A little bit of cyber-digging will make clear that there are some things about the origins of this week’s tune that we still don’t know, and may never know.
That said, here are some of the things I think we can be reasonably certain of:
1) Quince Dillon was a confederate soldier and fifer.
2) Fiddler Henry Reed got the tune from Quince. Whether Mr. Dillon also composed it appears to be unknown.
3) It’s a very cool tune.
4) Playing this tune – in particular that “high D” note in the A part which, let’s face it, you HAVE to nail – is much less stressful on a fretted instrument (fiddlers may jokingly refer to this as “Quince Dillon’s High E, or High C,” etc. – an allusion to the difficulty in nailing that big jump up the fingerboard on a fretless instrument..).
Furthermore, with both that big two octave stretch in the A part and the use of the C chord, this tune seems intent on reminding you that it’s not your ordinary fiddle tune.
Which, of course, is a big part of its charm!
Speaking of that C chord, which you may have never had an occasion to play out of “double D” tuning, here’s what that shape looks like:
I tend to keep my hand in this shape in the 19th and 20th measures for ease of pickery.
Quince Dillon’s High D
aDADE tuning, Brainjo level 3-4
Notes on the tab
Notes in parentheses are “skip” notes. To learn more about these, check out my [free] video lesson on the subject.
For more on reading tabs in general, check out my complete guide on reading banjo tabs.
Harry Stewart says
August 29, 2015 at 12:57 amLike the sound of this song. But I’m not up to level 3 or 4.
Little over my head. But might be good practice.
Harry
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 11:22 amYeah, see what you think – you can always revisit it later. Also, I’ll having slightly simpler arrangements of these tunes out soon.
myles says
August 29, 2015 at 4:18 amgreat song. I’ll give it a try!
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 11:21 amHave fun with it!
Joe says
August 29, 2015 at 5:38 pmNice tune. Is it Quince Dillon’s or Quince Dillion’s?
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 11:20 amThanks, Joe. I’ve only seen it as Dillon.
Rainier says
August 29, 2015 at 11:36 pmThere are many versions of this well-known tune, but I guess this one is the best I’ ve ever played. Yet another great tab from you—great to listen to, fun to play. Thanks for this Josh!
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 11:20 amThanks, Rainier – my secret is to only play great tunes! 🙂
AJ says
August 30, 2015 at 1:18 pmGreat tune Josh. There are several versions & the one
I play is in “D” ! I will have to give you’re “A” version a try.
There is a whole history behind Quince Dillon’s tune. And it is the history behind the many tunes of old time style that keeps me motivated to learn more!
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 2:26 pmThanks, AJ (this one is in “D” as well – aDADE, or “double D” tuning).
I agree about the history – adds yet another dimension to it.
steve christopher says
August 30, 2015 at 2:11 pmJosh, I love this tuning. do you break any strings going back and forth?
Josh says
August 30, 2015 at 2:27 pmHey Steve – nope, haven’t had any issues with string breakage (generally speaking, I think it’s fine to tune up to aDADE or aEAC#E tuning if your playing a modern, steel strung banjo). I’m using D’Addario lights for my strings, btw.
Steve says
August 30, 2015 at 6:16 pmJosh
Really enjoy the tunes of the week. Have saved them all and learned a lot. Sure you get plenty of requests so here’s a few more:
How about a few C tunes. Always liked your version of Billy in the Low Ground or how about Pikes Peak or Tennessee Mountain Fox Chase(it’s got barking dogs in the B part!).
There’s also an A tune called Redbird that I’ve been trying to figure out and would make a good Tune of the Week.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Steve
Josh says
September 5, 2015 at 3:26 pmThanks, Steve – some good recommendations!
mark says
September 1, 2015 at 3:55 amJosh, Great job as usual. You lessons challenge me to pick up the pace…
Check out this kids version
myles says
September 3, 2015 at 1:37 amI have seen some youtube vids of this young man picking and he is impressive.
Joshua White says
July 11, 2016 at 11:09 pmGreat song! I’m sure I’m just being dense, but I have a question. I understand that the “1” in a circle is an alternate string pull off, and the “2” in a circle is an alternate string hammer-on, but what is the “3” in a circle?
Thanks!
Josh says
July 12, 2016 at 12:15 pmNot being dense at all!
So, anytime you see a circled number underneath the tab, it means that the corresponding note should be played by the fretting hand, EITHER as an alternate string pull off or hammer on (typically a pull off if the string is higher in pitch, a hammer on if the string is lower in pitch).
The number in the circle refers to the FINGER I typically use to execute the technique in that arrangement – so a “1” refers to the index, a “2” refers to the middle, a “3” to the ring, a “4” to the pinky.
Make sense?
Joshua White says
July 13, 2016 at 12:25 pmMakes perfect sense, thank you so much for the reply!