Jam in st. Louis
Are there any old time jams in st. Louis, mo?Or old-time musicians in the area?
View ArticlePracticing Songs At Under 60 BPM Is Pointless?
I just finished up a series of lessons with a really good clawhammer banjo plaer who basically told me that practicing a song at anything less than 60 BPM was pointless. Essentially saying that all of...
View ArticleMars Hill or Swannanoa?
I'm trying to decide whether to attend Old Time Week at Mars Hill or the Swannanoa Gathering next summer. I've heard good things about both. By then I'll have about 6 months' banjo experience, but I...
View ArticleHelp with Uncle Henry?
I stumbled across this video on YouTube of John Walkenbach (JWalk) playing a Bowlin 1865 and I absolutely love it: http://youtu.be/WEnBYd-Z7AoI have built a replica of a Bowlin 1865 and would love to...
View ArticleStaple tunes for old time circles?
My goal has always been to eventually to play in a jam circle of old time music players and so I'm always trying to add tunes to my repertoire that would be common favorites and so I've been working on...
View ArticleClose your eyes and frail!!
Recently I find interesting to practice the tunes I konw with keeping my eyes closed. It helps me to give full attention to the sound itself. Doing this more often might help to improve. Anyone else...
View ArticleUpside Down & Backwards
Elizabeth Cotten, (1893 - 1987) known for "Freight Train" on the guitar, learned to play her brother's banjo. Being left handed she learned it upside down, eliminating the 5th string... so it was like...
View ArticleClawcamp and fiddle too 2014
We are bringing it back this year! Clawdan's Old Time Clawhammer and fiddle camp in Galia County (Southeastern) Ohio. Who's up for it?Work on your clawhammer banjo style and bring your favorite fiddler...
View ArticleMike Iverson's Christmas Carol book: Nice surprise.
When I got home last night, my wife told me there was a present for me, near my banjo.To my surprise, I saw a large envelope from Mike Iverson’s address. She bought his Christmas Carol book for me,...
View ArticleA tuning for every song.
I'm new-ish to the clawhammer style of play and I've been intrigued by the many threads discussing the variety of tunings. Most of my previous banjo playing has been bluegrass and Seeger style, out of...
View ArticleCello Banjo Anniversary/Christmas gift
Today, FedX delivered the Gold Tone cello banjo my husband ordered for me. He had noticed me listening to Paul Robert’s cello banjo on the hangout and wanted to surprise me. (We have been married for...
View ArticleRight Hand Motin -- Left Hand Synced?
I have a question that more experienced\pro players may have considered or worked there way though at one time. When striking a string with the right hand fingernail, the striking finger nail pushes...
View ArticleHelp with a banjo tuning?
i hope I'm asking in the right spot... i was wondering if anyone could help me figure out this tuning or maybe even a tab? the song is Hoist That Skirt by Those Poor Bastards, here's a youtube link of...
View ArticleDeering Vega Senator
I posted this in the 4-string section by mistake, so I've put it where I intended in the first place. Since this is really an OT question, I posted here. A good friend at one of the jams I attend asked...
View ArticleTOTW 12/06/2013 Little Dutch Girl
For this weeks TOTW I'm choosing Little Dutch Girl, one of my favorite A-tunes. I learned this tune only 5 or 6 years ago from my fiddling friend Steve, and I'm not sure where he got it from.The...
View ArticleBrad Leftwich -- 2 or 3 fingers?
Is Brad Leftwich using 3 fingers in this video or 2 fingers? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9CyTZPT2C0
View ArticleMORGAN SEXTON's technique
In the 1991 film by Annie Lewis ( http://www.folkstreams.net/film,216 ) which you can stream to your computer, there is a particular "clapping" sound made by Morgan Sexton hitting the head with the...
View ArticleThe claw in clawhammer
Having never been instructed on proper form I want to see if anyone else has this happen.I use my index and when I'm frailing I tend to let my other fingers come out of the claw. I mean I noticed that...
View ArticleBanjo Dueting = Marital Bliss
Some of the best conversations my wife and I have are unspoken. http://youtu.be/-qXU_3DGZFQ
View ArticleJason and Pharis Romero. W/ gourd banjo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQLVx7pbZgc came across this simply amazing had to share it
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