Idaho Bluegrass Association
  • Home
    • About
    • Join Us
    • Donate
    • IBA Newsletter
    • Our Logo
  • Articles & Podcasts
    • Podcasts >
      • Jason Homey Interview
      • Donna and Mike Bond Interview
      • ​Jeremy Garrett Interview
      • Keith Reed Interview
      • Becky Smith Interview
      • Marv Quinton Interview
      • Rue Frisbee Interview
      • Honi Deaton Interview
      • Dennis Stokes Interview
      • Gary Eller Interview
    • Articles >
      • Glen Garrett - The Golden Years
      • Sammie Bush - came to Weiser
      • Mark O’Connor - My History at Weiser
      • Barbara Lamb - Fiddler Extraordinaire
      • Charlie Simmons -The Idaho Bluegrass Association from 1975 to 1985
      • Idaho's 19th century Fiddlers
      • Weiser Fiddle Champions ​ 1950s & 1960s
      • ​Byron Berline
      • Dave Frisbee
      • Weiser Fiddle Champions from 1970s and 80s
      • Megan Lynch Chowning
      • Fiddle Champion ​in 1990s and 2000s
      • Tashina and Tristan Clarridge
    • Snap Shot - Videos from IBA members
  • Events
    • Calendar (BCBB)
    • Open Mic
    • Winterfest >
      • Past WinterFests
    • SpringFest 2025
    • Virtualgrass
    • Other Bluegrass Events
  • Jam
    • Idaho Jams
    • Beginner Jam
    • Jason's BIBJ
    • All of Jason's Songs
    • Old Blogs from Jason >
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2021 - 2023
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2021 - 2023
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2019 - 2021
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2019 - 2021
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2017 - 2018
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2017 - 2018
      • Songs in 2016
  • Camps & Contests
    • Idaho Bluegrass and Banjo Camp
    • Banjo Contest
    • National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest
  • Idaho Bands
  • Teachers
  • Classified
  • Links
    • General
    • Learning
    • Specific Instruments

Gold Watch And Chain

4/22/2017

1 Comment

 
Hi,
The song of the week is the old Carter Family classic 'Gold Watch And Chain'.

For the next 3 intermediate jams, Gold Watch And Chain will be played in the following keys, and probably with a different person singing lead each time:

Apr. 27: Bb
May 4: C
May 11: D

The chord progression is the same as for 'This Land Is Your Land', 'Way Down Town', 'Back Up And Push', 'Rubber Dolly', the B-Part of 'Red Wing', and the chorus of 'How Mountain Girls Can Love':

4411
5511
4411
5511

Here are a few versions of the song to take a listen to:

Key of B: Ralph Stanley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2DcpQOgGKk
 
Key of D: Mother Maybelle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8szdi1D7OE
 
Key of G: Doug Dillard Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJvVqsdrjYQ

Bluegrass Open Mic
In preparation for the first Bluegrass open mic at Liquid, scheduled for the evening of May 23rd, the opportunity will be given at the intermediate jam two Thursdays from now (May 4th) for you to perform one or two songs with your act (minimum 2 people per act) with the rest of the jam group being your audience. Even if you don't intend on participating in the open mic on May 23rd, I still encourage you, if you are a regular at the jam, to put together an act that can perform one or two songs at the jam on May 4th. Especially if you have never performed for an audience before, doing so can be a valuable learning experience. 

Please let me know as soon as you are able to, whether you wish to perform a song or two at the jam, so it can be determined how much of the evening will be taken up by performances, and what the maximum time length needs to be that each act is allotted. 



Transposing in Whole Steps
The notes of the Bb, C, and D Major Scales correspond with each other as follows:

1    2    3    4    5    6    7
Bb  C   D   Eb  F    G    A
C    D   E   F    G    A    B
D    E   F#  G   A    B    C#

The melody of Gold Watch And Chain uses only 6 of the 7 notes of the Major Scale. The 4th note of the scale (i.e., Eb note when in the key of Bb, F note when in the key of C, and G note when in the key of D) does not occur in the melody.

The preceding chart also shows the relation of the 1, 4, and 5 chords for each of the three keys, but here they are in isolation from the rest of the information:

1    4    5
Bb  Eb  F
C    F   G
D    G   A

The 1 chord consists of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the Major Scale.
The 4 chord consists of the 4th, 6th, and 8th (=1st) notes of the Major Scale 
The 5 chord consists of the 5th, 7th, and 9th (=2nd) notes of the Major Scale

Here is a chart showing these relationships:

                      1   3   5          4   6   1          5   7   2
Key of Bb    Bb D  F         Eb G  Bb       F   A   C
Key of C       C   E  G         F   A  C         G   B   D
Key of D       D   F# A       G  B   D         A   C#  E

D has the same relation to C that C has to Bb. C is a whole step higher than Bb; and D, in turn, is a whole step higher than C. 

