Famous Flower Of Servingmen - Martin Carthy (extract)

[sleethmitchel1]

this melody is used between verses of fairport's matty groves, too.

[holyhackjackson8]

Sounds a lot like pentangle's wedding dress

[actionjackson55]

CGCDGA is Martin's fave.....ya gotta remember that back in the day....I'm only talking 'bout the 60's....string gauges were debatebly...errr ...SHITTY..so somme guys ..and girls ..took to shortening piano strings so the proper guage could deliver serious WUMP in low tunings.

[Skimllfixit]

This geezer seems to have the notes right but JAYZUS he needs to work on his rhythm...

[LiteGauge]

I thought that I'd replied to this question a while ago. In fact, as is stated below, I'm using DADDAD tuning. I'll have to try this tuning as well to see what it's like.

[jessicarita]

DADGAD

[Gwyhir]

Isnt it DADDAD

[blackcat355]

Thanks, this has been a great help. Very well done. That's a beautiful inlay on your guitar, by the way.

[drmlabs]

the impossible part of this tune is the timing while playing the verses. Martin does a kind of free-form-follow-the-lyrics thing on the verses, then bam comes right back in to this part shown in the video. I've tried counting the beats & its just way hard to comprehend how Martin does it. Wish I could learn it some day, but hey Im still strugling with Rosemary Lane myself! lol

[LiteGauge]

The other impossible part is remembering all of the verses ;) You're right though his timing really follows the lyrics and it's not easy to get it right

[jimkaloo]

well played. one of the more epic folk songs i can think of. could you let know the tuning please?

[jimkaloo]

really well played. one of the more epic folk songs i can think of. could you let me know the tuning?

[LiteGauge]

Thanks. Yes it's a great tune if you can remember all the verses ;). Check your mail for the tuning.

[drmlabs]

very nice - one of my favorite songs by Martin. What tuning is that?