Columbus Stockade Blues

Hi,
The song of the week is Columbus Stockade Blues in the key of G.

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Recordings
Tony Trischka - key of D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTfbb21C0HY

Bill Monroe - key of G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9M-v2efKSo

Della Mae - key of A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IA0NKOfXIo


Progression
The progression for the verses is:
1111
5511
1111
5511
(Prog. W5 on the basic chord progressions handout)
Notice that the two halves of the progression are identical.

The progression for the chorus is:
4411
4455
1111
5511

Notice that the second half of the chorus progression is identical to the second half of the verse progression.
In the key of G: 1 = G; 4 = C; 5 = D


Stops
As played at most bluegrass jams, there is a stop in the middle of the chorus progression.  And that is how we usually play Columbus Stockade at the Pioneer Building jams.

For measure 8 of the chorus progression, everyone who is playing backup plays a D chord or a D note at the beginning of the measure, then silences their strings immediately afterwards, and then plays nothing until the beginning of the next (9th) measure.  Hence, during the last 3/4 of measure 8 of the chorus progression, the only thing that should be heard is either the vocal (if a chorus is being sung) singing the words: "In your", or the instruments whose break it is (if a break is being played over the chorus progression). 

When playing a break over the chorus progression, there should be no stop made by the instrument(s) playing the break (only the instruments playing backup should do the stop), for there needs to be something keeping time during the measure in which the stop occurs so as to help guide everyone to come back in at the same time as each other at the beginning of the 9th measure of the progression.  Besides, part of the reason for doing a stop during a break is so that more attention can be drawn to the instrument(s) playing the break.  So if the instrument(s) playing the break stop when the backup players stop, then part of the reason for doing the stop has not been taken advantage of.


Arrangement
I start the song off by playing an intro break over the verse progression only. All subsequent breaks (except possibly for the very last one) will be played over both the verse and the chorus progression, and will be split between two different types of instruments. 

Sometimes I will 'tag' the last sung chorus.  That means that after singing the final chorus, I might choose to repeat either the last line (last 4 measures: starts with: "(yes) / leave me little darlin'...) of the chorus, or, more commonly for this song, I might choose to repeat the last two lines (last 8 measures: starts with: "In your / heart...") of the chorus before ending the song.  But, how I choose to end the song is a decision that I tend to make in the moment, rather than planning it out in advance.


Song List
17 songs were played at last night's jam: 15 from the main list, and 2 from the additional songs list:

All The Good Times Are Past And Gone - A
Angeline The Baker - D
Buffalo Gals - A
Columbus Stockade Blues - G
Cripple Creek - A
Down The Road (played twice) - A & B
Liberty - D
Long Journey Home - A
A Memory Of You - A
Old Joe Clark - A
Soldier's Joy - D
Way Down Town - E
Will The Circle Be Unbroken - A
Worried Man Blues - A
Wreck Of The Old '97 - D
Nine Pound Hammer - A
Paradise - C

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Sheet Music & Tabs:
Columbus Stockade Blues - banjo tab
Download File

Columbus Stockade Blues - guitar tab
Download File

Columbus Stockade Blues - mandolin tab
Download File

Columbus Stockade Blues - melody in G
Download File