A Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Webzine
December 2008 · Bimonthly
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In this issue: Building a Traditional Tune Repertoire: Shove That Pigs Foot A Little Closer To The Fire | Breaking Up Christmas | In the Mode | Beginning Irish Mandolin | Interview: Lynn Dudenbostel | Auld Lang Syne
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Breaking Up Christmasby Seth Austen For this holiday issue of Mandolin Sessions, we're going to play Breaking Up Christmas. This is a classic old time fiddle tune, recorded by Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerman, as well as many other artists. Many old time fiddlers play this in cross tuning. I really enjoy using cross tunings on mandolin, so we'll take this opportunity to try one of these tunings together. This tune is in the key of A, and uses AEAE, low to high. This is one of the most used open tunings, and is sometimes called sawmill tuning. Some players tune down to GDGD. I generally do this, preferring the archaic sound of the lower tuning. Either way the fingering is exactly the same, it just sounds in key of G instead of A. Cross tunings make it particularly easy to use double stops or drones. I didn't notate where to add the double stops, however the entire tune can be played with open strings droning either below or above the melody. Add them in wherever it sounds good to you. I sometimes start a measure or phrase with a full open strummed chord, and let it ring through while playing the melody. One variation I often do is to slide up to the seventh fret E on the A string with my 4th finger, and play that note in unison with the open E. Here's an example. I don't play it every single time, but use it to increase the impact of that note when wanted. 
In the first phrase of the B part I play the open A string. As a variation I sometimes play that same note at the 5th fret of the D string. Measure 9 uses the open A, and I wrote the variation in measure 13. You can mix it up however you wish. There are a number of other slight variations to the melody. I didn't write them all in, but played some of them on the recording so that you can hear them. Some people play the two parts reversed, so the B part happens first, followed by the A. I've included the lyrics; these are sung to the B part. I hope you enjoy playing Breaking Up Christmas. Happy Holidays! Hoo’ray Jake and Hoo’ray John, Way back yonder a long time ago Way down yonder alongside the creek Santa Claus come, done and gone, Seth Austen [ top ]
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