kind regards, Englishman in Germany.
Totally respect you digging into this song! Such great playiing. This album is also one of my favorites! Just my two cents here; take it or leave it! I am hearing a drop thumb after the first two bum ditty's and that gives it a more mysterious sound in the beginning. Also, I don't hear that he's going to the 4th fret on the 2nd phrase. I think it's a 3rd fret that is just slightly out of tune. I think he may have been playing on a fretless banjo so we're hearing some of that discrepancy! Thanks! And please , I hope my commenting is insightful and not aggravating!! Much respect to you!
Hey Hilary, thanks so much for the great comment! Totally not aggravating! Yeah, on the recording he's playing a fretless and hits that G# as a G#+ (sometimes!), and throughout Round Peak style those microtones are everpresent. Fred is hard to pin down because each pass is different, so I tend to go through the whole recording and "average out" the arrangement as I transcribe it. I had to make some concessions for the sake of brevity. What I tell my students is that once you've got the tab down, you're 10% done with the tune (so that covers my butt a bit!!). Variations, dynamics, groove...whew. So much to mine and discover...a lifetime's worth at least. Here's to Fred and his amazing legacy!
wonder if fred had maybe had a few too many drinks when he recorded that one lol
That was great!. So, do you think that Fred was just "One upping" his peers or do you think he intended that tune to accompany a fiddle?
Thanks, Mike! I have puzzled and puzzled over why this version is so different from his peers' versions, and from other recordings Fred has done. Part of me thinks he might have taken the tune as far out as he could go musically, the other part of me thinks that he might have heard someone play it like this at some point. Who knows??
video begins at 3:10