BanjonervousBreakdown - Posted - 08/16/2010:  15:42:30

I am just wondering what some of you folk's top 5 bluegrass banjo tunes are or should I say favourite tunes to play. In order of preference (the first one being the most preferred) mine would be;-

Foggy mountain breakdown (the tune I play the most)
Train 45
Black Mountain Rag
Duellin Banjos (just to be different)
Lonesome Road Blues

treblehook - Posted - 08/16/2010:  15:45:56

Foggy mountain breakdown
Earls Breakdown
Variants of "Arkansas traveller"
Ballad of Jed Clampatt (because it has a unique sound)
Dueling banjos

Baglady - Posted - 08/16/2010:  15:53:36

Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Fireball Mail
Hazel Creek
Duelin' Banjos
Sally Goodin

TR Dockery - Posted - 08/16/2010:  16:09:54

Whitewater
Jerusalem Ridge
Studebaker
Get Up John
Hot Burrito Breakdown

Not all written specifically with the banjo in mind, but these songs have all been done with some terrific drive to them.

Regards,
Randy in Germantown, TN

beegee - Posted - 08/16/2010:  16:19:11

Sledd Ridin'
Cowboys and Indians
Smokin' Hickory
Sweet Dixie
Welcome to New York
Cade's Cove
Leavin' Town
Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Edited by - beegee on 08/16/2010 16:22:02

white pointer - Posted - 08/16/2010:  16:47:40

After reading the stelling or Deering thread, my top 5 favourite banjo tunes would have to be this one.... youtube.com/watch?v=kXCd_DC7FCQ

Earls Breakdown
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Fireball Mail
Pike County Breakdown
Sally Gooden

Can we have top 500???

tom elder - Posted - 08/16/2010:  16:52:41

I 'm gonna start off with joe drumright's break on bill monroe's roll on buddy

Edited by - tom elder on 08/16/2010 16:53:36

Jeff 1965 - Posted - 08/16/2010:  17:14:39

Flinthill Special

steve davis - Posted - 08/16/2010:  17:26:37

Cora Is Gone(Earl/Mercury)
Dear Old Dixie(Alan Munde,Banjo Sandwich)
Dusty Miller(Butch Robins,Forty Years Late))
Opus 57 in G Minor(Bill Keith,Muleskinner))
Molly and Tenbrooks(J D Crowe)

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 08/16/2010:  17:34:07

Stardust ( Tenor Style )

Cowboys & Indians

Staten Island

Sukiyaki ( Good Morning Tokyo )

When You & I Were Young Maggie

(I )===='---<::)

Edited by - 5stringpicker2 on 08/16/2010 17:35:02

The KIDD - Posted - 08/16/2010:  17:37:45

The FUNNEST tunes right now are :

5 in the Mornin
Crusin Timber
Colorado Turnaround
Southern Flavor (always)
MONroes HP

KIDD

Sally Goodin - Posted - 08/16/2010:  17:42:53

Cumberland Gap
Salt Creek
Rocky Top
Earl's Breakdown
Fireball Mail

treblehook - Posted - 08/16/2010:  18:27:28

Man. I forgot to mention rocky top and blue moon of kentucky

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 08/16/2010:  18:31:43

Impossible to say.

Roy G. Biv - Posted - 08/16/2010:  18:51:22

In no particular order:

cripple creek
cripple creek
cripple creek
first part of blackberry blossom
oh yeah, cripple creek

If you can't tell, I'm not making much progress on the banjo. I blame college.

Phildo - Posted - 08/16/2010:  19:09:58

1) Foggy Mountain Breakdown - truly the standard we all go by.
2) Sledd' Ridin' - kind of a simple song but I love the arrangement.
3) Blackjack - you can't go wrong with Crowe/Mills.
4) Pick Along - I love the break up the neck on this song because you can do so much with it.
5) How Great Thou Art - the only slow song to make my list, but I love the Jim Mills arrangement. The combination of the unique chord positions (or at least the ones I use) and bends make it great.

As you can tell, I am a Mills fan!!!!

tom elder - Posted - 08/16/2010:  19:28:43

Sevestapul Larry Mcneely Orange Blossom Special Carl Jackson I got 2 more to go

Bill Rogers - Posted - 08/16/2010:  19:36:29

Randy Lynn Rag
Hard Times (Stanley)
Earl's Breakdown
Ground Speed
Bear Tracks

These are all true bluegrass banjo instrumentals, written for that instrument. They are not versions of tunes originally featuring other instruments such as the mandolin or fiddle, nor instrumental versions of songs.

