I love this tune. I first heard Bill Monroe playing it as an instrumental interlude during a vocal. The [A] section is definitely of American Traditional nature but the [B] part has some heavily influenced Celtic phrasings. This tune is in the key of A major and much of it can be played in second position with the first and third finger of the left hand; just watch out for the G-naturals in measures 3, 12, and 16! Work out a musical left-hand fingering for the high notes in measure 14, the only challenging passage in the entire piece.

The eighth notes should be played down-up-down-up throughout with back-to-back down strokes on the successive quarter notes in measure 6. Just remember to play down strokes on each beat with upstrokes on the “and” or second half of each beat. The only sand in the works is the triplet ornament in measure 16, which is played with a single down stroke in the right hand and a hammer-on followed by a pull-off in the left, e-ven-ly and unhurried please.

You shouldn't’t have any real trouble with this tune so just memorize it and teach it to your guitar and mandolin playing friends.

As always, let me know how it treats you.

Bye for now,
Steve Kaufman

1-800-Flatpik
http://www.Flatpik.com
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