Benny Thomasson Fiddle Transcriptions. by Peter Martin. Please Read First

Benny Thomasson Fiddle Transcriptions by Peter Martin Please Read First This book is distributed using the shareware system. Try it out, if you like it please send me $10.00. Go to for payment info, or send to Pete Martin PO Box 82 Seattle, WA 981 206-67-9756 email: pete@petimarpress.com If you prefer PayPal, email me and I ll bill you that way. Feel free to copy and distribute to others. See my web site for other instruction materials for fiddle and mandolin. Copyright 1997 by Peter Martin

Benny Thomasson Fiddle Transcriptions Copyright 1997 by Peter Martin No part of this publication can be duplicated or used in any other way without written permission of the author. ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction... iii About the Author... iv Recordings by Benny Thomasson... v The Tunes Apple Blossom... 26 Bitter Creek... 9 Bonaparte s Retreat... 9 Bonnie Kate s Reel... 71 Bush In The Shucks (ry and usty)... 79 Cotton Patch Rag... 19 Cripple Creek... 85 on t Let The eal Go own... 50 Forked eer... 1 Forty Years Ago Waltz... ack of iamonds... 1 Little oe... 7 Morpeth s Hornpipe... 68 Ook Pic Waltz... 58 Sally ohnson... 2 Steeley s Rag... 6 Wild ohn... 6 iii

Introduction This book is a collection of fiddle tunes transcribed from the playing of Benny Thomasson. It contains Texas style breakdowns, waltzes, rags, old time tunes and other pieces. I have transcribed the notes and bowing from the original recordings as accurately as possible. The tunes are not presented in order of difficulty. Some are more difficult than others, but none are for the beginner. This book is advised for intermediate and advanced players. All position shifts I heard on the recordings are marked, with the marking being over the first note in the new position. Sometimes Benny would stretch a finger to a note in a higher position, but would not move his hand up to the higher position. When this is the case, I don t indicate a position change. New sections of each tune are marked with double bar lines. All th fingers I heard Benny play are marked when not obvious. Sometimes fingering suggestions are indicated when Bennys fingerings are not obvious on the recording. Basic chords are given for each part the first time that part is encountered. Repeating chord patterns are not marked in new parts. When learning each tune, play through the music slowly and closely watch the bow directions! If you have the recording, listen many times and try to copy Bennys sound. A number of transcriptions of Benny also appear in the books Texas Style Fiddle Transcriptions, Volume 1 and 2, by Peter Martin. For information on this and other books, see. I would appreciate any comments you may have on this book. rop me a line at the address on the inside back cover. Thank you and good music to all. iv

Many Thanks to: Benny, for countless hours of inspiration and listening pleasure; Starr McMullen, Bob Culver, Bruce Lites, Larry Brandon and Leah Larson for their proof reading; Brad Pinkerton, Pinkerton Graphic esign, for the drawings and the okes; Carol for her support and love; Gary Lee Moore for fiddling fun and Benny stories; all my fiddling friends. Last, thanks to every musician I was inspired by and whom I have stolen tunes from. About the Author Peter Martin is a musician living in Seattle, Washington. Peter has performed and recorded with many Northwest artists. With the Skyline rifters he appeared on the Nashville Network Bluegrass show Fire on the Mountain. Peter has won or placed near the top in many regional and national instrumental competitions. In 198, Peter placed in the top 5 at the Walnut Valley Mandolin Contest, Winfield, Kansas. In 199, Peter was Adult ivision National Fiddle Champion, held each year at Weiser Idaho. Collecting and transcribing tunes and solos has been a hobby of his for years. At the suggestion of students and friends, Peter founded Petimar Press in 199 to publish some of his collections. v

Recordings by Benny Thomasson These recordings are in print as of February 1997: The Weiser Reunion, Voyager 09 Voyager Records, 2 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, www.voyagerrecords.com. Recorded in 197 at a am session at Weiser, Idaho. Cotton Patch Rag, Apple Blossom, Sally ohnson and Cripple Creek are transcribed from this recording. Features erry Thomasson on tenor guitar. Reissued on C. Benny at his best. Say Old Man, Can You Play The Fiddle, VRC 5 Voyager Records, 2 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, www.voyagerrecords.com. Recorded at many am sessions in the northwest from 1972 to 1978. 2 tunes. A great recording. Benny Thomasson, Volumes 1 and 2, GRS Productions 801 8015. Available from Gillian Music, Rt. Box 9, Chandler, OK 78. Ook Pic Waltz, Wild ohn and Little oe are transcribed from these recordings. Mark O Connor, Heroes, Warner Brothers 9 5257-. Benny plays Sally ohnson (not the version transcribed in this book) along with Mark, Terry Morris and Texas Shorty (im Chancellor). Watch for these out of print recordings. They may be re-issued sometime: Country Fiddling from the Big State, County 72. Bush In The Shucks (misnamed ry and usty on the recording), Texas Hoedown, County 70. vi

