Re: Morley's An Old Fashioned Breakdown

[Frank Coyne]

Has anyone got a recording and/or tab of the Morley's Breakdown they can share? Frank

[thereallyniceman]

Sorry Frank, I can't find that one!  I will keep looking!

[Anthony Myatt]

Frank, is this the version from the Morley Tutor? If so I have a handwritten tab made about 45 years ago from the tutor. If it can be of any help I could scan it for you.

[Joel Hooks]

There is also the option of reading the first part of the book and working through the exercises.  Everything you would need to play that piece is taught (including his version of alternate fingering which I find a little wonky).

You will only have to learn that stuff once.  Once done, you will never need a "tab" again.  It is very liberating knowing that you can pick up any score (within reason of skill) and play right from the page.

[Frank Coyne]

Hi Ian, Great, Many thanks and great to see you back in good health and all going well with the site. Best regards. Frank

thereallyniceman said:

Sorry Frank, I can't find that one!  I will keep looking!

[Frank Coyne]

Hi Joel, Yes indeed, but this is for a 'non reading' friend. Kind regards. Frank

Joel Hooks said:

There is also the option of reading the first part of the book and working through the exercises.  Everything you would need to play that piece is taught (including his version of alternate fingering which I find a little wonky).

You will only have to learn that stuff once.  Once done, you will never need a "tab" again.  It is very liberating knowing that you can pick up any score (within reason of skill) and play right from the page.

[Trapdoor2]

Here's TAB of "An Old Fashioned Breakdown". Let me apologize in advance for the odd look of this TAB. The program "TablEdit" has been updated since I last used it and somehow my old settings did not get saved. I'll have to go back and see if I can re-create my old format. :(

It seems that "Old Joe" was going quite a ways back to get to "Old Fashioned". This is essentially an exercise taken right out of the old Stroke Style tutors. I've got it written for "raised bass" tuning (bass to D) but the original JAT dots are really for "bass to C". As there isn't a single low C in the whole thing, I see no point in having to add to the wear on your 2nd fret to get that low D... ;-)

[Jody Stecher]

The difference is in the sound of "trio" part. When it moves into C major from G major most of the notes in that part will pop out more brilliantly when they are supported by overtones from the untouched low C string. But sure, the tune is playable in either tuning. Not only is there no low C, there is no low D either, until the final chord, played as a thumb rasp. 

Trapdoor2 said:

Here's TAB of "An Old Fashioned Breakdown". Let me apologize in advance for the odd look of this TAB. The program "TablEdit" has been updated since I last used it and somehow my old settings did not get saved. I'll have to go back and see if I can re-create my old format. :(

It seems that "Old Joe" was going quite a ways back to get to "Old Fashioned". This is essentially an exercise taken right out of the old Stroke Style tutors. I've got it written for "raised bass" tuning (bass to D) but the original JAT dots are really for "bass to C". As there isn't a single low C in the whole thing, I see no point in having to add to the wear on your 2nd fret to get that low D... ;-)

[Frank Coyne]

Hi Trapdoor2,

That’s great, very much appreciated. Kind Regards. Frank

Trapdoor2 said:

Here's TAB of "An Old Fashioned Breakdown". Let me apologize in advance for the odd look of this TAB. The program "TablEdit" has been updated since I last used it and somehow my old settings did not get saved. I'll have to go back and see if I can re-create my old format. :(

It seems that "Old Joe" was going quite a ways back to get to "Old Fashioned". This is essentially an exercise taken right out of the old Stroke Style tutors. I've got it written for "raised bass" tuning (bass to D) but the original JAT dots are really for "bass to C". As there isn't a single low C in the whole thing, I see no point in having to add to the wear on your 2nd fret to get that low D... ;-)

[Frank Coyne]

Hi Anthony, Many thanks for that. Please see Trapdoor2's reply above which fits the bill perfectly. Kind regards.Frank

Anthony Myatt said:

Frank, is this the version from the Morley Tutor? If so I have a handwritten tab made about 45 years ago from the tutor. If it can be of any help I could scan it for you.

[Frank Coyne]

Hi Jody, Thank's for joining in and very interesting, maybe you would play and record (video) the piece both ways and post it here so we amateurs could appreciate the subtle nuances you mention. Kind regards. Frank

Jody Stecher said:

The difference is in the sound of "trio" part. When it moves into C major from G major most of the notes in that part will pop out more brilliantly when they are supported by overtones from the untouched low C string. But sure, the tune is playable in either tuning. Not only is there no low C, there is no low D either, until the final chord, played as a thumb rasp. 

Trapdoor2 said:

Here's TAB of "An Old Fashioned Breakdown". Let me apologize in advance for the odd look of this TAB. The program "TablEdit" has been updated since I last used it and somehow my old settings did not get saved. I'll have to go back and see if I can re-create my old format. :(

It seems that "Old Joe" was going quite a ways back to get to "Old Fashioned". This is essentially an exercise taken right out of the old Stroke Style tutors. I've got it written for "raised bass" tuning (bass to D) but the original JAT dots are really for "bass to C". As there isn't a single low C in the whole thing, I see no point in having to add to the wear on your 2nd fret to get that low D... ;-)

[Jody Stecher]

Frank, right now is a very busy time for me. But even if i had time to make and post the video I don't know if the difference would survive the heavy compression that happens to sound on youtube videos. But you don't need me to find out. Just play c natural on fret 10 of the banjo's first string and listen to the difference when the 4th string is tuned to C and to D. The difference will be apparent on any banjo and with any player. Now play a C major chord on frets 10, 8, 9. Play the strings one by one. The g and e notes will also be strengthened by the overtones of the open C string. Tune the bass up to D and the chord will still be nice sounding but something will seem to be missing.

Frank Coyne said:

Hi Jody, Thank's for joining in and very interesting, maybe you would play and record (video) the piece both ways and post it here so we amateurs could appreciate the subtle nuances you mention. Kind regards. Frank

Jody Stecher said:

The difference is in the sound of "trio" part. When it moves into C major from G major most of the notes in that part will pop out more brilliantly when they are supported by overtones from the untouched low C string. But sure, the tune is playable in either tuning. Not only is there no low C, there is no low D either, until the final chord, played as a thumb rasp. 

Trapdoor2 said:

Here's TAB of "An Old Fashioned Breakdown". Let me apologize in advance for the odd look of this TAB. The program "TablEdit" has been updated since I last used it and somehow my old settings did not get saved. I'll have to go back and see if I can re-create my old format. :(

It seems that "Old Joe" was going quite a ways back to get to "Old Fashioned". This is essentially an exercise taken right out of the old Stroke Style tutors. I've got it written for "raised bass" tuning (bass to D) but the original JAT dots are really for "bass to C". As there isn't a single low C in the whole thing, I see no point in having to add to the wear on your 2nd fret to get that low D... ;-)

[Trapdoor2]

LOL. Something is always missing from my playing, Jody. ;-)

Those overtone nuances are indeed there...but I never paid them much attention as the instrument doesn't allow them to hang in the air long enough for me to notice. In a very quiet room and when I hit the strings just right, I can hear the differences. Otherwise, with all the other thrashing going on in my playing, I'm better off just being lazy and tuning the bass up to D.

As I mentioned, this one would be very easy to perform in the Stroke Style. It would be fun to show it done both ways (maybe all three!). Maybe one day...but not anytime soon for me.