X:1
T:Laughing Boy
S:Benny Thomasson (1909-1984, Texas)
M:C|
L:1/8
N:AEAc# tuning (fiddle)
N:"+" = pizzicato
F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/laughing-boy
D:Voyager VRCD 345, Benny Thomasson - Say Old Man can You Play the Fiddle (1999)
Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz
K:A
[E2A2]-|[E2A2][ce][cf] [c2e2][c2c]|efec +slide+[Ac][AB][AA][AB]|cdcB AFEB,|[A,2E2][A,4F4][E2A2e2]-|
[E2A2e2][ce][cf] [c2e2][c2c]|efec +slide+[Ac][AB][AA][AB]|cdcB AFEC|[B,2E2][A,4E4]:|
|:[A,2E2]-|[A,2E2]"+"c2"+"A2"+"c2|"+"A2"+"c2 [EB]-[E3c3]|cdcB AFEB,|[A,2E2][A,4F4][A,2E2]-|
[A,2E2]"+"c2"+"A2"+"c2|"+"A2"+"c2 [EB]-[E3c3]|cdcB AFEC|[B,2E2][A,4E4]:|]
LAUGHING BOY. American, Reel (cut or 2/4 time). USA; Texas. A Major (Phillips, Silberberg): G Major (Beisswenger & McCann). AEac# (Benny Thomasson, Texas Shorty), AEae or Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AABB (Beisswenger & McCann, Phillips). Known as a Texas tune (played by Benny Thomasson and others in AEAc#), but popularised by Kenny Baker (standard tuning) in his 1968 recording so that it has become more widespread. The reel is usually played in the key of 'A', crosstuned, and features plucked or pizzicato notes. Benny Thomasson, c. 1970's John Hartford remarked that fiddler Texas Shorty (Jim Chancellor) thought Thomasson may have composed it[1].
Additional notes Source for notated version : - Benny Thomasson [1] (1909-1984) via Kenny Baker [Milliner & Koken, Phillips]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg]; Cleeson Box (b. 1919, Wright County, Missouri [Beisswenger & McCann]; Benny Thomasson via Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor [Hartford/Devil's Box]].
Printed sources : - Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 172. Stephen F. Davis (The Devil's Box), vol. 30, No. 3, Fall 1996; p. 8. Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 375. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 138. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 88.
Recorded sources : - County 703, Benny Thomasson - "Texas Hoedown" (1965). County 719, Kenny Baker - "Portrait of a Bluegrass Fiddler" (1968. Learned from Benny Thomasson). County 724, Benny Thomasson - "Legendary Texas Fiddler" (2005). Voyager VRCD 345, Benny Thomasson - "Say Old Man Can You Play the Fiddle?" (1999).
See also listing at : Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Hear Benny Thomasson playing the tune at Slippery Hill [3] and at youtube.com [4]
Hear Kenny Baker play the tune at Slippery Hill [5]]."