In terms of the number of sharps or flats in their Major Scales, C (0 sharps/flats) is exactly half way between Bb (2 flats) and D (2 sharps). 

'To capo or not to capo'
For playing in the key of Bb, bluegrass guitar and banjo players almost always capo to the 3rd fret so that they can play with the same fingerings they would use for playing in the key of G without a capo. (With the 5th string on banjo spiked/capoed/tuned up to a Bb note.)

The two most common options for bluegrass guitar and banjo players for playing in C are either to play in C without a capo, or put the capo on the 5th fret so  that they can play with the same fingerings they would use for playing in the key of G without a capo. When the 2nd option is chosen by a banjo player, the 5th string is spiked/capoed/tuned up to a C note.

For the key of D, one may sometimes wish to play without a capo, and at other times one may wish to capo the 2nd fret so that one can play with the same fingerings that one would use for playing in the key of C without a capo. These two options both sound and feel different from each other, and more so on certain songs than on others. For playing Scruggs-style banjo in the key of D, whether capoed to the 2nd fret or not capoed, the 5th string is most commonly spiked/capoed/tuned up to an A note. A third option, capo 7 and play as if in G, rarely ever produces satisfactory results for playing in the key of D within a bluegrass context, and therefore is best avoided, except perhaps occasionally when playing a hard-driving song at a break-neck speed. 

For most songs, including Gold Watch And Chain, it tends to work better for a Carter-style guitar break to play with the fingerings that one would use for playing in the key of C without a capo, rather than with the fingerings that one would use for playing in the key of G or the key of D without a capo. This is the reason for the low octave key of C guitar melody tab that is included in the attachments. (Note: this is not an invitation to put the capo on the 10th fret of the guitar for playing Gold Watch And Chain in the key of Bb!)

The capo 5 option for playing in the key of C will produce a brighter, crisper sound than the no capo option - especially on banjo. You may find this quite desirable for some songs you play (especially up-tempo hard-driving breakdown type songs), but less desirable for other songs in your repertoire (e.g., slow songs that have a relaxed feel to them). Gold Watch And Chain - at least as it is commonly played by bluegrassers - falls somewhere in the middle between these two types of songs, with some versions leaning more towards one end of the spectrum, and others leaning more towards the other end of the spectrum.

Transposing in Fourths 
The notes of the D, G, and C Major Scales correspond with each other as follows:

1    2    3    4    5    6    7
D    E   F#  G   A    B    C#

G    A   B   C    D    E    F#

C    D   E   F    G    A    B

The melody of Gold Watch And Chain uses only 6 of the 7 notes of the Major Scale. The 4th note of the scale (i.e., G note when in the key of D, C note when in the key of G, and F note when in the key of C) does not occur in the melody.

The preceding chart also shows the relation of the 1, 4, and 5 chords for each of the three keys, but here they are in isolation from the rest of the information:

1    4    5
D    G   A

G    C   D
C    F   G

The 1 chord consists of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the Major Scale.
The 4 chord consists of the 4th, 6th, and 8th (=1st) notes of the Major Scale 
The 5 chord consists of the 5th, 7th, and 9th (=2nd) notes of the Major Scale

Here is a chart showing those relationships:

                     1   3    5          4   6   1         5    7    2
Key of D     D   F# A         G  B   D        A   C#  E
Key of G     G   B  D          C   E  G         D   F#  A
Key of C      C   E  G          F   A  C         G   B    D


G has the same relation to D that C has to G. G is 5 half steps higher than D; and C, in turn, is 5 half steps higher than G. 

In terms of the number of sharps or flats in their Major Scales, G (1 sharp) is exactly half way between D (2 sharps) and C (0 sharps/flats).

Note for Guitar and Banjo Players
For guitar and banjo players who are not yet able to transpose from one key to another quickly without a capo, I recommend getting more experience with transposing up and down in 4ths (G up to C, C down to G, G down to D, D up to G) before trying other transpositions. 

For the octave in which the melody is written on the key of G banjo tab attached here, transposition down a 4th (i.e., down to D) is not possible, so I have not included a D banjo melody sheet here. On guitar, transposition down to D of the G melody tab involves nothing more than shifting all the fingerings down one string lower in pitch, so I felt no need to include a D melody sheet for guitar in the attachments.
Gold Watch And Chain - banjo tab - C
File Size: 296 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - banjo tab - G
File Size: 278 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - guitar tab - C - low octave
File Size: 352 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - guitar tab - C
File Size: 341 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - guitar tab - G
File Size: 320 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - mandolin tab - Bb
File Size: 261 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - mandolin tab - C
File Size: 278 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - mandolin tab - D
File Size: 291 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - melody in Bb
File Size: 302 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - melody in C
File Size: 303 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gold Watch And Chain - melody in D
File Size: 323 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1 Comment
Paul
10/27/2017 12:53:39 pm

