{"id":1820,"date":"2018-12-14T10:17:02","date_gmt":"2018-12-14T16:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplymandolin.com\/?p=1820"},"modified":"2023-01-28T10:48:08","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T16:48:08","slug":"big-john-mcneil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplymandolin.com\/flekd\/big-john-mcneil\/","title":{"rendered":"Big John McNeil"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Scottish piper (not Big John).<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Big John McNeil”<\/strong> is an old Scottish dance tune. Peter Milne (1824-1908), a well known dance music composer and fiddler, wrote the melody. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was apparently  inspired by a Scottish dancer named John McNeil. The tune is also sometimes called “Lord Ramsey” (or “Lord Ramsey’s”).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newsletter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Tune<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This melody is commonly played in A major, which is what I’ve got here. It’s played A-A-B-B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘A’ part may be a good finger stretcher for some, but the ‘B’ part lays out on the first two strings, and flows well under the fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to “Big John McNeil<\/strong>” for mandolin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big John McNeil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mandolin tab for the Scottish tune “Big John Mcneil”.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Downloads:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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*<\/a>Tab & Music<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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*<\/a>Just the Tab<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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*<\/a>Just the Music<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Keeping it Simple<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I also tried setting this tune in the key of ‘G’, which got rid of that 2-4-6 finger stretch on the 4th string, but I just didn’t feel the second part flowed as well. So, it stayed in the key of ‘A’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, that can be a tricky little passage if you’re lifting your fingers and bouncing around on those low strings, trying to reach the right notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first three bars, you can pretty much keep your index and ring fingers planted (2nd fret E-string, 6th fret G-string), and just bring down your middle finger when you need that F#.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you enjoy playing “Big John McNeil”.
Please feel free to leave comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Don’t Miss a Beat!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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