Here's a story with ten punchlines, and still no banjo!

Three notes, a C, an E-flat, and a G go into a bar. And the bartender says...

Punchline #1: "Sorry, but we don't serve minors."

So the E-flat leaves, which means...

Punchline #2: The C and the G have an open fifth between them.

But do you know what happened after they diminished that fifth?

No, what?

Punchline #3: The G was flat.

Just then an F comes into the bar and tries to augment this joke, but he can't.

Why not?

Punchline #4: Because he isn't sharp enough.

This is getting tiring.

Well, the bartender thought so too, because...

Punchline #5: He needed a rest before closing out the bar.

Is that all?

No, there's more. Just then a D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom. And do you know what he says?

No. What does he say?

Punchline #6: "Excuse me. I'll just be a second."

Then a loud foul-mouthed D-flat comes into the bar and also heads straight for the bathroom. Can you guess what he snarls?

No, what?

Punchline #7: "I'll just be a Phrygian second!"

That has to be the end of the joke. Right?

Wrong! Because just then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar. And do you know what he tells him?

No.

Punchline #8: "Get out right now! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."

Is that all?

No.

Why not?

Because that E-flat was a pretty clever note. He goes and gets his hair neatly trimmed and he returns to the bar in a spiffy three piece suit with nicely shined shoes. And the bartender says to him...

Punchline #9: "You're looking sharp tonight. Come on in!"

OK, I'm hooked. You can go ahead and tell me more.

Sorry, but I can't.

Why not?

Punchline #10: Because thinking up more punchlines is getting to be too much treble.