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Playing Since: 1973
Experience Level: Purty Good
slc has made 66 recent additions to Banjo Hangout 
Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Gender: Male
Age: 57
My Instruments:
Main banjo is a Lyon & Healy Washburn, circa 1892. My other was made by Paul King in 1981 or so, styled on a White Laydie.
Classified Rating: 0
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 9/19/2010
Last Visit 5/18/2013
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Posted
by slc
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7 people like this
Play count: 144
Size: 1,562kb, uploaded 3/7/2013 11:25:36 PM
Genre: Old Time
Note this is Blossoms, plural. Not the bluegrass standard. I first heard this from Ray Bierl who would pull it out for dances, and this is pretty much what I worked out on the fly at the time.
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Posted
by slc
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10 people like this
Play count: 151
Size: 1,725kb, uploaded 5/3/2013 10:28:40 AM
Genre: Old Time
In topics:
Boatin' up Sandy - Snake Chapman version
Stefan Curl, banjo and fiddle.
The tune is Boatin' up Sandy, from Snake Chapman's CD Walnut Gap. It's SO different than the usual version!
This is mostly me experimenting with a home audio mixer, with Audacity on my computer (thus the fumbling at the beginning especially, and the amateur fiddle playing).
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Posted
by slc
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7 people like this
Play count: 222
Size: 873kb, uploaded 1/17/2011 11:38:45 PM
Genre: Old Time
In topics:
bertrum levi that good old feeling tabs
Originally from Henry Reed. I first learned this from Bertam Levy, and relearned it later from Irene Hermann. Yes, it's played quite a bit faster than a "March" tempo - maybe it should be called a "Gallop!"
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Posted
by slc
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8 people like this
Play count: 169
Size: 933kb, uploaded 6/17/2012 11:55:09 PM
Genre: Old Time
This is my attempt at this scrambled-sounded tune, from the CD of the same name by Christian Whig with Mark Ward. You can hear his version here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00693NAYK/ref=dm_dp_trk11?ie=UTF8&qid=1340001648&sr=301-1
Mr. Wig almost certainly got it from Tom Whit, which version is in the Milliner-Koken Collection (I didn't try that one though) and a sample of Mr. Whit's playing is here: http://slippery-hill.com/M-K/
The first part is a straight-forwarding Highlander bit, but it gets weird after that! There is a 5 beat bridge, then the second part is missing the *first*, front, beat the first time through.
I hope I approximated it close enough! - it was easy to wander adrift especially in the second part, and I ended the tune because of it (which is fine - I tend to play too long anyway!)
1 comment
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Posted
by slc
[download]
12 people like this
Play count: 526
Size: 2,433kb, uploaded 2/14/2011 1:00:43 AM
Genre: Old Time
This is an 'American' version. I learned this from Nancy Neithammer many years ago, and she got it from the playing of an Illinois fiddler whose name, sadly, I've forgotten - if anyone knows please let me enlighten me.
I play it somewhat 'notey', but I've never been able to reduce it to a more spare sound and have it sound right. It *could* be simplified but then it just doesn't sound like itself. Funny how some tunes are like that - they really seem to *want* to be played a certain way...
That high note pull-off in the first part? On the fiddle, it's played as a quick *down* slide then open, and really suggests the plaintive coo of a dove or, well, cuckoo. It isn't clear enough on the banjo so I don't try it.
2 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
5 people like this
Play count: 287
Size: 1,208kb, uploaded 1/18/2011 12:02:01 AM
Genre: Old Time
An old standard that I still like to play.
