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| Baker’s Breakdown |
| Baker’s Breakdown |
Bill Monroe composed “Baker’s Breakdown” in the early 1960s at about the same time he wrote (or co-wrote with Kenny Baker) “Big Sandy River,” and this perky instrumental was part of the 1962 Decca sessions that produced Bluegrass Special! With an AABB format, the tune is in the key of G for the first two A parts and then modulates to the key of D for the two B parts. The second B has an unresolved feel, so it’s common to return to a single A part at the end of the final pass through the melody. Mike says it’s got a traditional sound that is reminiscent of old favorites like “Flop-Eared Mule” and Arthur Smith’s “Fiddler’s Dream.” On the recording, Monroe split two solos with the banjo, the banjo playing the A parts and Monroe the B parts in both instances. For the purposes of giving you a complete tune to play, Mike does an interpretation of what Monroe might have played for the A parts of the tune. Monroe’s solo makes good use of long notes and slides to set up the following passages. Listen for arpeggiated phrases over the V chord and Georgia-shuffle figures sprinkled throughout by both Baker and Monroe.
| “Baker’s Breakdown” Notation/Tab (Available to subscribers) |
