Time Signature? Statue of a Fool

Bill Bassett · From: Papamoa New Zealand

I'm not a drummer and usually just resort to sounding out rhythms and beats but I want to get this one right technically speaking do I can tell the drummer, whom I do not know yet, just what I want.

I would call Statue Of A Fool a 2/4 triplet. Others might say 6/8. I can hammer it out by slapping my knees but that just makes me look, well, foolish.

Thanks guys.

B.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i think 6/8.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

The composer, Jan Crutchfield, wrote it in 4/4.

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Jack Greene's version sounds like common time to me.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
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Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

All the bands I've been in did it in what I'd call 6/8. A couple of bass players I've played with and respect musically have spoken of this tune, and others, as being in 12/8.

The signature chromatic walk-down lick from I to bVI thus comes off as "4 against 6". (POLL: Does your band walk back UP as 4 against 6 also, or not?)

I've actually never heard Jack Greene's version, though I've been playing this tune in bands for decades. As far as I'm concerned, it goes however the person/band that's paying me wants it to go.

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Edited.

Jeff Scott Brown · From: O'Fallon Missouri, USA

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Edited.

Jeff Scott Brown · From: O'Fallon Missouri, USA

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

It's 6/8. My mistake.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

In a band situation I've always called for "triplets" to the drummer for that song. On my drum machine the beat is called "Rock Ballad"...JH in Va.
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Bill Bassett · From: Papamoa New Zealand

I just hollered out, triplets, like unchained medley. Someone replied, oh, 6/8. It came off perfectly.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yeah, chris - the drummer's doin' 6/8 with triplets on Jack Greene's version. But it is easy to switch this to 4/4. Just skip the triplets. I think the original was written for 4/4, as stated earlier. But I definitely prefer the 6/8 feel that Jack set the standard for. Still - both work just fine.

Here's David Ruffin's version from the mid-70s in common time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-hmjM5Nt-k

I'm gonna argue that, except for certain feel/arrangement distinctions, old-school country music and old-school soul music are very closely related. Very melodic, laid back, and cool - I love playing them both, on guitar, slide guitar, or pedal steel.

Getting these kind of distinctions in feel and rhythm is why I started playing drums a couple of years ago. I'm never gonna be a 'great', or even 'good', drummer, but it's helping me feel things better.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

that was an interesting listen dave. i've never heard that version.
alot of tunes like this and crazy and many others get pretty bastardized in the years of barroom play. they end up with excessive walkdowns, punches and passing chords that weren't in the originals. to the point that i cringe cause you're not sure what the guitar and others are going to do, but you know you'll get left out on the edge somewhere trying to outguess everyone.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Ruffin's version is kinda cool in it's own way, but...
The comments on YouTube are going on about how he's the writer and he wrote it when he was 18.
Wasn't it written by Jan Crutchfield?

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yes, written by Jan Crutchfield. Ruffin claimed authorship on his release - he said in various places that he wrote it when he was 18 (50s). But BMI lists Crutchfield as the writer: BMI Listing URL. I have no reason to doubt that.

Leon Grizzard · From: Austin, Texas, USA

The song, meaning the melody, is in 4/4 but the accompaniment is played with a 12/8 feel. I think a lot of players will say it's in 12/8, to convey the triplet feel of the (usually) piano and drums. The bass isn't playing 12/8.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

c'mon,the common thought about it is 6/8... with noted variations. how long are we going to beat this one back and forth?

how many more 'really smart musicians' are going to waste more space on a pretty unimportant issue?
this seems to go on alot around here.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Hey Chris this is about music, and actually is pretty interesting - more interesting than commiserating about the badness of new country music that's for sure. When I tossed the question to a well-schooled musician I know he came back with 12/8, or some might say 4/4 with swung 8ths.

Bill Bassett · From: Papamoa New Zealand

Now you see why I asked in the first place. Thanks for all the good responses. Skip Edwards actually played with me at the SWSGA show last week. So Skip, what did we do it in anyway. Whatever it was, it came off just fine.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Thanks, Bill...
Out there in the real world we'd just say that's in 4 with a 6/8 feel.
And we really wouldn't even have to mention that it's in 4...

Franklin · Posted 22 Jan 2015 7:19 pm

Jack Greene's version is entirely in 4/4 time.....The intro starts on the third beat of a 4/4 measure.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i must be really dumb. i will need someone to illustrate this somehow to understand.
i'm sure you must be right, being you and all, but when i count it that way it just lies there flat.
so there's something i don't get about the feel.

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