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TOTW - 12/5/14 - Katie Bar The Door
Here's my first shot at tune of the week - I'm hoping all the links work."Katie Bar The Door" is an expression used primarily in the southern U.S. It basically means something like "Start preparing...
View ArticleFirst string hangs on rim
When frailing the first string sometimes hangs up on the rim slot by the hook. What am I doing wrong? Thought it was the banjo and then saw that many banjos have a slot and hook next to the neck and...
View Articlefirst string to close to edge of fretboard
I have a banjo that I love, because my son put it together from a "grizzly" kit, as a gift. The banjo actually sounds good, and it would play good except for one thing: The first string is too close to...
View ArticleA tip for fragile fingernails
A couple months back, a student turned me onto the Fred Kelly Freedom Pick (http://fredkellypicks.com/product/poly-freedom-finger-pick/) . I've tried the old trick of putting a finger pick on backwards...
View Article2 and 3 finger OT books?
I play both Scruggs style and clawhammer style; and while I have mastered neither expertly, I always tend towards becoming the 'Jack-of-All Trades*.' With that in mind, what is the best book or DVD...
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"Three Way Hornpipe" - Clawhammer Tunetorial for 12/7/14
Watch a preview video >Key of A – A Tuning –aEAC#EIn this, Tunetorial number 28, Dan "Clawdan" Levenson teaches a less often played tune, The Three Way Hornpipe. This tune is tune number 51 in Old...
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TOTW (OT) 12 December 2014: Marching Jaybird (Jaybird March)
“I like that ol’ Marchin’ Jaybird” Etta Baker laughs and sets into her fluid, breezy fingerpicking style, with sister Cora Phillips backing up the easy chord changes on guitar. It’s a real pastoral...
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"Salty River Reel" - Clawhammer Banjo Tunetorial for 12/14/14
Watch a preview video >Key of A – A Tuning –aEAC#EIn this, Tunetorial number 29, Dan "Clawdan" Levenson teaches a less-played tune, Salty River Reel. This is tune number 42 in Old Time Favorites for...
View ArticleAlternate string pull off
I just figured out how these work. Is this a technique that you more experienced players would recommend as a tool to help develop better timing and rhythm, or would it be prudent to spend more time...
View Articlecrisp loud triplets
I've played banjo and guitar for a good long time. I'm pretty good. As for most basic technique: no problem. One thing that I've never really gotten down are the sort of rolling left hand triplets that...
View ArticleAnother post about strings...
Curious what strings you guys prefer for playing clawhammer style?I've been meaning to replace the strings on my banjo for some time and I'd like to get some that are optimized for clawhammer, even...
View ArticleSix string banjo players
how many here play a six string banjo guitar tuned with a high G at the six string position and use the low g at the a fifth string. Iv found that I like it very much more over regular 5 string...
View Articlelow tuning nylon strings
Hi - I have a fretless tackhead banjo which I like a lot. However, I don't quite understand how to tune it "low". For example, some tabs call for a "low D" tuning but I end up with strings so loose...
View ArticleFine Times At Our House : A Film On Old Time Mountain Music
If you haven't seen this before, it's worth a watch. 1972 film with Dwight Diller and The Hammons Family.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFMfjPH7IRs
View ArticleFINALLY, Real banjo instruction.
When I read this, I laughed until I cried.. and it is all TRUEhttp://www.clogpalace.com/docstock.html
View ArticleWho says my banjos aren't loud enough!!
I've made over 20 open backed banjos over the past ten years.. One had a skin head and the owner said it wasn't loud enough but wouldn't get it back to me for adjustment.. Another comment was made by a...
View ArticleFREE Banjo Fingerpicking Lesson by Harley
Hi,I come from a guitar playing background utilizing a special fingerpicking style. After some frustration trying to speed up my clawhammer and drop thumb picking on my 5 string banjo, I have decided...
View Articlewhat the heck is that beautiful sounding banjo?
Dwight Diller's playing here?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhqeQfXauEo
View ArticleWarm up hand exercises
I have osteoarthritis mainly in my left hand (with some swollen finger joints) which over the years has taken a pounding from holding down chords on various instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin). My...
View Articleup picking a chord
I've just spent two hours trying to master up picking a chord from Art Rosenbaum's book, the piece in question being Sally Goodin. Boy, is this difficult, seems to be counter-intuitive to everything...
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