Key of G.
Standard tuning.
4/4 time.
Only Moderately Challenging.
Sounds better with a guitar playng muffled accompaniment... but works solo as well.
I think it makes a nice study for the banjo.
This is not an exact note-for-note transcription of the Reverend's guitar work...
I listened to a You Tubed performance of Reverend Gary Davis's and then over the course of several days, worked out the introductory riff and part-by-part went through the rest of it...
Sometimes, concessions have to be made to make a guitar tune work on the banjo and vice versa... And I know I had to do that here.
In the final analysis, however, I wound up with a banjo arrangement of the Reverend's guitar tune, that stands on it's own as a rag piece and follows the original by virtue of similar sounds and style.
Because I'm fairly new to working the Reverend's work out for banjo with guitar as the accompanying instrument, I will go back from time to time and make changes and additions until I feel there is nothing left to do.
Fortunately, Nigel Mather, the fellow who requested this tune, got me hooked on the Reverend's work... so I'm listening to his music way more than I had previously... that's always a good thing.
When doing an arrangement, it's always best to know the tune so well, you can hum the entire piece from memory...
I had to depend on continually listening and comparing... I'm not new to rag time... My brother played Scott Joplin rags back in the seventies endlessly on the piano... Because of this, I can hum through quite a few of Scott's tunes to this day.
I am happy and satisfied with the work I've done here, but I will be back to re-visit these tunes in the future.
May the good lord shine his light down on The Good Reverend Davis and all like him who had to suffer for their art...
I feel certain, God himself sits in a heavenly tavern in the clouds with a drink, listening to the Reverend work his magic on an old beat-up guitar in Heaven.
I genuinely hope you enjoy the Cinncinnati Flow Rag, now on the banjo!
Tom