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Posted
by slc
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3 people like this
Play count: 86
Size: 1,255kb, uploaded 2/7/2013 10:47:07 AM
Genre: Old Time
This is the audio portion of a recently uploaded video. The tune is Half Past Four, and my version is inspired mostly by the Clare Milliner/Walt Koken version available on YouTube, and also by the various excellent posts on the TOTW article featuring this tune. ======
I use a couple techniques (ok, "gimmicks") here. There's the 'cluck' of course sometimes in the first (high) part. But also in the low part there is a resonant chord when playing that A -> C# -> D -> C# line. It's not a strum but instead I'm hitting *alternate* strings - in this case the 3rd (where the notes are played) and 1st strings while skipping the 4th and 2nd. I do this by separating my fingers slightly and downpicking with my middle and index fingers simultaneously. I find this can be overdone easily, but in some tunes - like this one - it works nicely as a regular part of the tune. ====
Less esoteric, I'll sometimes bounce between a melody on the first string and the open 3rd string (A). Makes for a nice low 'boing' effect. ====
A third trick/gimmick is used in the first part when sliding the 2nd string to the 3rd fret (C#, slide to E). That is pretty commonly used, but what I do different here is to slide after hitting the second string with my *thumb*. Sometimes I'll do a couple double-thumbs in a row, hitting the open first string with index or middle finger, then sliding the thumbed second string (fretted at the second fret/D#) up to the same note. This makes for a messy yet rhythmic dissonance I like a lot :-) ====
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Posted
by slc
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6 people like this
Play count: 266
Size: 2,206kb, uploaded 2/23/2011 11:18:02 PM
Genre: Old Time
In topics:
Hankin's Raid - a Hamblen Tune
From the Hamblen Collection, a collection of tunes originally played by David Hamblen (1809-1893) and notated by his grandson A. Porter Hamblen. There are no historic recordings of this tune that I'm aware of and I learned it entirely from the page - a laborious process for me! Many of the melodies in the Collection require a certain amount of 'creative interpretation', but I play this one pretty close to the score.
The pattern is AABBC. The 'AABB' parts are square (or should be, even though they don't exactly sound that way) and the 'C' part is very similar to the 'A' part with an extra beat. I've since heard a very nice version of this on Christian Wig's "Chadwell's Station" CD (an album I highly recommend by the way).
This is to replace an earlier attempt which wasn't well recorded.
1 comment
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Posted
by slc
[download]
9 people like this
Play count: 316
Size: 2,436kb, uploaded 1/29/2011 12:59:19 AM
Genre: Old Time
A current favorite. This really is a *fiddle* tune - a lovely and haunting one. Normally I play quite a bit differently when fitting in with another instrument. But instead this is me trying to be a little more accurate with the melody, and trying to sound like the version I heard on Christian Wig's "Lost Indian" CD, and he got it from Melvin Wine of course.
The structure is interesting. AAbAACC is a good guess (though I don't actually start and stop it in those places here). The low 'A' part is played twice, then just three beats for 'b', a short 'howl' (the fiddle plays a low A I don't have on the banjo - unfortunately), then two 'A'-parts again, then the 'C's
4 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
11 people like this
Play count: 128
Size: 2,139kb, uploaded 2/21/2013 2:05:40 PM
Genre: Old Time
My 'version' of JBD - not quite the classic tune, but close in feel I think. Note this is the audio version of a previously uploaded video.
3 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
17 people like this
Play count: 984
Size: 1,776kb, uploaded 2/3/2011 12:37:16 AM
Genre: Old Time
In topics:
bertrum levi that good old feeling tabs
While trying to figure out the banjoistic nuances for some other tunes, I was inspired to play John Brown's March. This is one of the very first tunes I ever learned on the banjo, from Bertram Levy many years ago. I think the tune is originally from Henry Reed.
You can hear a nice version of this by Bertram and the Hollow Rock String Band, here: http://www.aca-dla.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Warren43&CISOPTR=1894&CISOBOX=1&REC=5
And Greg & Jere Canote have a very accessible version (complete with tablature) here (just search on the title): http://www.stringband.mossyroof.com/
4 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
8 people like this
Play count: 139
Size: 1,814kb, uploaded 6/4/2012 11:33:26 PM
Genre: Old Time
This is 'Last of Harris' as played by John Salyer (or, as close as I could get!). I really liked the D chord sound on the fiddle, so instead of playing this G tune out of open G - which never felt quite *right* - I tuned the banjo to open D (C capoed up) but tuned the fifth string down to G, like this: EDADg (first to fifth), and played it in G in that tuning. That G fifth string helps it feel more G-ish and also is handy for a couple playin' notes.
The hardest part is in the low-notes. There is a quick 5->2 pull-off on the fourth string, 2->5 hammer ons, and since it really is - after all - in *G*, one needs to get quickly back to the fourth string at the 5th fret (G), to at least give a hint that the tunes ends on that note.