The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience "The Gold Watch And Chain" 6.24.16 Clear Creek RapidGrass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIke-7alvls

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2017 - 2018

    started as Beginner Jam in Jan 2015
    with
    ​Jason Homey

    Picture
    Songs regularly called at Bluegrass Jams and links from Jason's "Song of the Week" emails.  (from Renee)
    ​
    ​

    Songs

    All
    Are You Missing Me
    Auld Lang Syne
    Banks Of The Ohio
    Beautiful Brown Eyes
    Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
    Big Spike Hammer
    Bill Cheatham
    Blue Ridge Cabin Home
    Canaan's Land
    Cherokee Shuffle
    Cheyenne
    Christmas Carol Progressions
    Christmas Songs
    Clinch Mountain Backstep
    Cry Cry Darlin
    Cryin' Holy
    Devil's Dream
    Dooley
    Down In A Willow Garden
    Down The Road
    East Virginia Blues
    Fireball Mail
    Foggy Mountain Breakdown
    Gathering Flowers From The Hillside
    Gold Rush
    Gold Watch And Chain
    Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
    Head Over Heels
    Homestead On The Farm
    How Mountain Girls Can Love
    I Can't Feel At Home
    I Know You Rider
    In The Pines
    In The Sweet By And By
    I Saw The Light
    John Henry
    Keep On The Sunny Side
    Left Over Biscuits
    Little Cabin Home On The Hill
    Little Darling Pal Of Mine
    Little Maggie
    Little Willie
    Love Of The Mountains
    Love Please Come Home
    Nine Pound Hammer
    Old Home Place
    Old Joe Clark
    O Little Town Of Bethlehem
    On And On
    Over The Waterfall
    Poor Wayfaring Stranger
    Red Haired Boy
    Red Wing
    Reuben
    Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
    Roving Gambler
    Sally Goodin
    Salty Dog Blues
    Shuckin' The Corn
    Steel Rails
    Turkey In The Straw
    We'll Meet Again Sweetheart
    Whiskey Before Breakfast
    Why Don't You Tell Me So
    Wildwood Flower
    Wreck Of The Old '97
    X-Hits And B-List Songs Of 2016
    X Music Theory
    X New Song List 2018
    X- Song List 2018
    X-Songs Of The Week Of 2017
    X- The Mercury Sessions
    X-The Original And Great Carter Family

    All of Jason's Songs
    in alphabetical order


    ​Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

ConTACT US!


ADDRESS:
​Idaho Bluegrass Association
PO Box 6074
Boise, ID 83707

Email

[email protected]
Copyright © 2025 IBA.
  • Home
    • About
    • Join Us
    • Donate
    • IBA Newsletter
    • Our Logo
  • Articles & Podcasts
    • Podcasts >
      • Jason Homey Interview
      • Donna and Mike Bond Interview
      • ​Jeremy Garrett Interview
      • Keith Reed Interview
      • Becky Smith Interview
      • Marv Quinton Interview
      • Rue Frisbee Interview
      • Honi Deaton Interview
      • Dennis Stokes Interview
      • Gary Eller Interview
    • Articles >
      • Glen Garrett - The Golden Years
      • Sammie Bush - came to Weiser
      • Mark O’Connor - My History at Weiser
      • Barbara Lamb - Fiddler Extraordinaire
      • Charlie Simmons -The Idaho Bluegrass Association from 1975 to 1985
      • Idaho's 19th century Fiddlers
      • Weiser Fiddle Champions ​ 1950s & 1960s
      • ​Byron Berline
      • Dave Frisbee
      • Weiser Fiddle Champions from 1970s and 80s
      • Megan Lynch Chowning
      • Fiddle Champion ​in 1990s and 2000s
      • Tashina and Tristan Clarridge
    • Snap Shot - Videos from IBA members
  • Events
    • Calendar (BCBB)
    • Open Mic
    • Winterfest >
      • Past WinterFests
    • SpringFest 2025
    • Virtualgrass
    • Other Bluegrass Events
  • Jam
    • Idaho Jams
    • Beginner Jam
    • Jason's BIBJ
    • All of Jason's Songs
    • Old Blogs from Jason >
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2021 - 2023
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2021 - 2023
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2019 - 2021
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2019 - 2021
      • Jason's Beginner Jam Blog 2017 - 2018
      • Jason's Intermediate Jam Blog 2017 - 2018
      • Songs in 2016
  • Camps & Contests
    • Idaho Bluegrass and Banjo Camp
    • Banjo Contest
    • National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest
  • Idaho Bands
  • Teachers
  • Classified
  • Links
    • General
    • Learning
    • Specific Instruments