Hi Mike. Great video. Thanks for sharing. Show me the person that doesn't start tappin' their foot to this song, I'll show you a joyless soul!! I've got a technical question for you: What thickness pick do you use for this style of playin'? I've tried to use a Jim Dunlop 1mm (the black one), and it just feels too thick. I always seem to gravitate towards a .88" or .73". Does that seem too..."thin"? Thanks in advance!!!
Sweeeet! Please tab. I've been tryin to figure this out for a year and I can't even get close(Not that I would compare my playin to yours, Mike). I just can't quite get it. Anyway, your playing is superb.
Fantastic picking. Saw you play up the North Shore of Gitchi Gummi this fall. Great show. There wouldn't be a second helping of those tabs would there?
My god I before your mandolin goodness...Paul Priest has assured me when I come up to visit him that you and I will finally meet...I hope so...Thanks for your contributions....
I like this. Are you tuned to AEAE and letting the E string drone? Then you essentially have a high and low version, by playing the upper or lower AE pair? I looked at the original tune in a and most of the melody is played on the A string if tuned in the standard way...
i keep coming back to your page for more tunes. i love ur distictive style. i can hear it in a lot of people these days. great stuff... please let us have some more. for people like me sitting in as far as india i can only learn watching videos and listning to tunes. still spending a lot of time with stomp :)
mistertaterbug im working on this and I thinkk Im rightlettin the open strings ring as I play the melody,though I never have ahard time holding the pick it seems I really have to relax the grip to get the effect,how can I hang on to the pick better?
Relax your grip, hold the pick parallel to the strings, let the pick flop/bend up and down in your grip and brush the strings. It's not the "normal" way to do it and takes some getting used to, but you'll get it.
Thanks. If you get into oldtime playing enough you'll become aware that the percussion is a crucial aspect of the sound. Or, you could choose to just remain uninformed...
Great playing Mike! Too bad they ain't learning us buckdancin' in gradeschool here back in sweden! :) I'm stomping all over the place, really like your style of playing! Daniel
Just for the record. Sawmill is tuned High string towards the floor...the 1st string is tuned to E 2ed string is A 3rd string is E and 4th is A Pretty neat tuning. Loved your playing. Keep it up like to see more. Ken From Indiana
I'm sorry, I sure don't know where a body could get the "proper" version of this tune in tab. I've thought about tabbing it out, but don't have an official version of the tune. Shoot, you can play it with two fingers if you crosskey!
Mike thanks so much for posting that song! Very inspiring. It seems such a "mysterious" song for one as important at it is i.e., "But the greatest of all was Jenny Lynn to me that's where the fiddle began." So who knows how important that song is to the origins of Bluegrass music? -- yet it is so seldom recorded. You did a great job. I am totally revising how I play tune righ now. YAH!
Michael " Mike " Compton is a fine gentleman from the state of Missisippi and he has a powerful right hand, you see...Michael can really bear down on the old numbers and he always works hard for the people ...that's right...he is the best man in the country
Cant wait to get my new Amodel mando this month so I can start using alternate tunings!! Exciting stuff great playin one of my all time favorite pickers.
The mandolin is a Crafters of Tennessee Prodigal A5, varnish model made after the lone A5 Loar. It belongs to 'adirondackhermit' now...Last I heard he was up all night a'playin' it.
The guy who sold me my banjo told me they called it sawmill (I guess there's sawmill tuning for the banjo too? Also known as G-Modal? I'm not sure...) because the guys who worked in the sawmill were often missing fingers, and you only really need a couple to get some really great sounds.
I'm gonna tune down my crappy kentucky tomorrow after work and bash away!
Always a pleasure watching this. Thanks Mike.
jerryatwater 6 months ago
Been lookin for this tune, thanks for your great version!
rickfra 7 months ago
Jenny Lynn must of been a swell gal to inspire this.
Benj888 1 year ago
Thabnks for sticking these up Mr C, really enjoying them (and feeling inspired too).
alicelookingglass 1 year ago
you need to be my mandolinist!
