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Playing Since: 1993
Experience Level: Purty Good
Violanjo has made 117 additions to Banjo Hangout 
Interests:
[Teaching] [Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Occupation: Violinist and Banjoist
Gender: Male
Age: 31
My Instruments:
I am playing a japanese fake of a Gibson Rb-250 made by the brand K.Country.It sounds not bad but it is a little too soft and it has not so much power. And since 23.09.08 I have a custom made HUBER JIM MILLS MODEL!! This banjo will be the banjo of my life. It is absolutely great.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
I like the playing of Tom Adams, Bela Feck, Alan Munde, Ruediger Helbig, Earl Scruggs of course Tony Trischka, Armin Kretschmar and many more.
Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 10/30/2007
Last Visit 2/1/2010
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[download]
Average Rating:  (rated by 13 members, play count: 468)
Size: 5,569kb, uploaded 12/6/2008 1:55:53 PM
Genre: Other
I came across Tom Adams "Lowlands of Holland" recently, and so I had the idea of composing a piece featuring the c-minor tuning. The piece is called 2 Worlds because you find stylistic elements of bluegrass and classical music. Basically my picking here is a kind of melodic style picking but there are also some Fleck like picking patterns in the backup for the violin. As usual both parts are played by myself. Tab and lead sheet of the violin is ready for email. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
23 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 8 members, play count: 755)
Size: 3,197kb, uploaded 4/21/2009 3:07:44 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
160 BPM! Well, it is breakdown time now! That is the fastest I can pick and bow right now without loosing (almost) control but only on breakdowns. I think I even could pick a tiny bit faster on banjo but on fiddle I have reached the limit. Adams County Breakdown has always been a favorite of mine. My interpretation consists of bluegrass picking and bowing styles but as usual I do some unusual things too. While searching for a suitable back up on fiddle I thought I give a try to some classical playing techniques. Furthermore the banjobreaks are picked in the key of A whereas the breaks on fiddle are played in the key of G. It is a small detail but I like this effect. I had to make a lot of takes and still it is not perfect. Oh by the way the strings are on my banjo for almost 8 months now. Do you think I should change?
13 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 15 members, play count: 413)
Size: 6,480kb, uploaded 2/17/2009 2:52:40 PM
Genre: Classical
Let me show you a new contemporary banjo and violin piece of mine featuring the Bb-minor-tuning. The harmony progressions of the fast stuff are similar to those found in compositions of vivaldi. The title was an idea from Jammer and I thought it fits well. It has a slow intro and ending which is supposed to be kind of spacy. The middle part is more from Earth. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
13 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 5 members, play count: 311)
Size: 5,317kb, uploaded 9/14/2009 12:35:13 PM
Genre: Traditional
Its done! An old melody in a new shape! I was thinking a long time about how to arrange the melody of Amazing Grace for Violin and Banjo. Now I come up with this halfway bluegrass/ halfway classical sounding arrangement. I am on banjo and violin. Hope you enjoy.
7 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 14 members, play count: 1413)
Size: 3,900kb, uploaded 2/2/2008 5:59:10 AM
Genre: Bluegrass
Here is my arrangement of Auld lang syne. It features 3 banjobreaks and a freely played chord melody arrangement at the end. I also play the fiddle part. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
10 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 713)
Size: 6,301kb, uploaded 2/26/2009 2:08:59 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
Servus liebe Banjopicker,
Hier ist mein neuestes Arrangement. Ich habe das Stueck ein wenig veraendert um es geeignet fuer Fiddle und Banjo zu machen.
Ooops English?
