Annotation:Nubbin Ridge (1)

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NUBBIN RIDGE [1]. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). Similar versions of "Nubbin Ridge [1]" were in the repertoire of fiddlers Owen "Snake" Chapman and Kirk McGee. The tune, unrelated to other "Nubbin Ridge" titles, was in the repertory of Kentucky fiddler Owen "Snake" Chapman (1919-2002, Chapman's Hollow, Canada, eastern Ky., near the West Virginia border) and bluegrass/old time fiddler Paul Warren (1918-1978, Hickman County, Tennessee). Mark Wilson, in liner notes to Chapman's "Walnut Gap" recording, states that Chapman learned it from the playing of Floyd Thurston during a Grand Ole Opry broadcast in the 1930's. Kerry Blech notes that Letcher County, Kentucky, banjo player Lee Sexton (b. 1928) also played the same tune as Chapman on his "Whoa Mule" recording (June Appal Recordings JA0051, 1988), and also had learned it from Thurston's playing. Uncle Jimmy Thompson (1848-1931) {Texas, Tennessee} was recorded in a newspaper article as playing the tune in a Clarksville, Tennessee, fiddle contest [Charles Wolfe, A Good Natured Riot], however, Thompson did not record the tune, and which of the "Nubbin Ridge" tunes he played is not known.

"Nubbin Ridge [1]" was supposedly named for a ridge in the community of Little Texas in Williamson County, Tennessee. For the Marcus Martin/Manco Sneed tune of the same name, see "Nubbin Ridge (2)." Both "Nubbin Ridge" tunes have relation to the 'raggy' Ozarks tune "Nubbin." However, there are similarities to the Ozarks regional tune "Fort Smith (1)."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources:

Recorded sources: Rounder CD 0418, Owen "Snake" Chapman - "Walnut Gap" (1999).

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