I like this open, almost modal sound! Let me know what you think.
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Posted
by slc
[download]
3 people like this
Play count: 73
Size: 814kb, uploaded 6/5/2012 11:41:54 PM
Genre: Old Time
Simpler version of the previously posted tune, Last of Harris (as played by John Salyer). Like that one, this is played in G but in 'open D' tuning but with 5th string at G (EDADg, first to fifth).
This version has none of the awkward POs and HOs on the 4th string. Personally I think this version really preserves the character of the tune with the spareness adding a nice quality.
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Posted
by slc
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5 people like this
Play count: 187
Size: 994kb, uploaded 6/6/2012 11:27:48 PM
Genre: Old Time
For fun, a 'jig' version of Sullivan's Hollow :-)
4 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
4 people like this
Play count: 234
Size: 1,701kb, uploaded 2/14/2011 12:07:07 AM
Genre: Old Time
From Scott Prouty's CD 'Puncheon Floor', which I *highly* recommend
2 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
6 people like this
Play count: 138
Size: 1,718kb, uploaded 3/6/2013 11:46:18 PM
Genre: Old Time
From the playing of Blaine Smith. However I play it 'square' (AABB) while Mr. Smith plays it more like AAAAAAB (I lost count of the A's)
1 comment
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Written/Posted
by slc
[download]
4 people like this
Play count: 222
Size: 1,604kb, uploaded 1/18/2011 12:33:49 AM
Genre: Old Time
This is a tune I wrote on the banjo some years ago. Mark Simos used the title for one of his wonderful songs on his CD with the same title (and later recorded the tune itself - played better than I ever could - on a subsequent CD).
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Posted
by slc
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3 people like this
Play count: 107
Size: 1,813kb, uploaded 3/3/2013 9:18:01 AM
Genre: Old Time
One I've known forever. Not sure where the second part came from - either I mangled a real second part, or pulled it out of thin air!
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Posted
by slc
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20 people like this
Play count: 1117
Size: 3,306kb, uploaded 3/26/2011 2:24:29 PM
Genre: Old Time
This is a tune played around the SF Bay Area for some time. One of the early sources is Freeny's Barn Dance Band, and here's a YouTube link to their version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MooStDmRDFU&feature=related
What's interesting is that while I've always heard and played this in D, I've heard that it's "really" a C tune - and in listening to the Freeny's version is sure sounds like it! I've tried this on the fiddle in C and it definitely works nicely but sounds quite different.
There's some sheet music available here: http://www.me.psu.edu/lamancusa/tunes.htm
2 comments
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Posted
by slc
[download]
3 people like this
Play count: 101
Size: 3,317kb, uploaded 3/11/2013 12:35:23 AM
Genre: Old Time
The audio version of a video I just posted. Here's the Description from that:
From the Light & Hitch CD, available here: http://www.countysales.com/products.p...
I believe this was a *harmony* to the classic Cuckoo '(she's a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies...'), but my only evidence for this was an earlier YouTube video of a rockin' oldtime band (Give Me an Amen Brother) playing this while singing the classic words and melody. But otherwise, I have no information. Maybe someone here knows?
The banjo is tuned to 'modal' A (G capoed up). The first part is mostly major, so try to avoid the notes that would give it a minor sound. Note this is easy when playing the D and G chords, since the second string is already in tune.
1 comment
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Posted
by slc
[download]
5 people like this
Play count: 206
Size: 2,624kb, uploaded 2/25/2011 12:48:59 AM
Genre: Old Time
In topics:
Hankin's Raid - a Hamblen Tune
There is a related and similar tune also from West Virginia called The Route. However this version I got from the Hamblen Collection, a collection of scores for tunes from the West Virginia / Kentucky region. The full title on the page is "Jolly Blacksmith (she wouldn't come at all)". Now I'm not sure who 'she' is but it makes for an interesting story.
I shift to a more major key in the second part, and for a while I was getting it confused with Hannah at the Springhouse. While they ARE similar I'm pretty sure I'm playing it at least in the spirit of the tune Jolly Blacksmith as written. If I AM playing Hannah at the Springhouse then oops I'll do it over another time.
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