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 08/16/2010 19:38:30

xnavyguy - Posted - 08/16/2010:  20:08:33

Foggy Mountain Special
Sledd Ridin'
Devil's Dream(melodic)
Blackberry Blossom(melodic)
Salty Dog Blues

pdquantum - Posted - 08/16/2010:  20:14:16

Angeline the Baker
Whitewater
Salt Creek
Pike County Breakdown
Lonesome Road Blues

Glenn Tate - Posted - 08/16/2010:  20:34:48

Asking what my favorite five bluegrass songs are, is like asking which one of my children I like best. If it is bluegrass, I like it.
So many songs, so little time.

benjo75 - Posted - 08/17/2010:  00:16:17

Red Haired Boy
Sledd Ride
Dear Old Dixie
El Cumbanchero
Old Spinning Wheel in Open C

gradelyduck - Posted - 08/17/2010:  00:37:54

Bluemoon of Kentucky 3/4 then 4/4
Cabin Home on the Hill
Wreck of the old 97
Cripple Creek/ Backberry Blossom/ Old Joe Clark medley.

dlc - Posted - 08/17/2010:  01:21:32

I'm On My Long Journey Home
Rocky Top
Fox On The Run
I Saw The Light
The Great Diplomatic Breakdown

overhere - Posted - 08/17/2010:  03:30:03

Tony trishkas, New York blues

Earls, Ruben’s train

Banjo work in Jim and Jesses, Farewell blues.

Don Reno, Banjo Signal (actually all his work)

Ralph Stanley’s, Little Maggie

# 6 forgive me, Raymond Fairchilds ,whoa mule/ kickin mule. really unfare question. Every great banjo picker has a signature song and a style that makes outstanding pickin. I really could name a zillion songs. (but I wont)

Pepper Laing - Posted - 08/17/2010:  06:38:29

Shuckin` the corn
Old Joe Clarke
Cumberland Gap
Groundhog
Saint Annes Reel

GarryB - Posted - 08/17/2010:  07:01:04

Gold Rush
Angeline The Baker
Sitting On Top of the World
Southern Flavor
Big Spike Hammer

zeemo - Posted - 08/17/2010:  07:58:28

Just banjo tunes, eh ? Hmmm . . .

Theme Time
Groundspeed
Clinch Mtn Backstep
Banjo Signal
Doug's Tune

Catman - Posted - 08/17/2010:  08:56:31

I'm thinking alot like Beegee, as those Emerson tunes have always been my favorites.
Sweet Dixie
Welcome To NewYork
Breaking It Down
Espanol
Theme Time

BanjonervousBreakdown - Posted - 08/17/2010:  09:23:18

God! theres an awful lot of tunes here I never even heard of, very eclectic, you can tell I've only been playin for 6 years, I'll be lookin into some of these tunes and maybe changin my top 5 in the process. I've noticed duellin banjos doesn't come up much, perhaps this tune is over-rated to a point, but I think its one people in general like and maybe banjo players see it as a novelty tune or something (sorry Arthur) but there are many tunes for the banjo just as good. Thanks for postin.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 08/17/2010:  12:44:13

Tennessee Waltz
Kansas City Railroad Blues
Fireball Mail
Jessie James
Ballad of Jed Clampett..

I just wish I could play them more cleanly & up to speed. I practice daily in the hope one day I will fulfil my goal.

Tommy5 - Posted - 08/17/2010:  14:01:11

Red Wing
Little Maggie
FMB
John Henry
Plastic Jesus

tom elder - Posted - 08/17/2010:  18:04:14

My last 2 don reno's 12 street rag courtney johnson's white freightliner.I d love to be in heavan listening to these 2.These are not'' true'' banjo songs but they are great false banjo songs.My favorite list does not go down to five anyway.

Edited by - tom elder on 08/17/2010 18:05:21

stormoveroklahoma - Posted - 08/17/2010:  19:16:31

Sunday Driver (Gordon Stone)
Snakes Alive (Bela Fleck)
The Crow (Steve Martin)
Modra Breakdown (Cyril Kovac)
8 More Miles (to Louisville)

it is interesting reading others' lists...
90 % are on my favorites lists as well.
5% were new to me I'll have to check them out.

I could list at least ten more Bluegrass....
ten Jazz...ten Pop....ten New Grass?....
ten traditional (Old Time)..and ten classical.
Favorites that is.

