Road to Columbus Tab - is there an error ?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/19/2008 12:05:37

The following question has been received from a Bluegrass College member. We are going to ask Matt Flinner to look into this.

I recently downloaded the song "Road to Columbus" for mandolin and
noticed a mistake in the tablature for advanced mandolin solo. I
was having trouble making the transition as written. I watched the
video, advanced left hand, and noticed that it wasn't being played
as written.
The measure is in the A section, Advanced solo, measure 17 (page 3).
The measure shows (tab. G string 2nd fret whole note, then A
string 4th/5th fret...going to the open "E string then back to A
string 9th fret", E String 5th fret...
The video shows matt going from the open E to the 2nd Fret E
string then to E string 5th Fret to the 7, 9997997 etc.
I hope this makes sense..
I figured it out but others might not. I just found that it made
it easier watching the video because the jump was a little
unnerving...or maybe I'm just lame...
If this doesn't make sense let me know.

Matt Flinner sent us the following reply, which helps to explain the original member's question ;

Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy on the mandolin part to "Road to Columbus." Either way you play it is fine; whether you use the 2nd fret on the 1st string or the 9th fret on the 2nd string, they're the same note. It depends on how you want to navigate your way up the neck. You've got a quarter note before getting up high---that gives you the time to play either the 2nd fret or 9th fret F# as you choose. Do whichever is most comfortable to you. The second time you play that phrase, however, in measure 53, I would suggest definitely playing it as written (on the 9th fret).