Your "I sound like Krap" days? I feel like I work and work, take a break, come back, it clicks. So I'm psyched. Then I pick up the banjo the next day and it's as if I've never held the thing before. Do others experience this?
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Do your "Big Breakthrough" days tend to be followed by
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Hammer on to non complementary chord
Hi, First post, here goes.
I have found that for myself it often seems to work better if when I hammer on to a note that I fret a chord that contains the note and is complementary to the key.
For example I downloaded the tab for Wendy Holman's arrangement of Keep On The Sunny Side. In the first measure of the chorus she hammers-on to an "E" on the first string and follows with a strum. The "E" is discordant with the "G" chord strum. As the "E" is part of the "C" chord which is also complementary to the key, I effect the hammer-on by fretting the full "C" chord. The strum on the "C" chord then sounds to me to be in accord with the tune.
In the third measure of the chorus the hammer on to "E" on the third string whilst fretting a "C" chord feels odd so I hammer-on to a "D7" which contains the note and is complementary to the key and strum this chord. Sounds OK to me!
Am I setting myself up for difficulties down the line by taking this approach?
Not a lot of frailers down here in Australia so not lots of people to talk to. Love the forum.
Thank you
Peter Davey
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Tunes in C
Do you play C tunes in double C or an open C tuning like maybe gCGCE?
I want to learn the tune "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia" which sounds a lot like another tune I want to learn "Streak of Fat, Streak of Lean". Seems like both are in the key of C.
I can pick the melody out in standard G tuning but was wondering what else works well for C tunes?
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Tunes Anyone Going to Clifftop Should Know
I realize that Clifftop is kind of still a long way away, but this will be my first year going (if all goes well) and I want to make sure I'm prepared. So I thought I'd ask my fellow Hangout members: What are the tunes that everyone hoping to jam at Clifftop should have in their arsenal? The bread and butter tunes, if you will.
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Big hands, big...fingerboard?
I have big hands. On the plus side, notes up the neck are no problem to reach. On the downside, the intricate movements of drop-thumbing aren't coming at all easily (I've only been playing 5 months) Then I got a fretless banjo with a nut width of 1 3/8" and top and bottom strings 1 11/16" apart at the bridge - what a difference! It struck me that the narrowly spaced strings of the average banjo are more suited to bluegrass, where the hand is anchored and just the fingers make small movements. In clawhammer, the whole hand and arm move, and so a bit more distance between the strings seems logical.
Is this a common problem? Also - any recommendations for banjos with wide fingerboards (fretted or fretless)?
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New player
Greetings all
I've been lurking for months and having a blast soaking up the knowledge here. Glad I found the site. I'm about a week away from receiving my first banjo a gold tone mm150. I really like the old time frailing clawhammer style.
I wanted to know what are the must have albums/records to look for to really get to know the music?
So far I've found a few things but I'd like to get some ideas. This is for listening at this stage. Currently listening to Hobart Smith
I did find this thread search is a wonderful thing. http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/100396
But if you have anything. Ot on the old thread please feel free to add
Thanks
Bill
I've been lurking for months and having a blast soaking up the knowledge here. Glad I found the site. I'm about a week away from receiving my first banjo a gold tone mm150. I really like the old time frailing clawhammer style.
I wanted to know what are the must have albums/records to look for to really get to know the music?
So far I've found a few things but I'd like to get some ideas. This is for listening at this stage. Currently listening to Hobart Smith
I did find this thread search is a wonderful thing. http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/100396
But if you have anything. Ot on the old thread please feel free to add
Thanks
Bill
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Having trouble with simultaneous slide & 5th string thumb
Hi Folks,
I recently got Brad Leftwich's great book on the round peak style. I'm enjoying it, but there's one thing that's really throwing me off. As the title suggests, in most of his tab's Brad has you striking the open 5th with your thumb as you simultaneously play the second note of your slide. I've always just come across the slide by itself. I'm finding this very awkward and difficult to pull off correctly.
Has anyone else had difficulty with this? Is it just a matter practice and getting used to it? (I kind of assume it is). Any tips or tricks on this technique? Thanks!
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A and B part variation
Just been working out a clawhammer version of 'Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms' in double C capoed up to double D and I wondered what advice there is when playing tunes where the A and B parts are the same. Should I just throw in some slight variations? Hammer-on instead of a slide? My A part stays pretty much up around second fret. I could drop down to first string fifth fret in the B part.
I'm interested to hear what others like to do.
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Key of D (or A) - Use a Capo or Tune Up a Tone??
As a newbie, I'm wanting to know the following.
When changing from Double C tuning to the key of D (or from open G to key of A), do you tune to C (or G), and then use a capo at 2nd fret and for the 5th string use the railroad spike 2 frets above the open position?
Or do you just tune up -- tighten all strings to raise overall tuning to one tone higher?
I'm wondering about the effect on the tone of the either method, as well as the structural safety of the increasing the tension of the strings associated with tuning up a full tone across the board.
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Faking it?
The topic on tunes to know for Clifftop, got me thinking: I'm going to a folk festival on my side of the Atlantic ocean, (I know it's a long shot, but Holmfirth Folk Festival anyone?) and of course, banjo will be in tow, I've making a definite effort to expand my repertoire of tunes, but does anyone have any advice for what to do if you don't know a tune? I have a pretty good ear and I know theory quite well, and I don't want to have to sit out for hours on end because I don't know the tune back to front.
Any thoughts?
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new to clawhammer
Lord I love the sound of clawhammer-so just ordered bob carlin's package of #1 & #2-did I do the right thing--since there's lots of free stuff on rocket science banjo???
