Doing my time

[RobinG]

Hi there
we are working on the Flatt & Scruggs doing my time and having discussions about how the thing works: there is a faction who thinks that Mr. Flatt comes in when he feels like it, and another faction who think that the bar count, although different from verse to verse is planned. Personally I would go with the former, although the 6/4 bar seems common all the way through...
Any illuminating thoughts?
Best
Robin

[ManjoMan]

Great topic. I don't think that Mr. Monroe, or Flatt & Scruggs, or any of the founding members of early bluegrass ever had any type of formal musical training, I think that they all go by what they feel. They all had a gift. I think that Lester just came in when he felt it was right to come in based upon what the rest of the band was doing.

[Peter Hackman]

Hi there
we are working on the Flatt & Scruggs doing my time and having discussions about how the thing works: there is a faction who thinks that Mr. Flatt comes in when he feels like it, and another faction who think that the bar count, although different from verse to verse is planned. Personally I would go with the former, although the 6/4 bar seems common all the way through...
Any illuminating thoughts?
Best
Robin
6/4=3/2, I suppose.


I say, do whatever you feel is best.

I once recorded one of my songs with two very good jazz musicians.
There was a place in it that had an extra halfbar. Feeling that
this might
appear a bit uneducated I changed that spot before presenting the score
to the two players.

After running through the piece a couple of times the saxophonist
turned to me saying, that spot doesn't feel quite natural to me.
Maybe if we add two beats ...

[Willie]

I know that on a lot of Flatt & Scruggs songs I wondered if Lester was ever going to start singing after a instrument break, he had that knack and I love it and do it myself some times....Willie

[swampstomper]

I sing lead on this one in jam sessions, usually standing between double b*nj*s (got to let them have fun sometime!) and I wait until the moment is right to come in. Let the b*nj*s do their thing, keep on repeating that tag on the I chord, until it feels right. Then in the verse, same thing. "It won't be long....." add as many dots as you want. Not all songs have to be four-square! I'm definitely inspired by Lester on this one, especially his laconic phrasing. Just perfect!!

[f5loar]

That's one of those "follow the leader" songs. You do what the banjo is doing or whomever is taking the break same as you would follow the vocallist. I don't think it's the same everytime. It's like holding that extra measure on the E chord on Foggy Mtn. Breakdown. It may sound like it comes back to G earlier then it does but it don't! I pro will hold that extra E every time.