Old time tunes

**sgarrity** · Dec-13-2006, 3:24pm

Since I moved out here to VA from OK, I've been exposed to a lot more old-time music. Here's a few I've been playing and learning. What are you guys playing? Any suggestions on other ones to learn?

Dubuque, Waynesboro, John Browns March, Squirrel Hunters, Cluck Old Hen, Julianne Johnson, Spotted Pony

Shaun

**MikeB** · Dec-13-2006, 4:29pm

These sometimes are not all considered "old-time," but I play 'em as close to old-time as I know how...

Cold Frosty Morning
Angeline the Baker
Over The Waterfall
Bright Days (and dang near anything else by Norman Blake)
Pretty Little Dog
Barlow Knife

I love every one of them!

**JGWoods** · Dec-13-2006, 5:59pm

My list is about 100 long, but you asked what am I playing now-
Sarah Armstrong's tune
Walking That Pretty Girl Home
My Own House
Twin Sisters
Johnny Get Your Hair Cut
Spring Creek Gal
plus a lot of standards- Arkansas Traveler, Bill Cheetum etc.

**tstackho** · Dec-14-2006, 4:10am

...Squirrel Heads and Gravy, Chinquapin Hunting, Bonaparte's Retreat, Cold Frosty Morning, Blake's March.

**fatt-dad** · Dec-14-2006, 7:27am

Shaun, Tripp just gave me guitar tab for "Possum up a Gum Stump". On the mandolin, I'm learning a few that you have listed and also Pear Tree.

f-d

**Perry** · Dec-14-2006, 7:56am

Garfield's Blackberry Blossom....it's a workout....

**MikeB** · Dec-14-2006, 9:57am

Perry--

Any leads on where I can find tab or a midi or a recording of GBB?

**Joe F** · Dec-14-2006, 9:57am

I'm picking up a lot of tunes by ear at the local OT jams, but two tunes I've been concentrating on are "Mouth of the Tobique" and "Soapsuds Over the Fence." The latter is a very crooked challenge, but I'm slowly getting it.

**sgarrity** · Dec-14-2006, 10:25am

The Nashville Bluegrass Band recorded Garfields BBB on the Twenty Year Blues cd. And I think there is tab here in the tab section. I just found Pear Tree. That's a fun, easy little tune.

**David M.** · Dec-14-2006, 2:13pm

Yeah, Pear Tree is a good simple tune. #Tim O'Brien does it in a set on one of his records.

Lately, preparing for a gig in a week, I've been doing some Chrismtas and Winter themed tunes: #As I Went Out Upon The Ice/Cold Frosty Morn; Christmas Hornpipe/Bottom of the Punchbowl; Snowflake Reel; and Breakin' Up Christmas. #The hornpipes on mando, mostly, and the reels and B-downs on fiddle.

Pres. Garfield's Hornpipe's a workout, too, in Bb. #great tune.

Others lately on mando and fiddle: #Camp Meeting on the 4th of July; Sullivan's Hollow; Robertson's Reel; Little Dutch Girl.

**David M.** · Dec-14-2006, 2:18pm

oh, forgot about Rock The Cradle Joe. Learned it from a cd by Lone Mtn. Band outta N. Ga.

**fatt-dad** · Dec-14-2006, 3:54pm

I like the Snowflake Reel and I also like Twinkle Little Star (Wayne Henderson does a great version). I also like Harvest Home.

f-d

**mingusb1** · Dec-15-2006, 6:57am

Jeez, I wish I knew half the tunes you guys did! But I have been working on a few new ones:

--kickin up the devil on a holiday
--the darker the night (c tune)
--julian johnson
--wheel hoss! (not oldtime but really fun to mess with!)

Z

**dj coffey** · Dec-15-2006, 11:23am

Originally Posted by (David M. @ Dec. 14 2006, 14:13)

Others lately on mando and fiddle: #Camp Meeting on the 4th of July; Sullivan's Hollow; Robertson's Reel; Little Dutch Girl.

