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Steve Kaufman's Favorite 50 Mandolin, Tunes N-S
Traditional American Fiddle Tunes
by: Steve Kaufman

In this issue:  Interview: Joe Vest | Joy to the World | Jazz Mandology: Linear Leanings | 
Lee Highway Blues | Beginning Irish Mandolin | Eighth of January | Red Haired Boy

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Eighth of January

by Steve Kaufman

Hi Friends:
It's been a while since I've had a chance to participate on the Mel Bay Mandolin web pages and I missed it. Since I was with you last, I held my big Acoustic Kamp series, toured Dublin, Ireland, went to FL, Spokane, Chicago, Winfield, back to FL, D.C., and now I am getting ready for the Bluegrass Jam Cruise for a week. It don't get too dusty around Flatpik Central. Anyway, I am back now and if Joe will keep me on the list I will do my best to get more tunes to you.

I chose this tune because it is a short one but also has a lot of wiggle room.

Learn the first break - Measures 1-9. This is the meat of the song.

In the variation, I used something that guitar great Barney Kessel wrote in his guide to playing the guitar. Play the melody then one note lower or higher then back to the melody then one note up or down again. In other words, in eighth notes, try not to hit the same note twice. You will see this throughout the first part. The second part is more melodic and you can see a small bit of this principal in the few places that I made variance in the [B] part variation.

Have fun with this tune and let me know how it treats you.
Bye for now,
Steve Kaufman