TheWhitneyWilliams 1 year ago
omgosh your great be my mandolinist!
TheWhitneyWilliams 1 year ago
Epic!! -RF
rfeivor 1 year ago
Beautiful rendition! What is sawmill tuning?
lgomez222 2 years ago
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@ Igomez222
hulaboola (9 months ago)
Seems like a special tuning, eh? Or at least you make it sound like it. Is it? Thanks.
mistertaterbug (9 months ago)
Yes it is. Tuned AEAE.
brazilgrass 2 years ago
By far my favorite and the best mandolin player! Also my favorite fiddle tune!
snowmanpolice 2 years ago
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holy shit the kid from the deliverance is all grown up
CHEAPCOKE 2 years ago
Gotta tell ya, I'm a huge Mike Compton fan but that comment was pretty funny.
Excellent cross tuned old time song Mike, thanks for posting it!
HRMuffinStuff 2 years ago 2
Ahahah!
Blustercastr 2 years ago
Great video. I tried the tuning out and I like it. Thanks for sharing.
blueridgefiddle 2 years ago
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wow sounds great!
mrpaintballfan 2 years ago
Hey its stone cold steve auston!!! lol
georgehawat 2 years ago
Seems like a special tuning, eh? Or at least you make it sound like it. Is it? Thanks.
hulaboola 2 years ago
Yes it is. Tuned AEAE.
mistertaterbug 2 years ago
Hi Mike. Great video. Thanks for sharing. Show me the person that doesn't start tappin' their foot to this song, I'll show you a joyless soul!! I've got a technical question for you: What thickness pick do you use for this style of playin'? I've tried to use a Jim Dunlop 1mm (the black one), and it just feels too thick. I always seem to gravitate towards a .88" or .73". Does that seem too..."thin"? Thanks in advance!!!
billykid84 3 years ago
Billykid84,
I use the same thickness pick for most everything. Usually the thickness is around 1.25 to 1.50 mm. Thanks!
mistertaterbug 3 years ago
Sweeeet! Please tab. I've been tryin to figure this out for a year and I can't even get close(Not that I would compare my playin to yours, Mike). I just can't quite get it. Anyway, your playing is superb.
jimspickin 3 years ago
Where would I send the tablature?
mistertaterbug 3 years ago
Fantastic picking. Saw you play up the North Shore of Gitchi Gummi this fall. Great show. There wouldn't be a second helping of those tabs would there?
fishgutdumper 3 years ago
skills man!
scjason420 3 years ago
Love your playing Mike. That tuning makes the mando sound like a dulcimer, or a banjo in double c.
olebluemando 3 years ago
My god I before your mandolin goodness...Paul Priest has assured me when I come up to visit him that you and I will finally meet...I hope so...Thanks for your contributions....
TraversChandler 3 years ago
mistertaterbug played the mandolin, Lord how it'd ring!
northbound74 3 years ago
extremely inspiring groove.
swyslouch 3 years ago
I love this of course because it is my name haha!! Great job!!!
JEnny Lynn
cookysnook 3 years ago
I like this. Are you tuned to AEAE and letting the E string drone? Then you essentially have a high and low version, by playing the upper or lower AE pair? I looked at the original tune in a and most of the melody is played on the A string if tuned in the standard way...
NelsonPeddycoart 3 years ago
i keep coming back to your page for more tunes. i love ur distictive style. i can hear it in a lot of people these days. great stuff... please let us have some more. for people like me sitting in as far as india i can only learn watching videos and listning to tunes. still spending a lot of time with stomp :)
diptanshu 3 years ago
mistertaterbug im working on this and I thinkk Im rightlettin the open strings ring as I play the melody,though I never have ahard time holding the pick it seems I really have to relax the grip to get the effect,how can I hang on to the pick better?
markelberry 4 years ago
Relax your grip, hold the pick parallel to the strings, let the pick flop/bend up and down in your grip and brush the strings. It's not the "normal" way to do it and takes some getting used to, but you'll get it.
mistertaterbug 4 years ago
all i could hear was scratches lol
DerUntergangRush 4 years ago
Thanks. If you get into oldtime playing enough you'll become aware that the percussion is a crucial aspect of the sound. Or, you could choose to just remain uninformed...
mistertaterbug 4 years ago
good job
RndmG 4 years ago
AWESOME picking. Please post more.