Ú 208 Forked eer Traditional Transcribed from am session tape 1 c Ó Œ A1 7 G 10 A2 A A G 1 16 19 B1 A n # 22 A 1 A

25 28 1 #. A B2 n #.. 7 0 A 6 2

# 9 rd pos. B 2 52 55 # 58 B. 1st pos. rd pos. 61 # rd pos. 1st pos. 1st pos. 6 A5 67 70

A6 # 7 76 79 # 82 85 88 91 B5 n #. 9 B6...

97 A7 100 10 106 A8 109 112 5

Ú 188 1 c 7 Ó 1st pos. A1 rd pos. n 1 1st pos. 1 G. n # 2 c n #. rd pos. # c n 1st pos. E. A 10 # #. n # rd pos. 1 1st pos. G. n #. 2 G G# 16 # 2 c B 19 E A n# A2 rd pos.. b 22 1st pos. Steeley's Rag G by Red Steeley rd pos. 1st pos. n 6

25 rd pos. A 1st pos. # n# 28 1 A. G rd pos. A pos.. 1st B1 rd pos. b 1st pos. n# rd pos. # n 1st pos. # # n #. 2 c 7 0 # 1st pos.. 6 rd pos. rd pos... 1st pos. n rd pos. n # n 1st pos. 7

#. n # n #. 2 c 9 c 52 55 58 61 6 67 rd pos. 1st pos.. B rd pos. n n# B2 rd pos. 1st pos. 1st pos. rd pos. b n# 1st pos. 1st pos. rd pos. rd pos. 1st pos. # # n # n 70 n 8

Ú 196 Bitter Creek Traditional Transcribed from County 72 1 c 7 G C Ó Œ A1 G A2 10 1 16 19 22 C G G 0 B1 9

25 28 1 A 7 B2 0 6 A 10

9 C1 52 55 C2 58 61 6 A5 67 70 11

7 A6 76 79 B 82 85 n 88 B 91 9 12

97 100 A7 10 A8 106 109 112 11 G. G 1

Ú 21 ack of iamonds A1 Traditional 1 # c # Bm Ó Œ A E A 7 # E A2 10 # # 1 # 16 # 19 22 # B1 A A 0 1 A A 0 E E

25 # 28 # 1 # A A B2 # # # 7 # 0 # # A 6 # 15

9 # 52 # 55 # 58 #B # # B 61 6 # 0 n 0 A5 67 # 70 # 16

7 # A6 76 #. 79 # B5 # # 82 # # 85 88 # 91 # 9 # bn n # B6 bn n# 17

97 # A7 100 # 10 # 18

Ú 220 Cotton Patch Rag Traditional Transcribed from Voyager 09 1 c # A1 C # b 7 F C 10 # 1 C G # G # b F G # 16 C B1 19 1st pos. rd pos. 22 rd pos. #. 1st pos. bn# # 19

25 rd pos.. 1st pos. 28 1 C1 7 0 rd pos. 1st pos. # b b bn# # b 6 b # 20

9 52 55 58 61 6 1 2 b # # b n b 2 2nd pos. E1. 67. 0 70 1st pos. # # 21

7 2nd pos. 76 79 82 85 88 A2 # b 1st pos. 0 # # # # 91 b 9 bn# # 22

97 100 A b # 10 106 109 # # b 112 115 118 b b # # F1 b # # 2

121 12 127 b b # # # A 10 # b 1 16 19 # b 12 # # 2

15 18 rd pos. rd pos. B2. 1st pos. 1st pos. 151 # 15 157 160. 1st pos. rd pos. 1st pos. bn# # Πrd pos. 25

Ú 222 Apple Blossom Traditional Transcribed from Voyager 09 1 c Ó Œ # Bm 7 # A1 Œ n G # A 10 # 1 A2..... 16 # 19 B1 22 A G 26

