Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 2:09

Late last year I was taking a walk and thinking how much I like rags in F major. I wondered if I could compose one and if I did, if I would like it.  I did and I do. I hope others like it too. It wasn't hard to learn to play it on the mandolin but it took me a month to play it coherently on the 5 string banjo. Tuning is gDGBD.  Bass at C created stretches on the fingerboard that were bothersome.  I have also made a video on techniques and strategies for playing it on the banjo.   It is currently uploading to Youtube. I'll post it here when the process is complete. I will also post notation here.   For those interested in the mandolin version, which is played a bit better I think, that is also on youtube as well as a how-to-do-it video. 

Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 2:32

Page One of the banjo notation for The Fifty-Fifty Rag

Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 2:33

Page 2 of the banjo notation for The Fifty-Fifty Rag

Comment by carrie horgan on March 5, 2023 at 7:54

Thanks for sharing the score (and playing tips video).  It's a great tune.  I might also have a mess around with it on the tenor banjo in CGDA as the Key of F works well in this tuning...

Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 13:50

I'm glad you like the tune, Carrie. I wish I had played it better but I got tired of making videos of botched performances and the one I posted might qualify  as Not-Too-Terribly-Bad. If you check out the mandolin videos of Fifty Fifty Rag you'll get the original tune which has a wider range. On tenor banjo that fingering could be used and automatically transposed to C. I can post the mandolin score if that is helpful. Or if that is inappropriate in a banjo forum I can email it to you directly.

Comment by carrie horgan on March 5, 2023 at 18:30

Hi Jody, yes it would be helpful to have the mandolin score if you don't mind.  I have sent you a friend request so can give you my email. Many thanks

Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 18:37

Would you like the score as pdf or jpg ... or ?

Comment by carrie horgan on March 5, 2023 at 18:38

A PDF if that is okay, thanks Jody!

Comment by Jody Stecher on March 5, 2023 at 18:43

Sent. It should be in your email inbox now. Thanks for your interest!

Comment by carrie horgan on March 5, 2023 at 18:44

Great stuff, thanks Jody!

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