Bought Deering Vega without scooped neck by mistake
Folks,I bought the model of Deering Vega as my first banjo thinking it had a scooped neck. I got it for $200 under regular price. Should I trade it for a scooped neck model? I want to get this right...
View ArticleChange out strings for sound?
I am a relative novice, getting incrementally better everyday. I bought a new Chuck Lee 11" Silver Bell because I wanted a different sounding banjo to complement my other 12" Lee with the wooden tone...
View ArticleNeed general advice with figuring out songs without tab
There are a couple of songs that I can play on the fiddle (namely "In the Pines" and "Likes Likker better than me", but these are just examples), but which I can't find any banjo tab for online. I am...
View Articlegoodtime setup for clawhammer
I am wanted to setup my Goodtime for clawhammer. It has a 5/8" bridge now and i was going to put d'addario J55 string set on it. this is a medium set with prosper bronze 4th.comments?thanks
View ArticleChincapin hunting in D
A friend of mine wants me to play Chincapin hunting in D with him. I'm playing it okay bye ear. He is a very good mandolin player but I'm used to playing with more fiddles I pick things up better by...
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"Interior Drop Thumb" ?
I think i just made up a term!But what i am talking about is where within the measure you never arrive back at the 5th string. This is extremely difficult for me. I feel like it interrupts the rhythm...
View ArticleBill Cheatum as per Melvin Wine
Hi All,Anyone pick Bill Cheatum as Melvin Wine plays it? He does it out of G which is nice and banjo friendly, but then modulates to D for the B Part. It might even reverse the chord patterns for the...
View ArticleGeordie - as played by Shirley Collins
On her album "Within Sound" Shirley plays two versions of the old ballad Geordie, one live, on banjo, with an unusual (to me) picking style. It sounds like a "backwards" clawhammer, that is to say...
View ArticleConverting to clawhammer
I've been learning Scruggs style for a couple of years but have been inspired by some old recordings to try my hand at clawhammer.I'm working through the Ken Perlman book and DVD which I'm finding...
View Article"Bluegrassy" tunes for clawhammer?
I'm looking for tabs, or better still video lessons/walkthroughs, of bluegrassy tunes for clawhammer banjo. I love playing clawhammer, but would like to spice up the old time classics (often with roots...
View ArticleWalkin In My Sleep-Revisited
We tend to enjoy the "old time style" (as we think it) of a tune, if it can be distinguished from a bluegrass style. So I am wondering if the old time players (especially Tommy Jarrell and Kyle etc)...
View ArticleTOTW 5/23/14: The Crawdad Song
That's right, friends--it's crawfish season. We're at the peak of mudbug madness here in New Orleans, so I thought it only fitting to pay tribute to the tiny crustacean with a TOTW whose origins are...
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"Polly Put the Kettle On" - Clawhammer Tunetorial of the Week
I'm working with the mighty Dan Levenson to do a weekly series of clawhammer lesson videos, and this is our first one!Dan's newest Mel Bay publication, "Old Time Favorites for Clawhammer Banjo"...
View ArticleWant to learn 2 finger thumb or index lead!
Hi all! I'm sure this topic has been asked before, but in wading through forum topics I couldn't find anything recent. Please point me in the right direction if there is a more detailed thread...
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where to spot the melody for drop-thumb?
I'm poking at a clawhammer version of a tune with a base melody that runs an octave plus up to the fourth note of the next octave, trying to figure out which key and tuning works best. When I try it...
View ArticleIs there a Charlie Poole tab book?
I can't seem to find a Charlie Poole tab book which has led me to believe one doesn't exist. Does it? From what I can tell it seems that Charlie Poole's repertoire is old enough to be in public...
View ArticleMostly Mountain Boys concert, and another OT version of Cluck Old Hen
Paul Brown, Terri McMurray and John Schwab played a house concert on 24 May at Gene Bowlen’s home in Harrisonburg, VA. Great concert space. See http://www.bearcademusic.com John Schwab is the author...
View ArticleNew strings for a warmer tone?
I'd like some recommendations for metal strings that offer a warmer tone. Maybe a better bridge suggestion too?First some banjo specs;-Deering goodtime 2 converted to open-back-Stock bridge-Stock Tail...
View ArticleClawhammer Illuminations
Might there be a case for Clawhammer Illuminations to be added as a new Sticky? http://www.banjoutah.com/resources/PDFs/clawhammer_questionaire1.pdf
View ArticleWhich is 2nd Fret when Capo is on 2nd fret?
Stupid question of the week. Still new at this, still reading tab. I have the ubiquitous "Boil 'em cabbage" - this is an easy one by Mike Iverson. Cleary there are different levels of easy :-)....
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