Bernie, Great. Thanks for some inspiration! Joe
Joe Thanks - actually I thought your video was a great idea --instead of using a computer I am going to make a guitar video as back like that.
Well I listened to a lot of different versions of this tune and I stole bits and pieces from all of them, so this is my "Frankenstein" version of the Kentucky Waltz.
Well David I don't think Frankenstein conveys the message. Its not the least bit scary -- au contraire -- you have done a nice job to highlighting the sustain on your Sobell mandolin -- using it to make a very pleasent tune -- I can easily see folks waltzing around you as you play. Great job.
Thanks Bernie. I do get a bad case of scroll envy when I try to play bluegrass tunes on my Sobell. I feel another MAS attack coming on.
Well done, Chris, Joe, Bill, Bernie and Dave! Bill you got some great vocal chords there. I'll bet you've melted your share of ladies souls and hearts in your time! Now if you show some knee with you're singin', I'd be willin' to bet Barb would be in trouble!
Hey, Joe, it was Bill's knees that got me started! I can't remember which tune it was, but he recorded the whole thing of just his knees... right, Bill?
yep' - a shameful episode of youthful folly ... or senility.
It is amazing we are so risque as to be talking about showing knees on the worldwide web -- I get nervous we you talk about elbows......
That's what I thought, Barb. So, because inquiring minds want to know, if he showed his knees, sang, and played at the same time, would you remember anything?
Here's a couple of versions of Kentucky Waltz in the key of A. The first one is a simple straight forward version I came up with a couple years ago. I get together with some friends a couple times a year and this is the version I play with them. The second version is a dragged out attempt with doublestops. I'm not very good at improvising or figuring out tunes on my own and one of my lessons a couple months ago was to take my simple version and come up with a version using doublestops. This is basically what I came with. Rough at best but it has helped. Simple Version Doublestop Version
Very nice jamann! - -I just saw your videos over on the YouTube main channel and thought you might be doing it for here! Nice job on both versions!
Thanks Bernie! I like your two versions also especially your so called "rusty" version. I've always liked your style of playing. I need to pick up on some of that. My compliments to all the submissions so far. All very nicely done! Keep 'em coming! Bill, I always look forward to seeing your videos and your take on Kentucky Waltz is very cool indeed. Your very talented!
Joe, If Bill sang, played his mando (or any instrument) and sang.... no, I'd only remember that it was great!
basta with the knees-ist comments! if it keeps up i'm gonna' squeal ... jamman - waaay nice! - double stop version in particular. i don't know what you or the others think about this music but for me the point is to make it simple AND! comprehensive at the same time. while i respect the skill required to produce a flurry of notes, played accurately, i prefer to stay close to the melody with only a few, well chosen embellishments to open it up. selecting the right ones and keeping them to a minimum ain't easy ... just my opinion, btw.
Speaking of singing the Kentucky Waltz ...
Here is my try.
Really nice job Kyle -- nice noting and really clean! Just great.
I've really enjoyed everyone's great submissions, and am still working on getting this tune down. I have an observation about this tune, especially if learning it from scratch (like I am) and using the TAB that includes the double stops and tremolos, and trying to get the rhythm right. I was having a hard time getting it to sound right when trying to start out as it is TABbed out. So, I then took the tune down to the bare basic melody of 3 quarter notes (all down) per measure, or some eighth notes (DU).... working to get the pulse of the waltz good and strong. To me, the strong (1 2 3, 1 2 3) pulse is MOST important in a waltz. Then, instead of going right to the tremolo's, I worked through it with eighth notes (DU)... then started adding the double stops, and THEN once I had that pretty solid, incorporated those tremolos. For me, it's pick direction that helps keep me in tempo, and most times, when I just can't get the right sound in a tune, it's because I'm not being careful about my pick direction! I know many of ya'll (and my own fellow bandmates) aren't as anal as I am about pick direction, and I'm certainly not the expert, and don't want to be the 'hall monitor' (don't let Barbara see you picking that the wrong direction! ).... this is just how I do it!
Bravissimo Bill!
