For the future if it would be possible, I would like to see a blackjack arrangement. It’s a very catchy tune, with both high and low movements. or if anybody knows of a tab they can direct me to.
Blackjack request
Seanray.com has a session book that is very good and includes blackjack. I think Jim Mills also did it on one of his albums, not sure if there is a tab book of it. Maybe Banjohangout has it? If it is a copyrighted song, I doubt Banjo Ben will do a lesson on it, but I’m not sure. It is a great tune.
As a side note, I was thinking after my above response to your post….many of the “copyrighted” songs can be figured out without too much trouble when compared to standard songs. For example, Train 45 is very similar to FoggyMountain Breakdown, just play in G instead of B, and add in the E minor and you’re almost there. If I remember correctly, the high part of Blackjack is mainly in the 8th fret area with a F chord at the 6th fret. It sounds kind of like SallyGoodin to me. Anyway just some thoughts, good luck in getting it down.
This site says it was written by JD Crowe (I did not know that.) So, it’s definitely under copyright.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluegrass/comments/1lbawut/black_jack/
There’s a link to a Patreon site in the video that says it has all the resources you need.
That’s all I have to do! Just create a Patreon page and break all the copyright laws I want 
thanks for all the help, didn’t even think of the hangout.
Yeah, as an author who has had my copyrighted books pirated, I totally understand the frustration that it brings when your work is stolen and given away or worse sold and others profit. But as a musician, I also understand the educational side of learning from others work without trying to make a profit. I know this puts Banjo Ben and other online teachers in a tough situation. I don’t know if there is a balance, for example I remember buying some “in the style of” music books that would teach a song that was similar in structure to a copyrighted tune and call it by a different name, like Fuzzy Mountain Beatdown instead of Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Maybe the song mentioned the E minor chord but left it out of the example. I’m not a copyright lawyer, so I’m not sure where the line gets drawn and don’t want anyone to get in a jackpot, just tossing out my thoughts.
Those kinds of books are illegal if challenged in court. Folks are hiding behind the Patreon shield, with the intent of making profit, and I suspect some publishers are going to get together fairly soon and do a class action suit with Patreon.
I guess like anything, there are people who work hard to create, be productive, and do the right thing and there are people who find ways to circumvent the system and profit from others hard work.
It all boils down to morals. Either you are honest and have them or you are dishonest and you don’t. Look around you for examples of both at the highest levels of society. ![]()
In the early 2000’s, around 2001, I worked at a small private college as an administrator, in finance and accounting. That was when the Napster app was afoot, and many folks were downloading pirated creative works, especially music, including some of the students at the college. In one of our joint administrator meetings with the college president, this was discussed, and how to address it. In the discussion, some of the administrators were using soft language and as such, were not very serious about it. I didn’t like that, and then said it is thievery, it is stealing. After a few more minutes of discussion, it was decided that the academic dean would give an address, a speech, at the next day’s daily gathering that all students attend. Later that day, that dean emailed the other administrators a draft of the speech, asking for feedback, and it focused on the legal issues. I emailed back that the students’ eyes would glaze over and tune out. I said, in my opinion, he should focus on the moral aspect, make the moral case using simple language. Well, he did take the advice, and it was effective. The students were generally good people, and needed nudging to realize what it was.
I think the law makes it extremely complicated. I want to pay folks to teach their stuff, but it’s essentially impossible. Because most all my competition does it, it makes it hard to compete, but I have to do the right thing.
To me, it even bothers me to advertise a lesson (that I profit from) using someone’s name/style, like “Learn these Ron Block licks!”. I’ve talked with Ron about this and asked if folks compensated him–he said “no.” I told him that I may teach some of his style one day, using his name, but before I do so I’d work out a deal with him to compensate him in some way. I don’t think I’m legally required to do that, but it sure seems like the right thing to do, especially when the player is still living and active.
I saw an ad the other day advertising Ron’s “Cluck Old Hen” solo. It said “wanna learn this? Come over to my Patreon and join and I’ll send you the tab!” I don’t understand how someone can be ok with making money off of someone else’s, not only style, but the actual solo he played. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of it in some way or another, but I really try not to use other folks to sell my stuff. When I do, you can bet there’s compensation happening in the background.
This reminds me a bit of how Weird Al approaches his parodies. Apparently parodies are protected under the law (I don’t know that to be a fact) but Al always works something out with the original artists or he won’t do the song. It’s why he never made a parody of any Prince songs.
I’ve heard he gained a lot of respect in the recording community for that.
Yes, he would have to pay royalties to the writers of the original song, but not required to pay royalties to the person who recorded the song and made it famous.
I do believe Hal Leonord enforce their copyright’s for TAB’s and Sheet Music they publish. I have to confess, over the years I have learned from lots of books & videos where big named authors/teachers have claimed their materials are in the style of Scruggs, Stanley, JD Crowe and Sonny Osborne.
Are these folks paying royalties, I wonder.
Not to take this thread further off topic, but I see that people are all upset with Fender because they are going after other guitar builders for copyright infringement.