Why Don't You Tell Me So

Hi,
The song of the week is the Flatt & Scruggs classic 'Why Don't You Tell Me So' in the key of G.


Recordings
Here is the original Flatt & Scruggs recording of Why Don't You Tell Me So - key of F#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=868sWKi1CWc  

Here is a good cover version of the song from Tony Rice - key of F
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgTiqz2X1Mg&list=PLJcseQaUtw9WQvE_F-tmDHRwhKTfOr6iz&index=5


Tuning
The Flatt & Scruggs recording is in the very rarely used key of F# (or Gb, if you prefer) instead of the much more common key of F only because the instruments were all tuned a half step higher in pitch than standard. To play along with the recording, I advise banjo, mandolin and fiddle players to either tune their instruments a half step higher and then play as if in F, or to tune their instruments a half step lower and then play as if in G. (Guitar players need not retune their instruments, for there is little advantage in doing so: either capo 4, and then play as if in D, or capo 2 and then play as if in E will work just fine for playing along with the recording.)


Note to Banjo Players
If the band had been tuned to standard pitch, Scruggs' playing on Why Don't You Tell Me So would be an example of playing in F without a capo (banjo tuned in G tuning with the 5th string capoed at the 7th fret so that the 5th string registers as an A note, a note that is part of the F chord).

For banjo players who wish to learn Earl's backup parts and break from the record, I point out that there is little difference in how it feels to play Scruggs' parts out of G (tuned down a half step from G tuning to be in tune with the recording: F#,C#,F#,A#,C#), or out of F (tuned up a half step from G tuning, with the 5th string capoed at the 7th fret: A#,D#,G#,B#,D#.  B#=C) since only in a couple of spots in his backup playing does Scruggs use an open string, and in his break, the only open string he makes use of is the 5th string. There are however, a couple of spots during the backup parts in which one will run out of frets if tuned down instead of tuned up, but an easy fix for this is to simply drop those spots a whole octave: i.e., play the notes 12 frets lower.

For banjo players who have little or no experience playing up the neck (besides vamping), I recommend working up down-the-neck breaks and backup parts out of G with the help of banjo tab melody sheet in the attachments. 

Finally, it should be observed that Scruggs' up the neck break that occurs after the second chorus of the song does not follow the melody closely enough to be used as an effective intro break for the song.


Progression
The chord progression for the verses and breaks is the very familiar progression:

1111
1155
1144
1511
(Prog. V2 on the basic chord progressions chart)

The chord progression for the choruses is the most common progression for choruses in songs in which the verses use Prog. V2 while the choruses use a different progression. Only the first line differs from V2:

4411
1155
1144
1511
(Prog. X2)


The Mercury Sessions
Why Don't You Tell Me So was the 8th song that Flatt & Scruggs recorded together after leaving Bill Monroe's band. It is one of 28 songs that Flatt & Scruggs recorded together on Mercury Records between 1948 and 1950 (before they went to a different record label: Columbia). This collection of 28 songs is commonly referred to as 'the Mercury Sessions', and I consider it to be essential listening for students of Bluegrass music. 

Most of these 28 songs have become Bluegrass standards and have been covered by numerous Bluegrass artists.

In the order in which they were recorded, here are youtube links to the 28 songs of the Mercury Sessions. Songs that I especially recommend listening to several times over are marked with an asterisk

*1. We'll Meet Again Sweetheart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT7rowwR_lA  

2. God Loves His Children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BEd1UVqdoY  

*3. My Cabin In Caroline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zy_KcA-1yM  

4. I'm Going To Make Heaven My Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KkvX1Ovzqw

5. Baby Blue Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4C9-yPOnC8 
 
*6. Down The Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q40vZj20E4I

7. Bouquet In Heaven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGm0U6Izb6k  

*8. Why Don't You Tell Me So
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=868sWKi1CWc  

*9. I'll Never Shed Another Tear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtk7XyiuCXU  

*10. Foggy Mountain Breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Y3mnj-8lA

*11. No Mother Or Dad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG16hKUlo1k  

*12. Is It Too Late Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQvdadVsvmo  

*13. My Little Girl In Tennessee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNuUybrAq4  

14. I'll Be Going To Heaven Sometime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nqp9bSoSwQ  

15. I'll Never Love Another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rElItBdIq8I  

16. So Happy I'll Be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjS0TH05Xhw  

*17. Doin' My Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InFTCQfri9w  

*18. Pike County Breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HioToEDKl_E

19. Preachin' Prayin' Singin'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNdaHDHgwCc  

*20. Cora Is Gone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJkTaX2Li2I  

*21. Pain In My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meazeajPSP0    

*22. Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riHYkRKXydU

23. Back To The Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yciZzg3rQTE  

*24. Old Salty Dog Blues 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQdkmY3-egE  

25. Will The Roses Bloom (Where She Lies Sleeping)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUzt_7fBV_4  

*26. Take Me In A LIfeboat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFMbmJ7Sov0  

*27. Farewell Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvTz0j_Pt0  

28. I'll Just Pretend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuXpNYYR4cw  


Song List
14 songs were played at last night's jam:
Ashes Of Love (played twice) - B & G
Cherokee Shuffle - A
Clinch Mountain Backstep - A
Gold Watch And Chain - D
Homestead On The Farm - A
Little Cabin Home On The Hill - A
Turkey In The Straw - G
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - A
Why Don't You Tell Me So (played twice) - F & G
Wreck Of The Old '97 (played twice) - D & A
Golden Slippers - G
The Girl I Left Behind Me - G
99 Years And One Dark Day - A
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - C

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Why Don't You Tell Me So - banjo tab
Download File

Why Don't You Tell Me So - guitar tab
Download File

Why Don't You Tell Me So - mandolin tab
Download File

Why Don't You Tell Me So - melody in G
Download File