Shave and a Haircut (Two Bits)

[RedRec]

Has anyone heard of this? It's a tune (which we would all recognise) but I have never heard it called that! Just stumbled across it today. Apparently very well known?

I'd never heard of it.
But I just looked it up on YouTube and listened to it and I do recognise the rhythm.

I think it may be an American thing.

Heard it on The Good Old Days on tv which I love!

Yes. Thirty years ago a manager had it as his message alert tone.

De de dedede de de

Wasn't it in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Yes!

It’s shorthand for music. When you’re telling the musicians what you want to punctuate your comedy show.

To mark the punchlines.

Yes, I thought that is what it was called.

Yes I knew that.

In Italy it’s
“Ammazza la vecchia col Flit!” (Kill the old woman with fly spray, maybe a post-war advertising jingle)
You only need the first 4 notes of a scale to play it
Fa do do re do Mi FA.

So maybe it’s something a non musician would play on a piano.

Its mentioned in " Blue Hawaii" 1950s film too, so older than Roger Rabbit, no idea what it is though

Yes, I know it as a door knock rhythm.

It was used by the Judge to 'out' Roger Rabbit from his hiding place