25 A B2 28 # 1 7... A b 0 # A # b # 6 # # # 27

9 52 55 58 61 6. B A5 67 # #.. B.. rd pos. 1st pos. 70 # 0 # 28

7 76 pos. rd A6 #..... 1st pos. 0 79 82 85 # 88 B5 91 9 B6 # 29

97 A7 n # n # n # 100 # n # n# n# # 10 # # 106 A8 n# n # n# 109 n # n# n# # # 112 0 115 118 B7 # 0

121 12 127 10.. B8.. w 1

Ú 220 Transcribed from Voyager 09 1 c Œ Œ A1 G Sally ohnson G Traditional Em C G C 7 A2 10 b n 1 G 16 19 22 C G b n B1 G C 2 G

25 G B. 28 b n 1 C1 7 0 6 b b rd pos. n n. b b n C2 bb nn.. b

9 52 A 55 0 2 b A 58 61 b n 6 67 70 0 1 1st pos..

7 76 79 A5 82 85 88 91 2 9 0 A6 5

97 A7. 100... 10 A8 106 2nd pos... 109 1st pos. 0 112 115. B b n. 118 b n 6

121 12 127 C 10 1 16 19 12 B b n.. b n b b rd pos. n n. b b n b b n C bb nn.. b 7

15 18 A9 151 b A10 15 157. 160. b. w w 8

Bonaparte's Retreat Traditional Transcribed from County 70 Ú 216 TUNING c w ww A Read music as if in standard tuning 1 7 # 10 1 16 19 Ó A A2. A1 A. B1 # 9

22 # 25 B2 # 28 1 7 0 # # # # # C1 # # # # # #. 0

C2 6 # # # 9 # # # 52 # # B # 55 58 # 61 A 6 # 67. 1

70 7 76 79 82 # 85 # 88 # 91 A. C # # C # # # # # #. # # # # 2

9 # # B # 97 100 # 10 U

Ú 1 1 bb Bb bb n 7 bb. 10 bb. 1 b b Bb 16 bb Ọ (harmonic) 19 bb 22 bb A1 b b Bb. B b.. Gm n n. Gm Eb F. Forty Years Ago Waltz b C Eb b b n O b n n b Bb Traditional b F Gm n Bb b n b Bb. Bb. b

25 bb bb 28 1 b b B1 1st pos. bb 7 b b 0 bb Bb F. Bb Gm. F n # # G. Eb. Bb rd pos. Gm. Bb n # E. Bb. b C Œ. 2nd pos. # 2nd pos. bb 6 bb.. b #. #. Bb. 5

bb 9 52 bb 55 b b 58 bb 61 b b 6 bb Bb #. G Bb. Eb. Π# n # # n. E. 1st pos. Eb Gm. C F 1st pos. n Gm # 2nd pos. B b. Cm Bb F A2. # rd pos. 67 bb b b b 70 bb.. b.. 6

7 bb bb 76 n 79 b b. #. b n n. (harmonic) Ọ. O b. b n 82 bb b b 85 b b b.. b 88 bb.. n #. 91 bb. # n # 9 bb 2nd pos.. #. rd pos. 7

97 bb ΠB2 1st pos... 100 bb 10 b b. 2nd pos.. b 106 bb. #. b # b b 109.. #. 112 bb. Π1st pos... 115 bb.. 118 bb. #. # n. 8

121 bb bb 12 #. n. # # 2nd pos. 127 b b rd pos. 1st pos.. 9

Ú 210 on't Let the eal Go own Traditional 1 c 7 A A1 Œ # E # # G #. 10 1 E # # 16 G 19 # A # B1 # # # # 22 50

25 # # 28 # #. 1 C1 7 0. rd pos. # 1 6 # 1st pos. 0 # 1st pos. 0. rd pos... # 51

9 1 # N # a 52 # 55 # n # 58 # N # a # 61 # n # 6 E1 # 67 # # # 70 52

7 76 # # # # 79 A2 82 # # # 85 # 88 b # # 91 # # 9 5

97. 100 10 rd pos. 106. 109 112. C2 # rd pos. # 1st pos. 0 2 # #. 1st pos. 0 115 # # # 118 5

121 # N # a 12 # # n # 127 B2 10 1 # # # #. 16 # 19 12 # # # 55

15 F1 E # 18 b n # # A # 151 15. E G # 157 b n # # 160 16 A A # # n # G # # 166 # # 56

169 172 # # # 175 # 178 57

Ook Pic Waltz Ú 116 Traditional 1 Ó A1 G.. Em rd pos.. G. 1st pos. 1 rd pos. 1. Em 7 1st pos. G. rd pos. 10. Em G 1st pos.. b 1 16 Em Em C. A2.. 19. rd pos... 1st pos. 1 rd pos. 1 22.. 1st pos.. 58

