Susannah Gal

Time for a new tune, wouldn't you say? It's been some time since I've gotten to play, but now that winter has set in and the holidays are over, it's time I got reacquainted with my fiddle.

Susannah Gal has been one of my favorite tunes for quite some time. I never understood why, until I connected (light bulb moment) that this tune was also known as Pretty Little Pink. Growing up, I remember listening to my mother's old Tennessee Ernie Ford records and Pretty Little Pink was one of my faves. I know, not your normal kid...

Anyway, Susannah Gal is a standard tune on nights I'm lucky enough to make it to our friendly, neighborhood jam session. But to tell you the truth, up until now, I've just kind of muddled through it, cheating my way through the notier (is that a word?!?) parts. I don't know why, because it's really not at all difficult. I guess it was just easier to be lazy.

So, for the sake of redeeming my lazy you-know-what, I sat down this afternoon and worked up a nice sounding version of Susannah Gal. It's actually pretty similar to Tommy Jarrell's version, though I don't guarantee that it's note for note, as I know it's not.

However, what's that they say about "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades"? Well, I've got good news for you --- it counts in old-time too!

I've intentionally left out the bowing directional markings on this tune as each time through I seem to be going the opposite way. However, I did include slur markings to indicate which notes I seem to consistently put together on the same bow. Give it a go and let me know what you think. It's a foot tapper, that's for sure.