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Back in the 2nd grade, several of my classmates, without my express written consent, bestowed me with the nickname “Squash” (it rhymes with Josh).
While my friends could use it as a [non-sanctioned] term of endearment, others could wield my dislike of it to more sinister aims.
I needed a way to disarm them. And I knew that protesting only made them stronger.
With the help of my family, we hatched a counterattack. We would create a shirt with the name “Squash” written across the back for me to wear to school.
The plan worked. Now that the nickname had my clear endorsement, I’d rendered it impotent as a weapon of ridicule.
Yes, I am going somewhere with this. Because, you see….
Back in the time of the French and Indian war, as story goes, the British soldiers didn’t think too highly of their American fighting companions.
At the time, a “macaroni” was the term for a young British man who’d spent time traveling the European continent and had come back with a new air of culture and sophistication. The bumbling and backwards Americans, envious of the worldly Europeans, would sometimes make superficial attempts to give a similar impression.
Like stuffing a feather in their cap, and calling themselves “macaronis.”
They were the Yankee Doodles (a “doodle” being synonymous with an idiot) and the Brits created a song to mock them.
Yet, the strategy ultimately backfired. The Americans, rather than rale against the mockery, embraced the song, ultimately transforming it into the patriotic diddy we all know and love.
“Doodle”
“Squash”
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Yankee Doodle
gDGBD (dADF#A) tuning, Brainjo level 3
Notes on the Tab
In this arrangement, what I play while singing is essentially the same as what I play during the “solo” parts. As such, there is no separate vocal and lead break arrangement.
Notes in parentheses are “skip” notes – to learn more about skips and syncopated skips, check out my video lesson on the subject.
For more on reading tabs in general, check out this complete guide to reading banjo tabs.
PRIOR SONG OF THE WEEK EPISODES
- Episode 1: “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow”
- Episode 2: “Gumtree Canoe”
- Episode 3: “Crawdad Hole”
- Episode 4: “Oh Susanna”
- Episode 5: “Freight Train”
- Episode 6: “Grandfather’s Clock”
- Episode 7: “Hop High Lulu”
- Episode 8: “Been All Around This World”
- Episode 9: “I’ll Fly Away”
- Episode 10: “Leaving Home”
- Episode 11: “Poor Orphan Child”
- Episode 12: “Mr. Tambourine Man”
- Episode 13: “Swanee River”
- Episode 14: “Big Sciota”
- Episode 15: “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”
- Episode 16: “Darling Corey”
- Episode 17: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
- Episode 18: “America the Beautiful”
- Episode 19: “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”
- Episode 20: “Way Out There”
- Episode 21: “New Slang”
- Episode 22: “I Saw the Light”
- Episode 23: “Amazing Grace”
- Episode 24: “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Level 2 arrangements and video demos for the Tune (and Song!) of the Week tunes are now available as part of the Breakthrough Banjo course.
View the Brainjo Course Catalog
