Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge

Subject: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: John Hardly
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 03:24 PM

This Monroe standard is real simple!
It's just like most fiddle tunes – you know? – it has an "A" part and a "B" part. And just like a fiddle tune you play the "A" part twice and then the "B" part twice. Easy as pie….
…oh, except then it has a "C" part which is not really the "C" part…
…it's really more like an intro into the "D" part – except that it too is repeated twice like the "A" and the "B" parts…..only shorter.

Next you play the "D" part which is really just the "B" part modified into a sort of major version of the relative minor key you've been playing in….

…oh yeah, and the "D" part doesn't repeat…
…right away. It repeats, but only after you play the "C" part one more time (Don't play the "C" part through twice this time!) -- except this time play the "C" part with a little tag of six little notes you sneak in as you go back to the "D" part. Now you DO play the "D" part again and finally you finish with the "C" part one last time.

This is generally played in the key of Am and the beauty of this is that, as Tony Rice says in his helpful "Bluegrass Guitar with Tony Rice" – (and I'm not making this up) – you can play the whole tune with no open notes!! That's right, you can play the whole thing without once having to rely on those pesky open strings! It just keeps getting better! …left hand cramp CITY!!

Well, I'm finally playing it. If you want to duet with me come prepared to burn it up! I've got my speed up to a pretty frightening dirge.

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 03:33 PM

I think my brain is hurting again

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 04:25 PM

But in the C part the guitar player gets to spank the snot out of C chord that makes the whole thing worthwile...

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 04:45 PM

I almost had it on fiddle, but my partner in crime refused to learn it so I forgot it before I really had the A double stop and the speed. I do love it, though.

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: X
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 05:00 PM

I play it on the 5-string, wished you lived in San Diego.

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: John Hardly
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 08:45 AM

y'know a friend sent me a bootleg video of David Grier, Hershel Sizemore and Richard Starkey (no, not Ringo) sitting around at some guitar camp jamming. They start playing this tune and pretty soon Grier is doing stuff I never even imagined could be done on a guitar....
...and he's so matter-of-fact about it.

I just started laughing 'til tears were rolling down my cheeks. What else you gonna do?

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: BlueSage
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 03:46 AM

To make things even more confusing....

When I listen to my Kenny Baker recording (definitive version?) of this song, I hear a 'D' major chord in the C part. Most of the players I know play a 'D' minor as the second chord in the C part.

How about all of you?

Mike

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: John Hardly
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 05:41 AM

Like you, I've always heard a Dm (and it's printed that way in the tab that I have). D doesn't relate the same way but now that you mention it, I'm going to try it to see what it sounds like.

In the above mentioned Grier tape he accompanies the A part with a run of chords that goes 577555 - 576555 - 575555 - X5453X - 577555 - 076750 which sounds very cool (instead of the usual Am-E7)

I've lately heard some pretty outrageous substitutions in Red-haired boy as well (and tried a few myself).

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: BlueSage
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 02:59 PM

I first heard the D maj chord played by one of my fiddlers at a gig. He was playing a harmony part and came up with the maj third. I then went back to the original recording and found that Kenny Baker (and Bill Monroe) were using the D maj as well. It appears that all of us may have been using the D min as a substitution; we just thought that the D min was part of the original chord progression.

It's also possible that Bill may have recorded it with a D min on other recordings.

As far as David's playing is concerned, I feel he is the most creative bluegrass guitarist playing today. A former bandmate of mine plays with him regularly so I've had the good fortune of hearing him numerous times.

Once David gave a guitar workshop at my home and someone asked him to play the 'Wabash Cannonball'. David started playing and what followed was indescribable. Chord melodies, cross picking, key modulations, changes in musical styles; all off the top of his head. What was really cool was the fact that David never strayed far from the melody. Amazing creativity without resorting to hot licks.....

What an amazing talent.

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: John Hardly
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 03:09 PM

Hey, I tried that Dmaj and I really love it! I actually went from Am to Dmaj to a quick F and then to the E(7).

I like your take on the possible history of the D/Dmin thing. I've had the chance to play with an old-timey fiddler who considers himself rather a historian type (as well as musician). He chides me (and others who play wiht him) that the frequency of actual minor in some of these tunes is a more modern interpretation. I know that all the tunes we call "modal" are often interpreted this way now.

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: BlueSage
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 03:27 PM

I, too, like the D maj change. I've had to restructure my banjo harmony arrangements a little but I like the effect.

If you enjoy David's guitar playing, pick up a copy of a CD titled 'The View From Here' by mandolinist Matt Flinner. It features Grier on guitar, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Todd Phillips on bass. The fiddle work is shared by Tim O'Brien, Darol Anger and Stuart Duncan.

Fine playing (and composition) throughout, especially by Grier.

Mike

Subject: RE: Lost on Jerusalem's Ridge
From: Cruiser
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 01:08 PM

If you want to "try" to learn to play Kenny's version this on fiddle the instructional video by Kenny Baker will help:

"Fiddlin' My Way"
Ridge Runner Video

Cruiser