| Soldiers Joy - for Guitar | Aura Lee for Banjo|

By Richard Lloyd

ST.ANNE’S REEL IS A WELL KNOWN Irish Reel that is hugely popular in the US It is relatively easy to play on the Mandolin so it is a useful piece for novices but as with anything you will need to practice to build up speed. Nevertheless, the St. Anne’s Reel has a very, very catchy melody that is nice to listen to no matter how fast you can play it! It is popular in Folk sessions too, so it’s a handy piece for Mandolin players to have in their repertoire when travelling about!

PLAYING TIPS. The version given here is in the key of D and only requires the chords of D, G and A for a nice pleasing accompaniment so other instruments should be able to strum or ‘chunk’ along with you quite easily! Most notes fall within easy reach of your first three fingers and all are found on the top three strings and this is one reason why it is quite straight forward to play. However, there are two bars that are worth mentioning as they can easily catch new players out. In bar 3 there is a little trap waiting to confuse you. The first note in bar 3 is a B at the second fret of the second string and it is Oh so tempting to place your first finger down for this note. Later in the bar, however, you need this note plus the E at the second fret on the third string and your fingers quickly get tied in knots. The trick is to put your first finger down over BOTH the second and third strings at the second fret and to leave it there for the whole bar. When you need the G at the fifth fret of the third string just put your third finger down keeping your first finger in place over both strings at the second fret. This requires a bit of strength and feels awkward at first but just keep trying and it will feel fine after a while. In bar 12 there is a B obtained at the seventh fret of the top string - this is the one and only time you need your little finger. Luckily, the note before is an open E on the top string so you have some extra time to stretch that little finger out and make it land squarely and firmly on that distant fret all the way up the neck.

OTHER IDEAS St.Anne’s Reel can be played in G on the Mandolin by using a ‘trick’. Instead of playing the tune on the top three strings of your Mandolin, simply move every note onto the next lower string (i.e. nearer your chin!) and use the bottom three strings. This moves the whole tune down the correct amount to transpose it from D to G. I happen to think the tune has a much happier, brighter feel to it in D but if your accompanist insists on playing in G you can now easily oblige. Instead of the chords of D, G and A the accompanist should use G, C and D. One bonus of playing the tune this way is that the high note in bar 12 is now obtained by playing the top string open so in one way it’s even easier in G!

I can supply the melody as normal music (i.e. dots!) to play on another instrument - Write to me on RHLloydBGF@aol.com or ’phone 01829-260756.

Richard Lloyd, Calveley, Crewe.

Aura Lee - a Slow Piece

Arranged for Banjo by David Cotton

BANJOISTS OFTEN STRUGGLE to find palatable slow, melodic tunes with interesting chord structures. Whilst such tunes abound, we are always a little too eager to learn driving bluegrass standards. Once in a while it’s nice to dig out a hackneyed old romantic tune like Aura Lee and relax a little. Aura Lee was written shortly after the American Civil War and achieved some popularity. Many years later it was reworked as Love Me Tender and became a big hit for Elvis Presley.

Note that in bar two you need to finger the fifth string at the 7 fret. I find that I can stretch out my middle finger comfortably without otherwise disturbing the A chord which the bar demands. In bar four, there’s are some nice little block chords using the open third string along with fretted second and fourth strings. Whilst the same bar asks you to play two consecutive notes with your thumb and later two with your index finger, if you’re playing the tune sufficiently slowly, you’ll have no problem.

In the ninth bar, interesting things start to happen. Against a basic G chord played on the top two strings, you play an ascending chromatic (a semitone at a time) run on the third string. When you reach the G7 chord you’ll find you need to adjust your left-hand fingering, to accommodate the F note played on the third string, 10th fret. The chord sequence is particularly nice through this section.

Play the tune with your right hand away from the bridge at the start, moving it back towards the bridge at the more intense and dramatic moments.

David Cotton, Hale, Cheshire

NB: This banjo tab will be found to be invaluable tuition for those who have difficulty hearing chord changes! Ed.

The A-part employs some nice string crossing patterns for the pick, which can be played by holding a C-chord with the left hand. They are similar to cross-picking but are not syncopated.

Chris Moreton, Usk, South Wales

Updated 23rd Jan 1999