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..

Diagrams for playing Ma-Ma FC

Note: Each of these diagrams is in 12 string matched reciprocal tuning. It will have link to a .fbjson file that you can download and then use in conjunction with Fretboard diagammer web app You can read the file into it and change the tuning in the tuning configuration drop down and it will make a (simple minded) try at converting it.

By Section Diagrams

Key Signature

The song is in Bb Major, with the flavor being that of F Mixolydian, the fith mode of Bb Major. Here's a sort of heat map of the fretboard where you will usually be hitting notes.

.fbjson file

The corresponding MuseScore score

Song structure

The riff sequence as laid out in the musescore goes as follows

intro (optional) A A BX CX BX CX D1 D1 A BX CX D1 D2 D2 E E A outro

Intro

A video discussing the Intro to the song as well as some suggestions for improvisation during the intro.

Bars 1-2

.fbjson file

Bars 3-4

.fbjson file

Section A

This is the main backing riff for the song. this pattern is repeated each bar. If you play this as a duo you will play the riff throughout with embellishments on the melody side. You can play the low F instead of the Low C every 4 or 8 measures.

Once you are comfortable playing the basic 4 note riff on the bass side try holding down your first finger sounding the first F while doing a pulloff tap on the G (thus sounding the G and the second F note) and then tapping the C

Here is a video about breaking down the right and left hand interplay for playing Section A.

.fbjson file

Section B

This is more a 4 bar rythmn than a Riff , Just one note Bb at it's core but you can mix a third above, a D for the last note in the bar with Bb. I typically do that on the 3rd bar. Note in the Musecscore that you alternate between the first and second finger when sounding the Bb (leading with the first)

Video for Section B and Section X.

.fbjson file