[Dixielandjazz] Twinkle, Twinkle ... Knock, Knock

[Bill Gunter]

Hi Bob Smith,

Interesting post on the "Barber Song" as you called it. (the old "shave and 
a haircut")

In Morse Code, the slant sign is rendered thusly:  Dah dit dit Dah dit  ( _ 
. . _ . ) and the letter "M" is rendered: Dah Dah ( _ _ ).  So the code for 
" / M " is "Dah dit dit Day dit (pause) Dah Dah!"

But that's just the beginning of the matter.  The whole concept of tension 
and resolution may be found in the "shave and a haircut" phrase.  It's sort 
of a microcosm of the blues. The chord progression (in the key of C) is:

C  C  C  F  C / - G7 C

These are the basic chords and in the same sequence (though not time wise) 
as the twelve bar blues, arguably the root of most jazz as we know it.

The addition of the seventh in the G7 chord adds a certain tension to the 
progression which is then resolved by the statement of the final C chord.

For a test of this thesis, you might try just singing the following:  "Shave 
and a haircut, six . . ." - don't sing the final word "bits" - just let it 
hang.  If your entire being doesn't crave that final C chord you are 
probably dead.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "What the hell do I know, I play washboard" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com


>From: "Robert Smith" <robert.smith at mitransport.no>
>To: "Dixieland Jazz" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Twinkle, Twinkle ... Knock, Knock
>Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2005 19:07:01 +0200
>
>The Barber's song I only know as a melody, viz.
>
>    C     G    G    A    G     B   C
>Dah Dit Dit Dah Dit, Dit Dit
>
>I've heard this often both in the UK and in Norway, but never heard any 
>words.
>
>Cheers
>
>Bob Smith
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