This week's tune is a ragtime tune, Dill Pickle Rag. I'm not familiar with this tune, and am short on time. I found this: "Dill Pickle Rag" was composed by Charles Johnson (1875-1950) in 1906. It became wildly popular the following year after being performed as a brass band piece by the John Phillips Sousa band, and became the first ragtime tune to sell over 1 million copies of the sheet music. Charles Johnson composed and arranged over 200 pieces of music, many under various "pseudonyms" in order to avoid the exclusivity clause prevalent in many publishing contracts of the time. Dill Pickles was one of the first ragtime tunes to incorporate the pattern of using a repeated 3-note melody phrase against a four-note bass rhythym. This tune has become popular in bluegrass and old-time circles, having been recorded by such legends as Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Mark O'Connor." Here are some links: http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=ab...lsd-g.txt/0004 http://nationalfiddlerhalloffame.org...heetMusic.html If anyone has anything more to add, please do!
Here's a few videos of Dill Pickles Rag...
This one sounded intimidating at a fast pace, but after just now picking it out, it's pretty straightforward. I don't know if anyone here learns a tune best by playing along with someone slowly like I do. if so, here's a really helpful lesson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phbucWhjl7I
I'm curious what was wrong with tab that someone had to come up with ABC notation? Just wondering. Guess I'll slowly read the notation. Kris
Kris, I think it began as a way to jot down tunes at a jam session quickly. Unlike tab, it works for any instrument and--probably best of all--is really easy to share over the computer. You can convert ABC to mandolin tab here... http://mandolintab.net/abcconverter.php
Kris, the main advantage of ABC notation is you can cut and paste it easily from a web page. There are many ways to convert ABC into tab. An easy one is http://mandolintab.net/abcconverter.php - just paste in the ABC and choose the mandolin tab option. Oh, there we go, Marcelyn beat me to it.
That makes sense. Thank you Marcelyn and David! Would have been slow going reading the music. Kris Just tried it, that's fantastic! Thanks to you both again.
Now this is a fun version... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqxvEr0B8FE
Yeah, that is some fine pickin' and a fun version. I have to get to work on this one! Might take me till Thursday, LoL. Kris
Seems I was busy with this a few years ago..
There is some tab here that doesn't require conversion. http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/ir...pickle_rag.htm
The Fiddler's Fakebook has a nice version in it, too. It's still one of my first go-to sources.
Thanks Laura! I think I have it now. I'll have to look into that book Manfred, I hear it mentioned around here a lot. Nice versions Eddie. This tune is a challenge but sure is fun to work on. Kris
Mandozine has them too - http://www.mandozine.com/music/searc...rder=A&submit= fun tune, I may need to bust out the camera this week. Yeah right...
Apologies that this isn't a mandolin video - just thought you might be interested in the guitar duet version that I play with my old mate Chris ("Wolfie") Wolferstan...
Very nice Will! You and Chris are amazing performers..
What an exceptional duo we get to follow. Really nice playing Will and Chris. Here's a version of Dill Pickles Rag from Jeff and me on ukulele and mandolin.
I love it Marcelyn!! Your mix of instruments and playing fits like a tailor made suit! Good stuff
Really great, Marcelyn and Jeff! You picked that one up quick Marcelyn, really, really nice. Kris
This is so great Jeff and Marcelyn... You've got the right feeling with this tune. Very well done!
You guys made my nite. Thanks
Will + Chris: really really nice guitar playing, loved that version. Marcelyn: you did well to learn that so fast - I really liked the mandolin/uke combination too, and the "swing" sounded just right - very authentic!
Thanks you all. Cool backup really does help to get into this tune. I don't know many rags, but the three I've learned here have had the advantage of little patterns that shift from string to string and make them easier to pick up. This one's so fun.
Well folks, the Dill Pickle Rag put my playing in a major pickle! The ragtime beat has me befuddled for whatever reason. This is still a WIP. Here is what I came up with for now.
You're way too modest, Tim. That sounds wonderful. I'm going to learn that C part today.
Sounds good Timothy! Challenge for me but here is mine, Needs a little work, but it's coming along. Really fun song.
I once saw a thread about what song would you play for someone if they asked you to play something. This one would be a good one. Really fun. Of course mine needs some cleaning up but an enjoyable tune.
Actually when I'm asked to play a tune I usually do Stone's Rag... there's one for SOTW...
Don't know that one Eddie, I'll look that up. Kris
Oh my, such hard acts to follow: Marcy and Jeff, the perfect duo, Sasquatch, the speed demon, after speed demons Will and Chris. Great jobs all. Dusty, good, clean picking. If I may remark something. I don't know if you do this intentionally: On the chromatic run up from the D, in the 5th measure of the B part, you seem to play only half the tempo. Here is my attempt. 'Metronome' courtesy of Band-in-a-Box. If you hear it only from one speaker, it's my bad.
Super, Manfred! I'm going to start the B part like that from now on. Kris, great work. I agree with Eddie, I think you'd like Stone's Rag too. We also did Ragtime Annie--They were weeks 98 and 99.
Manfred, Any feedback helps me out A LOT thank you! No it wasn't intentional I'll go back and look at that again. Great version by the way. Thanks Marcelyn I'll check those out. Kris
Nicely done Manfred and all who came before. Not much time anymore for posting but I managed to squeeze this one in, albeit a little shaky.
That's great, and a perfect job for the Mandonator.
Steady as a rock Manfred and nice to hear from David again. For the second week in a row I am doing a Mickey Cochran cross picking arrangement.
Very nice (shaky??) playing, David. The Mandonator sounds really good on this one. And your sound is superb as always. Sorry to hear that you are too busy to post much. Maudlin, that's again for something completely different. Nice effort. Mickey Cochran would be pleased to learn that his legacy lives on in the UK, too And thanks for your kind words, Marcy, David and Maudlin. By the way, Marcy, my version is from the Fiddler's Fakebook
I wish I had time to do a backing track for this one. I loved the groove that David's mandonator and Manfred's Band in a Box versions had. Maudlin, it was neat to hear a very different arrangement of the same tune. I just got my first ukulele, so I particularly enjoyed Marcelyn and Jeff's arrangement. It's nice to hear that the mandolin and ukulele working so well together. Here's my basic version. I am hoping it will be easier to keep up once I send the kids back to school next week.
Manfred, Laura, Maudlin, David, Great versions! Enjoyed them all. I see what you mean now Manfred, thanks again for your help. Kris
Charles L. Johnson (1876-1950): Dill Pickles Rag This was the second ragtime tune to sell a milion copies of sheet music (after Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag) and the biggest hit of 1906. My version on resonator tenor guitar and mandolin is based on an arrangement for two violins from this tune book: http://www.kiwifolk.com/dfc/DSFO%20Violin.pdf Garry Probert resonator tenor guitar 1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
Great tune and lovely harmonisation there Martin, I like the sort of gentle ripple effect you have between the two instruments.
I like this tune too - I have never quite mastered it.
Thanks, Simon and Ginny -- it's a fun tune, and this arrangement is pretty approachable (no third position required as in most settings). My tenor reso and the bowlback feel right at home in ragtime. I like the way the arrangement switches between the parts moving in unison and in harmony. Martin
very nice Martin, the movie The Sting instantly springs to mind