Key of A – aEAC#E
This week’s tunetorial celebrates the season. What better tune to use this week than Breakin Up Christmas! The tab for this can be found in Dan's book, “Kyle Creed – Clawhammer Banjo Master” (MelBay 22137) and in my Odlt Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo (MB 20313).
According to the Mt. Airy News, December 24. 2013, “Across northwestern North Carolina and southwestern Virginia, prior to World War II, in many old cabins and homeplaces tucked in the mountains and foothills, there was a Christmas spirit that continued after Christmas Day ended.
The spirit of celebration led up to Epiphany or Old Christmas, and filled homes with music, friends, food, and dancing — an ongoing celebration traveling from house to house that lasted until Jan. 6, also known as Epiphany or Old Christmas.
This tradition is known as Breaking Up Christmas…”
Dan has also included a “Galax Lick” breakdown and review so you can use it in this tune.
Dan has SO many recordings of this one in his collection that he hesitates to pick a favorite. Kyle Creed is always a good one to listen to, but Benton Flippen, Fred Cockerham, Gred Hooven, The Rhythm Rats, - we could go on – are all great versions of this old time standard.
Play it as any of these folks did, or as you like, as long as you play “Breakin’ up Christmas all night long!”
Enjoy these tunes and your Holiday season folks.
You can purchase the video lesson (for unlimited streaming and download) here on the Banjo Hangout for $6.
Dan and I would love to hear any feedback you have on these videos, so feel free to post or email us. Our goal here is provide a steady, affordable way for people to learn a new clawhammer tune weekly (or as often as they'd like).
It would be great to hear some of your versions so far so post them here for all to hear!