Hi Banjomates,
Here is my newest arrangement. I modified the piece slightly in order to make it suitable for fiddle and banjo. Besides there is a slow part in the middle on which I play the melody in double stops on the banjo and a high line on the violin. Sometimes I add a second banjo for some effects. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 172)
Size: 4,701kb, uploaded 3/29/2009 1:05:54 PM
Genre: Jazz
Well, its time to switch to another genre. Here is an attempt to play an old jazz ballad on the fiddle and the banjo. The challenge was to create a full sounding arrangement although I do not have a bass, piano and drums. So I decided to use some chord brushes for back up. The first solo is a scruggs style arrangement whereas the second break features single string and tremolo stuff. What do you think which part is the hardest? The brushes, the scruggs style arrangement or the single string stuff? Hope you like my fiddling, too. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
6 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 16 members, play count: 1248)
Size: 6,966kb, uploaded 12/13/2008 6:39:46 AM
Genre: Bluegrass
Do you have time for 6 minutes? Here is my version of Blackberry Blossom. It is a standard piece but I have done some non standard things. It features a slow classical intro and ending and a bluegrassy middle section. Its me on both Fiddle or Violin and Banjo. Hope you enjoy. This recording is dedicated to all my friends on the BHO! Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 608)
Size: 4,284kb, uploaded 11/7/2008 2:15:04 PM
Genre: Other
My composition Classical Breakdown features mainly scruggs style roll patterns and has a lot of harmony changes. The violin has some rhythmic patterns too, but mainly it plays long melodic lines over the banjo rolls. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
9 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 18 members, play count: 2058)
Size: 5,097kb, uploaded 1/14/2008 8:01:08 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
My version of Clinch Mountain Backstep features a fiddle and a double banjo lead at the end. Unfortunately the sound quality is not the best on this one. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
7 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 13 members, play count: 1210)
Size: 5,618kb, uploaded 4/23/2008 4:47:09 AM
Genre: Bluegrass
This is my version of Devils Dream. It features a lot of variations and some of the highest notes posted on the BHO. I also experiment with some plectrum back up on my 5string. My breaks also feature a lot of tripletsstuff. The hardest part was to create the back up stuff. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
10 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 18 members, play count: 1953)
Size: 4,220kb, uploaded 12/31/2007 7:21:42 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
I started this in 2007 and finished it in 2008. Happy new year. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
6 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 2 members, play count: 269)
Size: 4,478kb, uploaded 12/13/2007 6:31:46 PM
Genre: Jazz
This was recorded on the 20.07.2002 in Luetzensommern near Weimar. I d like to thank David Gatzsche for his classical guitar playing and his recording work. We performed this piece during Davids Chamber Music exam at the Franz Liszt Hochschule in Weimar. Imagine, a poor banjoplayer surrounded by professors of classical guitar who have never seen a banjo in reality in their lives before! I will never forget those faces!! Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
5 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 6 members, play count: 299)
Size: 5,629kb, uploaded 9/18/2008 3:54:39 PM
Genre: Classical
I recently heard a piece by J. Krueger. I was so impressed by his way of playing that I decided to create a chamber music like piece which is based on his melody. I added 2 melodic lines and I changed the banjo part slightly.
Everything is played by myself including some little mistakes. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 4 members, play count: 112)
Size: 3,779kb, uploaded 2/7/2009 2:25:13 PM
Genre: Other
I guess you never heard something similar before?! This piece features the Bb-tuning. Sorry for some wrong intonation in the violin. It was quite challenging to record that as there are some tricky passages. I called this piece horizons as I want to pick "where no one has picked before". Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
5 comments
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[download]
Average Rating:  (rated by 10 members, play count: 783)
Size: 4,714kb, uploaded 2/2/2008 8:17:20 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
Here is a new instrumental version of Jim Cliffs song. I was inspired by Bluegrass ETC, but it is still my own stuff. It is really hard to do multitrack recording, but I enjoy doing it. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
6 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 9 members, play count: 1369)
Size: 3,062kb, uploaded 1/3/2008 8:47:27 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
I am experimenting with a ricochet bowing to back up the banjo. How do you like it? I play both instruments. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
10 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 5 members, play count: 258)
Size: 8,722kb, uploaded 1/16/2009 3:32:54 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish
Do you have time for 9 minutes? Here is a Medley of 5 traditional tunes:
Cooleys Reel, Anthony Payne of Stratton, Silver Spear, Cuckous Nest and Harvest Home. Me on banjo 1, I on banjo 2, Myself on fiddle 1 and Manuel on fiddle 2. I wanted to imitate some Bodhran sounds so I used a droning triplet picking pattern in the backup banjo. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
5 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 4 members, play count: 682)
Size: 4,982kb, uploaded 4/15/2009 1:59:53 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
I do not like my old recording of JJ anymore so I decided to come up with a new version which features more variations. At first you hear the melody in half speed using double stops on banjo. Than I pick a standard bluegrassbreak in the key of G followed by a fiddle break in the same key. Now I switch back to the key of D and I pick the solo you might know from my old recording. To round it up I finish the song by using the double stop melody on fiddle. A tab of the break in the key of D is provided in the photo section on my account. Hope you like it. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
3 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 761)
Size: 3,295kb, uploaded 4/1/2008 3:25:47 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
Here is my version of Lonesome Fiddle Blues. It features a slow introduktion and 2 breaks on fiddle and banjo.The 2nd fiddle solo uses slow and high doublestops and is played in more or less classical way. I play both instruments. I played it at 100bpm. I think it should be played not too fast as it is not a breakdown. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
7 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 5 members, play count: 549)
