Does someone know the key for the Clinch Mountain Backstep? Thanks.
Does someone know the key for the Clinch Mountain Backstep? Thanks.
I THINK it's A minor. Chords I play are A and E minor, not sure if that's all of 'em but it fits. I am sure more knowledgeable folks will chime in.
Loren
I do it in "A"
Thank you both very much, I will try each one. Happy pickin'
The chords Ralph Stanley uses are A and E, not E minor. The melody notes are kind of modal sounding, with the minor third and the flatted seventh in there, but the chords are major. There is no G chord or E minor chord in the original arrangement and I personally do not like the arrangements which use G chords, or the heavily accented E's in the B part. Of course, everyone may like it a different way, I am just in favor of playing it the way Ralph did it. Not for tradition's sake, but because I like it better.
"I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is."~John Mellencamp
"Theory only seems like rocket science when you don't know it. Once you understand it, it's more like plumbing!"~John McGann
"IT'S T-R-E-M-O-L-O, dangit!!"~Me
Thank you too Jim.
See, I knew someone would come along and straighten me out. Now that I stop and think it is just a plain ol' E in the B part.
Loren
I've always played it in G with my banjo buddy. In G the only other chord is F.
Ralph
1984 Flatiron A5Jr; Collings MT; Built an F-style kit
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Yeah, I was surprised to find that quite a few banjo pickers do it in G as well.
I think the only chords are the I and V and it's a pretty strong modality too.
Had a lot fun playing it in B at a jam last weekend. I started throwing in a IV chord that seemed to spice it up. Probably nopartanuthin.
2015 Chevy Silverado
2 bottles of Knob Creek bourbon
1953 modified Kay string bass named "Bambi"
I suppose you can do it in G using only G and F, but the original uses the I and V chords backing a melody which has a modal sound due to the minor third and flatted seventh. I went to a jam where it always turned into "Old Clinch Salt Maggie."
"I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is."~John Mellencamp
"Theory only seems like rocket science when you don't know it. Once you understand it, it's more like plumbing!"~John McGann
"IT'S T-R-E-M-O-L-O, dangit!!"~Me
Yeah, I know what you mean. We always end up on on Salty Haired Boy!
2015 Chevy Silverado
2 bottles of Knob Creek bourbon
1953 modified Kay string bass named "Bambi"
A banjo can play it in G or Bb or B or C or C# with the capo on the 6th fret. But,A is the best key to play it on the mandolin and fiddle. The open A and E strings give it a full sound and emphasizes the modal character of the tune.
Playing the 7 chord or a minor chord is just not in keeping with the tune's nature as I hear it. Some version's I've heard played a 4 chord on the first two beats of the backstep.
Just my 2 cents.
Gerry Tenney
Ever heard the old time fiddle tune called 'Lonesome John'?
I think all Ralph did was add an extra beat/note to a phrase in Lonesome John and Clinch Mntn Backstep was born.
The original tune, Lonesome John, is usually played in A and is very modal. Fiddlers usually tune A,E,a,e for this tune.
I think the reason people are picking out minor chords for Clinch Mntn Backstep is the modal nature of the tune it was born out of.
That's my two cents worth anyway. ..
2003 Gibson A5L
2012 Gibson Custom Advanced Jumbo
2005 Gibson 'True Vintage' Original Jumbo
1920 Bacon Open Back
I knew it!! I thought I heard somebody playing it and thought...."man, that seems high!"Originally Posted by (mandopete @ April 23 2008, 11:53)
A Major is the key. Though you can play it in whatever you want....Eb for all I care
Never heard of Lonsome John. But I thought Clinch Mtn Backstep got its start from Cluck Old Hen. They sound very similar to me....
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
Lonesome John is an old Eastern Kentucky fiddle tune.
It is a lot like Cluck Ole Hen, they are both modal and usually the fiddler cross-tunes for both A,E,a,e.
I know this as I just had a fiddle class and we cross tuned, learned Cluck Ole Hen and the next tune was Lonesome John. My instructor passed on the info about Ralph building Clinch Mntn. Back-step out of Lonesome John. They are nearly the same tune, Ralph added a beat to one of the phrases. I'd venture to say that was/is probably a fairly common practice as far as stealing fiddle tunes... er 'um borrowing them.
2003 Gibson A5L
2012 Gibson Custom Advanced Jumbo
2005 Gibson 'True Vintage' Original Jumbo
1920 Bacon Open Back
Swear to God, we were stone cold sober!
BTW Chris - I was bummed we didn't get a chance to pick. #I'm gonna have to make it back to the Kent jam next month!
2015 Chevy Silverado
2 bottles of Knob Creek bourbon
1953 modified Kay string bass named "Bambi"
Swear to God, we were stone cold sober!
BTW Chris - I was bummed we didn't get a chance to pick. #I'm gonna have to make it back to the Kent jam next month!
Yeah, I'm sorry I had to rush off....definatly come back some time. It would be great to see you. I dont know if I'll be around there in May, but I'll be around at most of the major functions...
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