Tunings to learn for old times jams
I'm a beginner clawhammerist and starting to attend some moderate (94 bpm) old time jams. I'm trying to get as much knowledge as I can on the MOST common tunings used in MOST old time jams. I realize...
View ArticleBeginning Clawhammer Banjo @JCCFS w/Patrick Heavner
Howday Folks! I will be teaching a beginning clawhammer banjo class at the John C. Campbell Folk school in Brasstown NC, the week of Jan. 24-30 2016. This class is strictly for folks new to old-time...
View ArticleCall for Tune of the Week volunteers
It's time for a new TOTW schedule, so if you would like to be on it just send me a message through the Hangout.If you have never done a TOTW write-up but would like to give it a shot - great! We are...
View ArticleKoken's Buck Hill Breakdown
Trying to see what I can figure out by ear but I would like to have a proper starting point. Could someone suggest the tuning? If there is a chord progression I guess I'd take that as well, but I'm...
View Article'Bad' habit I can't seem to break
I got into a 'bad' habit of hitting the banjo head with my thumb every time I do a 'skip note' just to keep my place and timing. Problem now is that I can't seem to NOT hit the head on skip notes....
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Fingers Used?
This measure is from a CH book. The book says about untied 8th notes: "The first note of any pair of eighth notes is always played with your finger. The second note of any pair of eighth notes is...
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TOTW (OT) 11/20/15 - Camp Chase
The Tune of the Week title – Camp Chase -- is associated with a fiddling soldier whose American pioneer and musical roots are legendary in West Virginia: Solomon Carpenter. You’ve probably heard of...
View ArticleBanjeaurine Tutor Book?
Did anyone ever write and publish a banjeaurine tutor book back in the day (1885-1910)?If so, I am interested in the fingering spelled out in the book.Was the first position considered frets 1-7 with...
View ArticleMcClurg MO; The real Ozarks
The village of McClurg is in the Missouri Ozarks, about 40 miles east (and 75 years) from Branson. Every monday the old store becomes a gathering place, not only for musicians, but for the community in...
View ArticleWhat tuning is this?
I can't figure out what tuning he is using for his banjo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO_FZyqTKxE Also what is the most popular tuning for John Henry?
View ArticleFavorite Clawhammer Trance Tunes?
A couple of weeks ago, by unplanned and delightful accident, I started playing Candy Girl on the banjo out on the porch and it is, of course, one of those tunes that stops time, whether it's tumbling...
View ArticleBanjo and Harmonica combined
Hi,Has anybody got any advice or links on playing both together...I play a lot of banjo and I'm decent on a diatonic, but I'd like to enrich the sound by mixing both. Should the banjo play the major...
View ArticleBanjo Thimble
I was told my banjo playing would improve if I used a plastic banjo thimble for my clawhammer playing.I earn my living as a machinist and handle steel everyday. My nails will always be broken and...
View ArticleWhen to play these tunings
I do alot of playing with others and jams with others and a lot of festival jams . Now everyone is playing in keys like G-D-C- ect and jaming in the key of .. Now i can do this forever but what i want...
View ArticleBead Nabber by Dritz LoRan is my favorite Pick
I learned pretty quickly that if I play with my natural nail, it invariably shreds and breaks close to the nail bed, making it too painful to play. So, I have been on a loooong search for a pick that...
View ArticleNewcastle/Texas Dwight Diller Tab
Anyone have a PDF or a good link to Dwight Diller's version of Newcastle/Texas? Taterjoe's has a tab of it in G tuning, but I like Diller's modal version. There used to be a link, but it's broken now....
View ArticleWildwood Banjos
With all the hype on BHO about Wildwood banjos, I thought I'd add my 2 cents. Had an Heirloom a few years ago. Beautiful sound and woodwork. BUT anyone getting ready to buy one should know that...
View ArticlePracticing and taking breaks
I was reading through old BNLs and came across an article a while back on practicing. I have given up Bluegrass 3 finger for 20 years and have started back up by relearning Fireball mail VERY slowly....
View ArticleTwo-finger, thumb lead picking
I started fooling around with two-finger, thumb lead a while back, looked at the YouTube tutorials, etc. and I really enjoy playing that style. It seems a lot easier to pick out a melody, as opposed to...
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