CadillacL 4 years ago
Great playing Mike! Too bad they ain't learning us buckdancin' in gradeschool here back in sweden! :) I'm stomping all over the place, really like your style of playing! Daniel
daniel79061234 4 years ago
Just for the record. Sawmill is tuned High string towards the floor...the 1st string is tuned to E 2ed string is A 3rd string is E and 4th is A Pretty neat tuning. Loved your playing. Keep it up like to see more. Ken From Indiana
manstock2 4 years ago 2
Thanks Ken.
mistertaterbug 4 years ago
That was great. I love the ole Bill Monroe tunes. Do you know where i can find the tab to this one?
smn9ac 4 years ago
I'm sorry, I sure don't know where a body could get the "proper" version of this tune in tab. I've thought about tabbing it out, but don't have an official version of the tune. Shoot, you can play it with two fingers if you crosskey!
mistertaterbug 4 years ago
What key is it in? G? I can probably figure it out with that. Thanks.
smn9ac 4 years ago
A major.
mistertaterbug 4 years ago
ya its sawmill tuning ofcourse!
diptanshu 4 years ago
Mr. Compton....puttin' rhythm guitar players all over the country outta business. That pickin' could stand alone any day!
mandlnpickr 5 years ago
Mike thanks so much for posting that song! Very inspiring. It seems such a "mysterious" song for one as important at it is i.e., "But the greatest of all was Jenny Lynn to me that's where the fiddle began." So who knows how important that song is to the origins of Bluegrass music? -- yet it is so seldom recorded. You did a great job. I am totally revising how I play tune righ now. YAH!
Mandolin1944 5 years ago
Michael " Mike " Compton is a fine gentleman from the state of Missisippi and he has a powerful right hand, you see...Michael can really bear down on the old numbers and he always works hard for the people ...that's right...he is the best man in the country
dagetage 5 years ago
Thank you so much Mike...
crossen123 5 years ago
Cant wait to get my new Amodel mando this month so I can start using alternate tunings!! Exciting stuff great playin one of my all time favorite pickers.
markelberry 5 years ago
Mighty fine!
ray8up 5 years ago
you make it seem so easy!
sean808080 5 years ago
The mandolin is a Crafters of Tennessee Prodigal A5, varnish model made after the lone A5 Loar. It belongs to 'adirondackhermit' now...Last I heard he was up all night a'playin' it.
mistertaterbug 5 years ago
amazing sound man
jacobherring 5 years ago
Mike that's some great picking! Love your style!
BanjoBoyMatt 5 years ago
Great stuff mike
DanBeimborn 5 years ago
The guy who sold me my banjo told me they called it sawmill (I guess there's sawmill tuning for the banjo too? Also known as G-Modal? I'm not sure...) because the guys who worked in the sawmill were often missing fingers, and you only really need a couple to get some really great sounds.
I'm gonna tune down my crappy kentucky tomorrow after work and bash away!
fwoompf 5 years ago
Well, how did it work out? Did you scare the dog?
mistertaterbug 5 years ago
Mitey fine! Good slide interpretation.
I don't recall that Baker or Monroe played it cross-tuned.
reillyevan 5 years ago
Well, I reckon they didn't want to. I did...Reason enough.
mistertaterbug 5 years ago
What is "sawmill" tuning?
Mandopete 5 years ago
Otherwise known as "cross-keyed". The tuning is AEAE or GDGD or any other pair of fifths repeated on the next two intervals.
mistertaterbug 5 years ago
yeah!!!
latchmo 5 years ago
Mike, that's just awesome.
secsc2 5 years ago