That double-stop version is cool Jamann...
Sorry I obscured my left hand with the mic on this - still, you're not missing much:
Fabulous OS! - love that jazzy section -- I think Old Bill might just have liked that too. That is some great system you have for back up there.
OS that was awesome!! I love it!!
Barb, I think you're correct to be 'anal' about pick direction. It can become a built-in metronome, as such. You have the right attitude in your approach to learning a tune, as well, especially because it works for you, and it gets to the essence of the tune from which you can build the rest of the parts upon. You establish a strong foundation. Hard to beat that. OS, That second time was so blues-alicious, I posted it to the Blues Social Group site! Joe
The root tune. Supposedly the Roland White version, but I'm dubious.
Thanks Joe, and thanks for reminding me about the blues group, I must go and see what they're up to. I like that version, Mike. Sounds like something Roland White might play, though I'm no expert. And played with attitude
Well here is a simple slow version of Tennessee Waltz. Sorry for the missed notes but I am a little rusty at this video playing stuff. Doesn't matter, it was still fun. This tune I compiled from a couple of tabs so I could play it. Can't pass up trying to learn a tune about the state where I was raised. Really enjoyed listening to all you great players who played this tune. Can't wait to here a few more.
Thanks, Sweet Tea! Hadn't heard from you in a while! We are KENTUCKY waltzing, but, I love a good waltz... so hearing the TENNESSEE waltz with my morning cup o' joe was very nice!
Ok, here's my rendition! I still haven't mastered sounding bluegrassy.... luckily, waltzes (in my opinion) should be slowish.... so I'm ok there!
Yay Barbara - I think that's my favorite video of yours ever!
Sounds pretty blue grassy to me, Barb. You're sounding good, girl.
Aw, shucks, guys, thanks!
This is the coolest chat page ever. You all are GREAT!!!!
Barbara - beautiful! I agree with Sausage, best you've done yet!
Hey Barbara, that has some soul, I love it. FAB!!!!
I agree with Sausage & Ken, that was really lovely Barbara, your best so far.
You Rock, Girl!
Aw Shucks, guys, you're making me blush!
Mike, SweetTea, Barbara -- Nice picking, I enjoyed all of them. This has turned out to be a great song lots of "learning moments" with it!
Y'all play and sing this mighty fine. Barbara, you're an especially tough act to follow, but somebody's got to do it. Butch Baldassari always said to play slow tunes and waltzes with all downstrokes and tremolo, so that's what I think I did here. It's hard to go wrong with just the simple melody on this one.
Well stated and nicely played, Don.
both those were fabulous. playing slow and sticking to the melody, i more-or-less got already but adding extra tremolo is good advise - thanks. i'd always associated the waltz with high times - champagne and vienna - but the OT/BG treatment seems to make it an altogether soulful, poignant affair.
Very nicely played Don -- interesting comment about downstrokes and tremolo on waltzes -- had not heard that one but it makes sense.
Here's my one-shot crack at it. Definitely a keeper tune. I'll polish it up later... Played on a K&S Mandola - CGDA
jazzy chords ... great rhythm ... good arrangement - nice full mandola sound - bravo.
Well, I can FINALLY embed my Vimeo videos! So I thought I'd just re-post my entry here. Chris
Is that the sound of distant thunder towards the end, or have I angered the BG gods?
Very cool version Eddie -- I like those chords you put in there. No that was not the BG gods -- in the first place Bill likes jazz and bluesy stuff and second if it was the the BG gods the thunder would be in Bb. So you are safe. How did you come up with that chord sequence trial and error or some programmed modulation of the standard chord structure for the tune? Love that mandola -- my mind has gone numb I guess K&S is what again?
Some chords are expiriments in finger position to match a sound I had in my mind - I think an Fm ish to a G to an A7 ish, the others are regular chords with melody fingers sneaking in and out. K&S is George Katechis and Marc Silber. They collaborated in the 90's on guitars and at least one Mandola... It has a Cedar top and Cedar kerfling which gives it an amazing aroma... and it plays nicely too...