25. b 28. b. b. 1 B1 Em... G 7 0 Em. # Am G... b # 6 Am. Em b. 59

9 A.. 52 rd pos... 1st pos. 1 rd pos. 1. 55. 1st pos.. rd pos. 58. 1st pos.. b 61 6 67 70.. rd pos. A 1st pos... 1 60

7 rd pos.. 1st pos. 76. b. 79 B2 82 85. #.... b 88 91..... 9. b. 61

97 A5.. 100 rd pos... 1st pos. 1 rd pos. 1. 10 1st pos.. rd pos. 106. 1st pos.. b 109.. 112 115... Em C n. 62

Ú 208 Wild ohn Traditional Transcribed from GRS 8015 1 c 7 10 Ó A1 # C 0 F A2 G G C C 1 16 F 19 G B1 C. C 22 C. F G 6

25 28 C 1 B2.. ΠC1 C G 7 C F 0 G # C C2 6 # 6

9 52 55 58 A A 0 # 0 # 0. 61 6 67 70 F C C F 1 # C G G 65

7 76 79 C 2 b 82 C 85 88 91 # C 9 # 66

97 A5.. 100 10 b n # U Π67

Ú 212 Morpeth's Hornpipe Traditional 1 bb c b b 7 bb Ó Œ A1 Bb Eb A2 b b 10 1 b b 16 bb F Bb F Bb F Eb Bb F Bb B1 Bb 19 bb 22 bb Eb Eb Bb # F Bb F F Bb F 68

25 bb Bb B2 28 bb 1 b b # A bb 7 b b 0 bb bb bb 6 A 69

9 bb B 52 bb # 55 b b B 58 bb # 61 b b 6 bb 70

Ú 220 Bonnie Kate's Reel Traditional Transcribed from am session tape 1 c 7 # Ó. A1 Em G A A Em A A A2 10 1 16 # B1 19 # G # 22 # # # G 71

A 25 # B2 28 # # 1 # A 7 0 A 6 72

9 # B 52 # # 55 # # B 58 # 61 # 6 # # A5 67 70 Ȯ 7

Ú 212 Little oe Traditional 1 c G 7 A2 10 1 Œ A1 C G C G. G 16 # # 19 # 22 0. A. B1. b A # b 0 7

25 B2 28 # # n # n 1 A 7 0 0 A 6 75

# # 9 52 55. B. # b 58 61 B b n # # 6 # # n n # 67 70 A5 76

7 A6 76 #. Π# 79 82 B5. b. # 85 b 88 # B6 91 # n 9 # # # 77

97 n # n A7 100 10 105 O. ΠΠ78

1 Ú 212 A1 # Bush In The Shucks (ry and usty) TUNING # A A2 Traditional c w ww A Read music as if in standard tuning # # 7 10 B2 1 16 19 #.... C1.... B1 A C2.. A.. 79

# 22 25 1 28 1 7 # 0 A.. A G.. 2 # # # #.. B #.. B #.... A # # #.. #.. 80

6 #.. #.. C 9 # # # 52 # 55 # # 58 #. 61 6 C # # # # # # # # #. # # # # A5 # 67 # A6 # 81

70 # 7 76 79 # 82 85 # 88 91 B5.. B6.... C6 5.... C5.... 6.. 82

9.... A7 97 # # 100 10 106 109 B8 112 # #.. #.. 115 # # C7 # # A8 # # # #.. #.. B7 # C8 #.. # #.. # # 8

118 # # # 7 121 # # # 12 # 127 129 # # 8 #. # # # # 8

Ú 220 Cripple Creek Traditional Transcribed from Voyager 09 1 # c A # A1 Ó Œ A E A 7 # E A A2 # # 10 # 1 16 # B1 n # # 19 22 # n # 85

# 28 # 25 A 1 # # # C1 0 7 # 0 0 # # C2 6 # 86

9 # 52 # 55 # A B2 # 58 piz.. piz. piz. piz. 61 # piz.. piz. 6 # piz. piz. C 67 # 70 # 0 87

7 # 76 # 79 # Œ. C 0 0 0 A5 # 82 85 # 88 # 91 # A6... 9 # 88