ALI ROMANOW (THEY/THEM)
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Brother Drop Dead (and other polite western swing songs)

9/23/2015

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I'm so excited about the great turnouts we've been having at FolkHarmonic, the possibilities are growing as we add in harmonies and layers and instruments. Thank you for being a part of our community!

So, I recorded all of Brother Drop dead then realized that I'd played a different intro than the one on the hand out. So I re-recorded it. Then I realized the intro that I'd just re-recorded didn't work with the outro, so there will be some variation to what your chart says. We'll go over it in class next week.  Moral of the story is I should follow my own advice more.

brother_drop_dead_boxchart.pdf
File Size: 35 kb
File Type: pdf
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brother_drop_dead_fiddlechords.pdf
File Size: 361 kb
File Type: pdf
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nfh_brotherdropdead_wsolo1.m4a
File Size: 5556 kb
File Type: m4a
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UKULELES
Below are 3 different ways to play a Major 6 chord. The sound that is most "Western Swing" A6 is the first shape, placing the YELLOW dot (root note) on the 2nd Fret. If you are using the 2nd shape put the Yellow dot at the 5th fret, or if using the 3rd put the yellow dot at the 9th.

I'd like everyone to try to use the first chord shape for Brother Drop dead if possible. IF you're finding it too much of a struggle, keep practicing the new shape, but feel free to use the others until you get more comfortable. More advanced players should be using the first. (you know who you are :)
Picture
GUITARS

once you've got that solo line in your head try experimenting where you place it on the finger board and what octave its in. On the recording for FolkHarmonic theres one guitar doing what is tabbed out for you, another is playing the whole riff up the octave. 
Hint: Start solo one on the 5th fret of the hi E string to get the upper octave. 
OR
Hint: Start solo one with your 2nd finger on the 7th fret of the D string.

Improvising kickstarters - Scales and Riffs

We'll be using an A Major Pentatonic scale as a FRAMEWORK for improvising in this tune... if that name seems like a bunch of gobbledygook/mildly terrifying to lets break it down into a more manageable concept.

A            - is the starting note & key 
Major   - its a happy sounding!!! Yay! 
Penta   - Five
Tonic    - Note
Scale    - Group of notes

so basically what we've got is a group of five notes that sound happy... (this is a very simplistic definition... my theory teachers from uni might be a bit scandalized at this explanation)
a_major_pentatonicscale.pdf
File Size: 55 kb
File Type: pdf
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Using a  transcribed solo to figure out the rules (and where you need to break them)

Now that we've got a frame work we need to be aware that while these notes sound right MOST of the time, there are certain places where we need to break the rules. For example when we are playing the D7 chord in Brother Drop Dead there is one note that clashes a bit. Check out the Guitar solo transcribed below, as well as the original recording (NOTE: if you want to play along with the original recording you'll need to move everything up a semi tone ... or one fret, or use the 2nd file posted here.

NIFH KEY:                                                                                           ORIGINAL KEY:
brother_drop_dead_solo_1.pdf
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
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brother_drop_dead_bb.pdf
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
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In the morning all you got is rain...

9/16/2015

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Girl in the War... Updated Mp3's & Polka Dots

Below are is the score for the vocal harmonies, as well as each individual part and MP3s with Ukulele and one voice. Please ignore the Soprano/alto/tenor markings... they are just to keep things organized, but don't actually indicate which voices should be doing what.  Listen through and sing along with the parts to find the one that is best suited for your voice... if you'd like to challenge yourself try learning more than one. 

Note the I've given harmonies for the whole song here, we won't be singing harmony on every line, but this allows us to pick an choose the lines best suited to highlight. 

BASSES.... There is a line here that should be a sung underneath during the epic vocal breakdown... I don't know if its something you'll actually be able to do. have a listen through and try it. I'm open to suggestions.
Full SATB Vocal score:
gitw_score.pdf
File Size: 139 kb
File Type: pdf
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gitw_satb-_2015-09-16_8.24_pm.m4a
File Size: 6979 kb
File Type: m4a
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Melody 
(Alto Line)
gitw_mel_alt.pdf
File Size: 71 kb
File Type: pdf
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gitw_mel_-_2015-09-16_7.28_pm.m4a
File Size: 7026 kb
File Type: m4a
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Low Harmony (easy)
(Soprano Line)
gitw_sop.pdf
File Size: 74 kb
File Type: pdf
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gitw_sop_-_2015-09-16_7.45_pm.m4a
File Size: 7059 kb
File Type: m4a
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High Harmony 
(Tenor Line)
gitw_ten.pdf
File Size: 73 kb
File Type: pdf
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gitw_ten_lo_-_2015-09-16_7.41_pm.m4a
File Size: 7023 kb
File Type: m4a
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gitw_ten_up_-_2015-09-16_7.40_pm.m4a
File Size: 7058 kb
File Type: m4a
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Bass Line

gitw_bass.pdf
File Size: 69 kb
File Type: pdf
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gitw_bass_-_2015-09-16_8.04_pm.m4a
File Size: 6991 kb
File Type: m4a
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Western swing classic... Shut up and drink your beer.

Doye O'Dell is credited with the first recording of this song... which was a hit, if you can believe it and led to several covers of the tune by Luke Wills, Norman Wade and Merle Travis. If you get a chance listen through each of these recordings... There are some funky arranging ideas, instrumentation and solos. Its also a snap shot of how a very simple tune can be taken through different genres and be a hit (for the day). The fiddle solo in the Luke Wills version is cookin', Doye O'Dell features some crazy accordion and clarinet, Doye's is also the version with the belligerent audience member bantering with the band.

Charts & Chords for Western Swing

shut_up_and_drink_your_beer_boxchart.pdf
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
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Moveable swing chords handouts:
moving_chords_and_wall_of_wood-_guit.pdf
File Size: 192 kb
File Type: pdf
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moving_chords_and_wall_of_wood-_uke.pdf
File Size: 148 kb
File Type: pdf
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    Ali Romanow

    FolkHarmonic Director
    (fók harmɑ́nɪk) 
    def: A group of people who want to do more than just jam on folk instruments. We’ll set up a groove and add easy parts, taught by ear and layered, to make epic sounds out of simple pieces. Immerse yourself in the world of harmonies, melodies, laughter and ensemble playing regardless of skill level.

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