I like Camp Meeting too!

How about Hunting for the Buffalo and Walk Up Georgia Row?

I kindof like Liza Jane too... anything that you can work a double stop drone accompaniament.

**GBG** · Dec-15-2006, 12:32pm

Grandpa's in the Outhouse
Snaggle-toothed Sally
Turpentined Tomcat

**luckylarue** · Dec-17-2006, 12:49pm

I just picked up the Fiddler's Fake Book - what a great resource and provides much needed practice in reading notation.
Currently working on:

Bonaparte Crosses the Rocky Mountains
Temperance Reel
Haste to the Wedding
Liza Jane
Frosty Morning

**fatt-dad** · Dec-17-2006, 1:42pm

Oh and "Little Rabbit". . .

f-d

**Shana Aisenberg** · Dec-18-2006, 7:01pm

I've been working on a few new tunes this week; two different versions of Indian Ate a Woodchuck, one in C from John Sayler and another version in D from Ed Haley, Snowbird in D from Bruce Greene, and Old Seth (had to learn it since it has my name)

from Sammy Walker and Bruce Greene.

Seth

**jeffyork** · Dec-19-2006, 7:34pm

Hey Shaun,

Round C-ville way there are many "odd" oldtime tunes I've been working on (meaning i don't meet alot of folks outside the area that play them, but then again, I don't go too far...) and some not so odd ones as well.

Quince Dillon's High D Tune
Santa Ana's Retreat
Sandy Boys
Greasy Coat
The Girl I Left Behind
John Brown's Dream
Crook Brothers
Kitchen Girl
Breakin' Up Christmas

Great pickin' with you in Richmond. You should come visit if you want to play old time - it's huge up here....literally jams 5 days a week sometimes..

**Dave Reiner** · Dec-20-2006, 7:32am

Originally Posted by (MikeB @ Dec. 14 2006, 10:57)

Perry--

Any leads on where I can find tab or a midi or a recording of GBB?

Garfield's Blackberry Blossom is sometimes called the "Old" Blackberry Blossom. #My source, with a fine modal version, is my son, but he learned it from Bruce Molsky, who recorded it on his "Contented Must Be" CD. #It works great on mandolin.

Dave

P.S. I do have an MP3 of my son playing GBB on mando, slowly.

**Perry** · Dec-20-2006, 8:37am

Originally Posted by

Perry--

Any leads on where I can find tab or a midi or a recording of GBB?

I am using this book for my version Kentucky Fiddle Tunes

It's in standard only though. For listening I refer to John Hartford's version on "The Speed of the old Long Bow"

Here's tab on this very site Garfield's Blackberry Blossom

Great tune (but not easy)

**Fred Keller** · Dec-20-2006, 9:09am

Here's another version in standard notation:

Garfield's Blackberry

I heard a great version done by a guy named Ed Morrison on the 7-volume Kentucky Mountain Music set. He claims it's a civil war tune that General Garfield used to whistle when riding to battle.

**Gary S** · Dec-20-2006, 2:22pm

Excellent tune Garfield's Blackberry Blossom. Burnett and Rutherford a great duet from Kentucky back in the 1920's did a fine version as well.

I few of the fiddle tunes I have been playing lately are
Three thin dimes
Ship in the clouds
Money Musk
Little Jackie Wilson
Joke on the puppy

All fall out nicely on the mandolin and are fun to play.
Gary S

**Dave Reiner** · Dec-20-2006, 3:44pm

The Molsky version of GBB is wilder than the above transcriptions and tabs, and includes both C's and C#'s. Also B's rather than Bb's!

Dave

**Tripp Johnson** · Jan-04-2007, 7:34am

Lots of great tunes mentioned here. Here's a few that we've been working up lately...

- Possum Up a Gum Stump (in one of the Portland books, I think)

- Green Willis

- Breakin' Up Christmas

- Ducks on the Millpond (Rayna Gellert does a smokin' version of this on her cd)

So many great tunes to work on!!!!!!!!!