16 Tons

Travis’s reference to the coal miner truck system suggests peonage (sucks).  But the song is good.   The song was included in the Heritage Park Band’s Americana playlist last year.   I was working out the melody lines to songs for a “breakout” group of jammers to play on the Risa electric, so I included this one.  I based it on the melody line from the Daily Ukulele.  I included a pull-off, a bend, a hammer-on, a slide, and a double-stop to end the song. In that order.  I used Dani Joy’s mosey strum, so I fingerpicked the end instrumental.   The song is missing from the Folsom and Santa Cruz club collections, as far as I know.   The Monterey club was thrilled when I brought it there.  I composed the bass line in Logic Pro and used drums from its library.   I modified the drums so that the verses used the high-hat and the chorus used the cymbals.  Works for me, and I hope for you.