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Thread: Southern flavor

  1. #1
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    Discovered this song and am trying to learn it. My guitar picker needs chords. Seems like its out of A or E ( this is
    the Bill Monroe version with Marty Stuart ) The B chord definitely seems to be in but when I try to chord it, the B
    is ok but what should be the E chord doesn't sound correct.
    Any help would be appreciated. I have most of a lead figured
    out ( to my ability anyway ) but am lost with the chords.

    Thanks

    Nathan

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    some people play it as Em or E5, without the third.

    So it's:

    Em/E5 to B7 back to Em then then turnaround G F# Em Thats the A Part.

    B Part:

    D E D B7 goes back into the second half of the A part.

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    Registered User evanreilly's Avatar
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    check on Youtube; I think you can see Tom Ewing's chords on the clip I put up.

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    I like the flat 3 played against major chords, adds that 'hurt'. You may like the minor, it's all good.

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    Quote Originally Posted by (bluemtgrass @ Feb. 20 2008, 19:01)
    Discovered this song and am trying to learn it. My guitar picker needs chords. Seems like its out of A or E ( this is
    the Bill Monroe version with Marty Stuart ) #The B chord definitely seems to be in but when I try to chord it, the B
    is ok but what should be the E chord doesn't sound correct.
    #Any help would be appreciated. I have most of a lead figured
    out ( to my ability anyway ) but am lost with the chords.

    Thanks

    Stuart capos 2nd, presumably to utilize the open a and d strings
    while going up the neck on the higher strings.

    He exctracts a magic sound out of that cheap Korean cardboard box and almost steals the show with his haunting solo (referring to the version with spoken introduction).

    But I like the birthday version, too; Monroe could be quite funny at times.

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    Hello Nathan,

    I'm not sure if you are familiar with Mandozine.com but if you search in their Tabledit files section you can download a tab of the song Southern Flavor which will include the chords. Key of E

    Greg

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    Peter, I'd be interested after Stuart capos up to the second fret, what the chords are at that point. I dont read tab and am trying this by trial and error. My guitar player is kinda basic, he's fine with the major chords, a few minors but thats about it. If someone could break it down to the bare essentials it would help a lot.
    At present I have a version of this tune that doesnt sound too bad but has a part or two that dont seem to go anywhere fast enough. However, I'm still in the fine tuning phases. The strange part is I'm not picking anywhere near the same amount of notes as B.M. but it sounds really close. Perhaps because I'm picking the same note or notes several times to fill in where he's picking different ones ?
    One last note.. Why dont I hear this at more bluegrass festivals either on stage or in the parking lot ?

    Nathan

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    the chords would be dm, A7, and F-E-dm on the A part;
    C,D,C,A7 on the B.

    Actually I believe Stuart uses drop D tuning, i.e., he tunes the low e string down a full step.

    (And I believe that cardboard box is actually a Martin D45).

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    Thanks for the info.. Since its a new tune to me, I find myself hearing ang playing on occasion bits of John Henry and others that have similar runs. Probably make a good medley tune.

    If that " cardboard box " isnt a Martin, I want one and I dont care where it came from. The bass on that thing was nothing short of amazing.. And you're right good thing he only
    played a bit.. it was B.M.'s birthday and Stuarts guitar solo had my jaw drop a bit in admiration.

    Nathan

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    Thanks to all for the help. Hedding's chords worked the best for the guitar player, only had to show him the F#. This is really a fun tune though I'm spending way too much time with it, kinda gets in your head and cant get it out. I was trying to learn Salt Creek when I found this one and now I cant remember Salt Creek anymore.

    Nathan

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    The Tabedit file is in the wrong key signature. It's in E and the tune is Em. The notes are right but every sharp, except for the F#, is naturaled out. So there should only be one sharp not four, that is G/Em.
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  12. #12

    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by AlanN View Post
    I like the flat 3 played against major chords, adds that 'hurt'.
    Me too, I think that's what gives it its southern flavor.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    I've always wondered about that F# as a resolving chord to the Em. The B7 fits much better there, and it's used in the first phrase of the tune. But Mon definitely has his guitar player do the F#... Both chords have the F# note of course but the B7 is the dominant (V7) of Em. The F# sounds quite jarring to my ear, I would have said it's a mistake but I can't argue with the songwriter.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Mandozine has a tab of it. But, I used it for mandolin, not sure about the guitar tab's accuracy.