Cheers
Storm
I have tabs for all of these if any one wants to add them to their list and wants to play them
email me through my home page
I can email you the Tabledit file(s)

Edited by - stormoveroklahoma on 08/17/2010 19:19:28

rstieg - Posted - 08/17/2010:  21:37:07

Theme Time
Earl's Breakdown
Remington Ride
Ground Speed
Shuckin the Corn
Salt Creek
Lonesome Road Blues

oettingm - Posted - 08/18/2010:  13:27:39

Great question! I've only been pickin' five months now, but here are my favorites:

1. Doug's Tune (The Dillards)
2. Banjo in the Hollow (The Dillards)
3. Cripple Creek (using breaks from Scruggs, Dillards, Janet Davis intermixed)
4. Cumberland Gap (again, using breaks from Scruggs, Dillards, Janet Davis intermixed)
5. Earl's Breakdown

And lately, (see related post)... Blue Ridge Cabin Home.

Pretty much play every one of those every time I pick up the banjer!

OSCAR82AA - Posted - 08/19/2010:  04:28:02

Maybe not on this order but here they are,


1. Home Sweet Home= Earl Scruggs
2. Southern Flavor = Blake Williams pickin
3. Doug's Tune = Doug Dillard
4. WildWood Flower = Ralph Stanley with Skaggs and Whitley
5. Shuckin The Corn = Raymond Fairchild

John Allison - Posted - 08/19/2010:  06:42:22

1. Assuming we are talking primarily instrumental:
a. Banjo In The Hollow
b. Devil's Dream
c. Fireball Mail
d. Feudin Banjos
e. Bill Cheatem
f. Fisher's Hornpipe
2. Assuming the topic refers to songs
a. Will the Circle Be Unbroken
b. Old Joe Clark
c. Shady Grove
d. Old Home Place
e. Dooley

Edited by - John Allison on 08/19/2010 06:45:30

banjoman56 - Posted - 08/19/2010:  07:50:08

Foggy Mt Breakdown.
Earl's Breakdown.
Pike County Breakdown.
Bugle Call Rag.
Rueben's Train.
Shuckin' the Corn.
Flint Hill Special.

snapjackson - Posted - 08/19/2010:  17:16:13

Old Home Place
Back Up and Push
Old Joe Clark
Fireball Mail
Clinch Mtn Backstep

Edited by - snapjackson on 08/19/2010 17:17:21

bAJNo - Posted - 08/19/2010:  18:13:15

Ok I'm a newbie so this changes every day but today:

Cryin Holy
Earl's Breakdown
Sally Goodin (Byron Berline, Earl and Bill)
Little Maggie
Old Hme Place

Airdog - Posted - 08/19/2010:  20:15:27

I'd throw Nashville Blues in there. You need a tune in a minor key.

bobf - Posted - 08/19/2010:  20:52:20

In an order that changes depending on mood:

Doug's Tune
Deputy Dalton
Hot Burrito Breakdown
Fireball Mail
Bill Cheatum
The Entertainer

rollin forward - Posted - 08/20/2010:  04:19:20

1) John Hardy
2) Old Joe Clark
3) Cripple Creek/ Banjo in the hollow
4) Foggy mt breakdown
5) Salt Creek

Prof - Posted - 08/20/2010:  05:20:19

Not that I can play some of these tunes particularly well, but...

(In no particular order):

Cowboys and Indians
Theme Time
Ground Speed
Fireball Mail
Cumberland Gap

Banjoman3987 - Posted - 08/20/2010:  07:05:18

In no particular order:

Cumberland Gap
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Nashville Blues (gotta love that bend at the 7th fret on the second string)
Devils Dream
Cripple Creek


It's funny, I was JUST about to post a very similar topic... I'm also trying to learn the big tunes (been playing for nearly 6 years now, 5 of which were college and I didn't get to play much).

me!!! - Posted - 08/20/2010:  15:34:07

Dixie Hoedown
Cowboys & Indians
Sweet Dixie
FMB
Little Rock Getaway
(anything by Bill Emerson)

Pick1949 - Posted - 08/20/2010:  16:30:58

I'll Fly Away (works out lovely for the banjo)
Cluck ol' Hen
Cumberland Gap
Rockwood Deerchase
Angeline The Baker

And of course Foggy Mtn. Breakdown is number one!.. These are just the top five for me (without including FMB)....

Gonzoso - Posted - 08/20/2010:  22:01:31

I just started in March so my favorite ones are the ones I can play.

1. Cripple Creek
2. Blackberry Blossom
3. Cumberland Gap
4. Bile dem cabbage(I know its a beginner song but I like it, that and Cripple Creek I can rip through fast without thinking)

Non bluegrass songs I like to play are
1. Sunshine of your love
2.Wipeout:)