Diddie Wah Diddie 1 -Basic Instruction
My basic Instructions on playing this song
Acoustic Country-Blues and Ragtime Guitar
This is a short lesson into playing in the style of Blind Blake.
Story behind the song
I was asked by someone at GTU for a few tips on how to start playing this tune and so I gave some.
Lyrics
DIDDIE WA DIDDIE
By Blind Blake (Arthur Phelps Blake)
There's a great big mystery
And it sure is worryin' me.
This Diddie Wa Diddie
This Diddie Wa Diddie
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
This little girl 'bout four feet four (say)
"Come on, Papa, give me some more
Of your Diddie Wa Diddie
Your Diddy Wa Diddie."
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
I went out an' walked around
Somebody yelled "Jus' look who's in town."
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
(Instrumental Break)
I went to church, put my hand on the seat
Lady sat on it, said "Daddy, you sure is sweet."
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie
Mister Diddie Wa Didie
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
(Instrumental Break)
I said "Sisiter, I'll soon be gone.
Jus' gimmee that thing you sittin' on."
My Diddy Wa Diddie
My Diddie Wa Diddie
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
(Instrumental Break)
Then I got put out of church
'Cause I talked 'bout Diddie Wa Diddie too much.
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie
My Diddie Wa Diddie
I wish somebody'd tell me what Diddie Wa Diddie means.
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Basic Chord Progression (Key of C)
[C]There's a [G7 to G]great big [C]mystery
And it [G7 to G]sure is [C7]worryin' me.
This [F]Diddie Wa Diddie
This [C]Diddie Wa Diddie
I wish [G7 and G]somebody'd tell me what *[Ab7]Diddie Wa [G7]Diddie [C]means [F][C]
*(On this last line the A#7-change may be omitted in a verse and that entire
six note line can be played within the G-chord instead using...
Thumb on 6-strng/3rd-frt, 6-string->-0-1-2-3--3-2-1-0- and then into the C-chord.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I know three very similar ways to play it. Blind Blake's original version,
John Jackson's version as he taught it to me, and the way I typically will
play it myself. There's not a lot of difference between any of them and in
most cases licks and pieces from any of them can be used interchangeably
in any of them. I steal licks from both, add a few of my own, even a few
things from other Blake-tunes (or Jackson or Fuller or whoever tunes) in
the Key of C and throw them in wherever they feel good. Just an improv
based on the original and slightly adapted to my own style. For the sake
of giving a better feel for the tune as a whole, I'll do a round similar
to how both Blake and Jackson played it and then several rounds of how I
might play it.