Size: 5,405kb, uploaded 7/22/2008 2:43:42 AM
Genre: Classical
This marks the beginning of my classical recording works. Now after I have recorded it I feel that it is a little too slow. Many thanks to Mr. Bill Knopf for providing a great tab of the piece. I added and modified some little things but basically the banjo break is his arrangement. The violin accompaniment is the same stuff as in the original. But as the violin cannot play low bass notes I transposed some of the accompaniment stuff 1or 2 octaves higher. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 6 members, play count: 593)
Size: 3,900kb, uploaded 3/24/2009 3:56:35 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
New Camptown Races has always been a favorite of mine. Now I have an own interpretation of this famous wakefield tune. This is me picking and bowing. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 225)
Size: 3,249kb, uploaded 6/23/2009 3:47:39 PM
Genre: Popular
So you still think that a banjo can only play fast and happy stuff? Here is something to bring you some tears in your eyes! Yeah thats pop banjo! Actually I do not listen to pop music that much but this is just one of the most touching melodies I have ever heard in my life. I came across this song on youtube and I was so amazed its beauty that I immediately cancelled all plans for this day and I started to write my own arrangement of this piece. It works so well on banjo and violin! After 3 hours it was done. The next day I recorded it. Everything is played by myself including the mistakes LOL! Please get me some comments. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
9 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 4 members, play count: 148)
Size: 6,667kb, uploaded 12/24/2008 9:50:02 AM
Genre: Other
This piece is dedicated to Terry. It sounds somehow mournful and it is a composition for Violin and Banjo. The style is half way between classic an bluegrass. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
3 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 23 members, play count: 1439)
Size: 2,463kb, uploaded 12/16/2007 3:30:23 PM
Genre: Classical
Here is my Prelude for Banjo. I composed this piece in 2003. On this recording I use a big reverb to simulate a big concert hall. The piece is mainly about altering chords slightly and also about creating a line in all those notes. It seems to be easy but the hard thing is to let all notes ring as long as possible. Some notes seem to be delayed but this is done to emphasize those notes as melody notes. The hardest part is the end of the second half where you have to play some scales. This work is dedicated to Jesus Christ. If you are interested in the tab just contact me. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
17 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 7 members, play count: 259)
Size: 5,056kb, uploaded 11/19/2008 3:05:52 PM
Genre: Classical
If you want to hear bluegrass I have to disappoint you. I think this one is not really bluegrass. Now you can chose which version you prefer. The Prelude played solo or with 2 additional violins. It is the same piece as one click above. But eyerything is recorded again. The banjo you hear on this recording is my new huber. The solo version features my old japanese fake RB-250. On the huber the intonation is much better and the notes are clearer. The hardest part was composing the piece and finding two matching melody lines. On banjo this piece seems to be easy, but as far as sound is concerned it is difficult. As usual everything is played by myself. Tab is ready for email, just ask.
6 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 3 members, play count: 249)
Size: 4,695kb, uploaded 9/12/2009 5:21:35 AM
Genre: Bluegrass
Rocky Creek is the first fiddle tune I wrote. In contrast to most standard fiddle tunes this piece has 4 parts and a bridge leading back to the a section. The banjo is played mainly in melodic style except for part D which features single string stuff and irish style triplets. The fiddle part is a combination of classical and fiddle bowingstechniques. As this piece features similar stuff like the A part of Cripple Creek in its B part I decided to call it Rocky Creek. If this title is already occupied by another tune, please tell me. Then I will rename it. Both parts are played by myself. Have a guess: What is the tuning of the banjo on this one? This piece can also be played with string orchestra accompaniment which sounds really great, but this version is not recorded yet. Picked on the HUBER BANJO. Hope you enjoy.
4 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 3 members, play count: 235)
Size: 4,529kb, uploaded 12/7/2008 9:04:38 AM
Genre: Classical
Skeleton Dance is a parlor music piece which I found somewhere in the internet. It works quite well on the 5 string. This is a new recording of this piece as I was not completely satisfied with the old recording. At the end I have added a second banjo. The violin features more rhythmic stuff than on the old recording now. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
5 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 6 members, play count: 269)
Size: 2,141kb, uploaded 11/28/2007 6:49:29 PM
Genre: Other
This is a new composition of mine and as you may notice,
this is not related to bluegrass. It is a classical piece and
wants to create an atmosphere of meditation. The style is
somehow impressionistic. It is not about timing therefore dynamics
and gradual change of a soft colour into a sharp sound and back
is the most important thing. Well, this is
the result when you deal too much with classical music, too.
I composed this piece within a few hours only. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
7 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 6 members, play count: 202)
Size: 5,720kb, uploaded 2/8/2009 11:53:46 AM
Genre: Old Time
Back to tradition! Here is a fiddle tune medley of 3 banjo and fiddle standards: Turkey in the Straw, Green Willis and Sailors Hornpipe. Everything is played by myself. Hope you enjoy. Picked on the HUBER BANJO.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 4 members, play count: 278)
Size: 5,881kb, uploaded 7/9/2008 3:26:21 PM
Genre: Other
Here is a new recording of my breakdown. This piece also appears in a short version in my first concerto for banjo and chamber orchestra. The hardest part was to play the backup vamping for 4 minutes without doing wrong (almost). Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
5 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 6 members, play count: 351)
Size: 2,211kb, uploaded 12/1/2007 7:43:46 PM
Genre: Other
This my slipjig. This tune also appears in the 3rd movement
of my 2nd concerto for banjo and chamber orchestra. It has
more harmony changes than a traditional slipjig from Ireland. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
8 comments
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[download]
Average Rating: (rated by 14 members, play count: 851)
Size: 7,303kb, uploaded 6/24/2008 2:40:16 PM
Genre: Bluegrass
This is my version of Wayfaring Stranger. I have chosen a slow tempo because I feel that this piece should be played slowly. Picked on my japanese FAKE GIBSON.
17 comments
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