  15. #15

    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by swampstomper View Post
    I've always wondered about that F# as a resolving chord to the Em. The B7 fits much better there, and it's used in the first phrase of the tune. But Mon definitely has his guitar player do the F#... Both chords have the F# note of course but the B7 is the dominant (V7) of Em. The F# sounds quite jarring to my ear, I would have said it's a mistake but I can't argue with the songwriter.
    I think that the only reason that it works is because of its chromatic nature. The F# doublestop would sure jar against the B7 doublestop...........A#(Bb) F# vs B, F#, gave me pause for thought.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Here you go....
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBjCN2EGrIw
    Tom Ewing appears to be playing an Em!!!
    No guitar breaks, tho....
    Last edited by evanreilly; Jan-29-2010 at 12:20pm.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Bunting View Post
    Me too, I think that's what gives it its southern flavor.
    You sure as heck can hear Bill chopping an E major 9677 there. He also passes through the x62x E major shape in the B part, further "ambiguizing" the melody/chord relationship. The fiddle does that too.

    Ah, Mr. Monroe. That's why we keep listening.
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    Registered User Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Funny I was just revisiting this tune today...

    Personally I like the E5 concept (no third in the chord) however in the "B" section then a full blown E chord with the third

    But we can alll season to taste...nice closeup of Bill doing it on the Homespun DVD



    Why dont I hear this at more bluegrass festivals either on stage or in the parking lot ?
    I think because it is in key of E which some may view as not fiddle or mando friendly?

  19. #19
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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry View Post
    Funny I was just revisiting this tune today...

    Personally I like the E5 concept (no third in the chord) however in the "B" section then a full blown E chord with the third

    But we can alll season to taste...nice closeup of Bill doing it on the Homespun DVD

    I think because it is in key of E which some may view as not fiddle or mando friendly?

    First of all, almost all of the melody notes are in an e minor scale, the relative minor to G major. Secondly Bluegrass players are expected to handle any
    major key from (at least) Bb (two flats) to B (five sharps). And there really are no mandolin friendly or non friendly keys. Either you're familiar with a key or not.

  20. #20
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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Well Ralph personally I love the key of E but I think you will find a fair amount of folks who would have more difficulty improvising on an E blues then a G blues when it comes to the mandolin. Many mandolin players view G, A, and D as mandolin friendly keys. That's just the way it is.

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    Registered User swampstomper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry View Post
    Many mandolin players view G, A, and D as mandolin friendly keys. That's just the way it is.
    Maybe, but they're missing some very cool sounds in C, E, Bb, Ab, B, F in first position.

    C has open G (5th, D (2nd), A (6th) and E (3rd) strings, Rawhide, Panhandle Country, Farewell Blues etc.

    E has the open E string of course but also the open D is the 7th.

    Bb has the open D string and Frank Wakefield.

    Ab has Jethro and a relative Fm.

    B natural has... well you know... maybe a few fellows named Bill and Herschel and Dan and Ronnie and... the open A string (7th), E (4th), D (flat 3rd -- very bluesy)

    F has the Monroe Brothers and an open A string.

    I admit to having no repertoire in Db, Eb (apart from some modulations in Jethro Ab tunes) or Gb but there are good jazz and pop tunes there. Thanks to FFcP I have no problem playing in them.

    A great way to thin out a jam is to call a good tune in these keys. Southern Flavour is a really good choice for that.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    The deal with Southern Flavor (a very popular jam tune out here in California) is that part one uses the E minor, a B chord, and a G before the last B in part 1. In part 2, after the D, the first E is MAJOR (Sharpen G note to G#) and the last E is minor again. This give us that lovely ambiguous major/minor thing that we grassers love so much. Nobody I know who plays it uses an F#. Jack Tuttle has it transcribed, I think, in one of his wonderful books.

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    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry View Post
    Many mandolin players view G, A, and D as mandolin friendly keys. That's just the way it is.
    Well, actually it boils down to whatever key ends up being the lead singer friendly key, and that's really the way it is. I'm still not particularly thrilled with lead singers that like Eb. . . but that's my problem from not having worked with it enough.
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  24. #24

    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg H. View Post
    Well, actually it boils down to whatever key ends up being the lead singer friendly key, and that's really the way it is. I'm still not particularly thrilled with lead singers that like Eb. . . but that's my problem from not having worked with it enough.
    Exactly!

  25. #25

    Default Re: Southern flavor

    Hey folks,...as I have said so many times...-it's all MAJOR, remember nothing MINOR about Southern Flavor,...if you think it is...then its just an 'audio illusion' !

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