Ma-Ma FC

This page is a guide to learning Ma-Ma FC on a tapping instrument such as the Chapman Stick or the acoustic Dragonfly DFA.

There is a score/tablature, fretboard diagrams, and (to be done) youtube video instructions, that will help you along the way.

You don't need to know how to read music. In fact, you can get 90% of the way there just by watching the videos and referring to the Fretboard diagrams, and playing the song on the Musecore web page. The videos to go along with this piece are at this youtube playlist Ma-Ma FC tappetizer playlist

A bit of background about the piece

This is a Riff Oriented Piece similar in style to tradtional west african (e.g. Mali) music. It's in the Key of Bb Major. On the Melody side you may regard it as employing F Mixolydian (the 5th mode of Bb Major) in parts of the song (such as the intro).
Take a listen to a few versions of this piece. This version by the classical guitarist Derek Gripper is one of my favorites. Another duo version is Here

Musescore score with tabs

The Score (and tabs) to go along with the diagrams below is available Here Look for the ones with names that start with the Ma-Ma. This is the authoritative one which is for twelve string Matched reciprocal tuning

How to play loops on the musescore web site

Elemental Structure of the Piece

This Piece is a simple Motor played in the left hand with some simple melodic riffs played over the top. you'll see the Riffs are indicated with section markers in the Musecore/Tabs as [A] , [B], [C], etc..

Fretboard Diagrams

The diagrams that illustrate the piece