A Black Smoke (1902)...C.L.Johnson

[Steve Harrison]

This is the second tune suggested by John Cohen and it was a bit of a tester. Considering how early this was written, it has some very unusual harmonies, chord structures and syncopation which would have been expected of a much later piece. I managed to come up with a playable arrangement by setting it in the Key of C and unusually for ragtime tunes, it doesn't have a key change. 

My suggested fingering leans towards melodic style in parts to make it more fluid. The note at the head of the score gives the instruction that it shouldn't be played fast. The recording that John posted was played too quickly in my opinion so I've set the tempo at a comfortable and achievable speed for banjo. The score and midi are in the library.....Steve.