Tune Request

[John Cohen]

This might be a long shot, but does anybody have a tab version of Zip Coon from the 1886 Converse tutor?  The Briggs version just isn't doing much for me.

[Tim Twiss]

Just my 2 cents....if you are ready to play that, you are ready to write your own tab.

[John Cohen]

I feel ready to play this piece, but I've only just started learning to read music on the banjo.  It's slow going, but in the future I plan on writing my own tabs.

[Tim Twiss]

Just transcribe slowly. You can do it.

[John Cohen]

Ok, I've got the A part transcribed, but it's messy.  Is there a free program that can write banjo tab on?  I don't have any staff paper with me.

[Tim Twiss]

Print out lines with Word. I think the pencil, paper are the best. Connect with it fundamentally like that.

[John Cohen]

Thanks Tim for the advice!  Transcribing the tune wasn't difficult at all.

Here's my transcription of the whole tune.  When you get the chance, could you please play it through to check my arrangement?  It makes sense to me, but you never know how others would interpret and play it.  Sorry about my terrible handwriting- I'm pretty dis-graphic.

 

[John Cohen]

Thanks Tim for the advice!  Transcribing the tune wasn't difficult at all, and doing it by hand has definitely made me more comfortable reading the original sheet music.

Here's my transcription of the entire tune.  When you get the chance, could you please play it through and let me know if my arrangement makes sense.  It works for me, but I'm not sure how others would interpret and play it.  Sorry for the terrible handwriting- I'm pretty dis-graphic.  I don't have access to a printer at the moment so I used the lines on some loose leaf paper.  I haven't written in any of the slurs... I find that it's pretty obvious where they are in this tune.  You can always refer to the original music to find them as well.

[Tim Twiss]

Nice! I'll print and play it today.

[Joel Hooks]

Hi John,  Clarke Buehling told me years ago that if I used the time I spent tabbing for working on scales and the like then I would be reading in no time.

He was right!

(BTW, 99% of banjo music is written in three keys-- that is just three short little sentences to learn.)

[Al Smitley]

I can't say that I've taken heed to his suggestion, but I'm certain Joel (and Clarke) is right.

If I played the banjo more often, I think I would take that approach instead of trying to turn everything into TAB.

I have a feeling Tim would agree, but will leave it to him to give his "official" take on it.

[Tim Twiss]

Tab is milk.....notes are meat. Just try to advance and not stay stuck there. Tab is a good jump start....I use it in all my teaching. It will open your doors to playing...which is the goal. Just try to see the transference as soon as you can, and then you will be free to play whatever you wish...as well as interpret other notated sources such as sheet music and fiddle scores. When you only read tab....you are held prisoner, by whoever tabs your stuff. Use it as a stepping stone. By writing your own tab, you will at least connect all those relationships between numbers on lines and notes on a staff. There is so much repetition in these tunes, the connection becomes clear right away.  

[Tim Twiss]

Well, I played it. Nice job John. Very! You got all the notes ( now, Paul Draper has a far sharper eye than I do ). Only one....the F# 32nd note in the second full measure is tabbed as a "1" and should be a "2". Big deal....ha ha. But, it is a note after all.

So tell the studio audience how you did this. I am sure more people would like to be liberated....without the aid of tabedit.