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Help with the metronome
I don't think I'm necessarily bad at keeping the time right, still I understand that an important part of learning to play is being able to practice using the metronome or, at least, tapping with my feet and count, but I seem to be absolutely unable to do any of the above. I just can't concentrate in watching my right hand technique and remembering what strings to strike and watch the metronome at the same time.
Does anybody have a tip for this?
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Pain in left thumb
My left thumb is aching from practicing. I'm sure it's because my hand position is not right. How could I correct this? Does anyone have any tips to help me correct this?
Many thanks!
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Sliding around
Please help this fretless virgin! Are there any instruction books around that focus on the sounds you can get from the fretless banjo, especially the slides - both up and down the fingerboard? The Leftwich (Round Peak) book is excellent. Are there any others? This is the sort of sound I love: http://www.romerobanjos.com/assets/sounds/B08140b.mp3
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TOTW 4/27/12 - Barlow Knife
Up for discussion for this weeks TOTW is Barlow Knife, which in my opinion has one of the most beautiful melodies. I never get tired of playing the "A" part especially.
Chances are most of you know the song already and play it on a regular basis. Before joining the Hangout a little over a year ago, I had never heard of the song and also did not know what a Barlow Knife was.
What is a barlow knife? In case you didn't know, here's a brief history on the knife itself from http://www.barlow-knives.com/history.htm
A barlow style knife has one or two blades, a huge metal bolster, and a comfortable tear-drop shaped handle. The blade or blades are attached at the small end of the handle. Even though the first barlow knife was made in Sheffield England in the 1600's, it was made by several American shops soon after, and has become just as American as "apple pie". George Washington was known to have a barlow knife. Mark Twain referred to a "real Barlow" in his Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in 1876. Barlows have long been gifts, treasured by young American boys.
Do yourself a favor and check out this article. It's taken from "Popular Science" magazine in December 1920 where they had an ad for a barlow knife. Really neat story. http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/03/every-boy-around-practically-carried.html
As far as the song Barlow Knife, it seems to be traditionally played out of the key of G although I did find one on the hangout in the key of C.
I have attached my take on Barlow Knife that I recorded a few months ago. It includes clawhammer banjo and a Larrivee parlor guitar that is "high-strung."
From the fiddler's companion:
Glen Lyn, Virginia, fiddler Henry Reed called the tune “Cabin Creek,” and fiddle players have tended to use that title (banjo players more frequently refer to it as “Barlow Knife”). Jeff Titon (2001) says a variant of the tune is “I’ve Got a Grandpa,” and Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas played another variant under the title “Blue Goose.” Mark Wilson reports that it was called “Boatin’ Up Sandy” (somewhat of a floating title—it has been attached to several tunes) in the Portsmouth, Ohio, region. Titon concludes that the tune was fairly widespread in the South under the “Barlow” title and variants.
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Nigel Gatherer has found melodic strains similar to “Barlow Knife” in two old Scottish manuscripts. The earliest, the Straloch MS. (1627) contains a tune called “The Old Man,” while the second, the Skene MS (c. 1640) has a more developed version under the title “Long Er Onie Old Man.”
Here are a few versions that I enjoy:
Fuzzy Mountain String Band -
blanham's version from Miles Krassen's book
Don Borchelt from Clifftop 2009
Here is some sheet music if you like that kind of thing 
Finally, here are some lyrics:
I been livin' here all my life,
All I got is a Barlow Knife;
Buck horn handle and a Barlow blade,
Best dang knife that ever was made.
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I’ve been married all my life,
And all I’ve got is a Barlow knife.
Looking forward to hearing some more versions posted on the Hangout this week. Record something and share it with us!!!
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Me and Bobby McGee Chord Question
Hi All. I found a nice version of Me and Bobby McGee in the key of C. I'm tuned for standard G (gDGBD) and in the second verse there is a change from C to C7, but in that tuning doesn't seem to be working that well for me. I have played around with it, and my feel is that I would like a "bluesy" sound in there for a measure or so before changing to F. Any suggestions as to some fingerings to try?
Thanks,
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? for folks who play out live
I have been invited to play out live at an oldtime real steam engine show . I'am playing inside their craft building where other venders will be selling their goods . I went out and bought a Kustom PW50 PA and already had some mics and mic stands and cables from my recording studio . I'am playin for free , however they are going to allow me to sell my CD's with a 10% donation to them . The show runs from 9am to about 5-6 pm . There is no way I know that many songs tp play that long . I have about 20 songs to memory for the banjo and if I take my guitar know about 5 oldtime songs . I was going to play a couple of songs and then play my CD's through the PA and alternate . Maybe stretching it out to about three hours ? In my younger days I played out live in a rock band but would like to get into playing solo with my banjo . Any advice from you guys who play out live ?
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Miles Krassens Jack Gillie TAB
hello to all,, I have recently started working through this Clawhammer book. For the old jack gillie tab there are parts; A,,B,,B1,,and A1,,In the text before the tab he explains that part A1 is a variation of the original A part. So my question is what about the part labeled B1?
Is this part to be played after the B part? I don't think its a variation of the normal B part. Forgive me if this sounds a basic question but ive not been playing long and would assume that it would be labeled part C if it was a different part..If any of you could help un-confuse me i would be grateful.
Cheers and all the best..
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week 2 Banjo player
So it's been 1 week of practicing the clawhammer BUM DITY. It feels more natural now.
Should I concentrate on targeting the different strings ? 1 st 2nd 3rd and 4th . You know , the BUM before the DITY.
I have been practicing my left hand chord transitions as well. Well C and D-7 anyway. Two nights ago I felt like I had made great headway. Last night I felt like I was strumming with a frozen chicken wing. It had been a long day and I was forcing the practice.
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What music to acquire?
There have been good threads in the past on this, and I just can't find them. I am looking to expand my music collection; I have very little CH banjo music. Tell me your favorites, some old, some new.
Sarah
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