Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Old Time Songs

Ghillie Dhu

E Field — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 09:08:00 CST

An original tune

Old Jake Gillie (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:50:00 CST

Two versions of many -- Dwight Diller and Clark Kessinger.

Two Reels

GDJames — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:47:00 CST

Snake River Reel and Nine Witches Reel. Double C tuning, tuned down to something like double Bb. First is Cerddoriarth Fynyddig/Mountain Music's version, second is an original by him.

Old Jake Gillie (slower)

snoot — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:16:00 CST

Slower finger picked version

Otter Creek

Brad Kolodner — Sat, 16 May 2026 12:06:00 CST

Learned for a Tune of the Week, I'm grateful anytime to hear the composer, Brad Kolodner, and the other fine musicians, including his father, who he often plays with.

Pigeon on the Gate solo banjo

carlb — Thu, 7 May 2026 17:31:00 CST

A Doc White fiddle tune I originally learned back in the early 1970s. Banjo tuned aDAde

Pigeon on the Gate from Doc White

carlb — Thu, 7 May 2026 17:25:00 CST

I don't remember where I got this recording but it's for TOTW. Doc White playing the tune from two different sessions.

Pay Me Up Eleven Pence (TOTW)

JanetB — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:24:00 CST

From the fiddling of WV Israel Welch. I used the Gold Tone cello banjo tuned down five steps from a regular banjo open G tuning.

Skimmington Ride

E Field — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:45:00 CST

An original tune

Doctor, Doctor / Folding Down the Sheets medley

JanetB — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:37:00 CST

Hope you enjoy this medley. Check out the Tune of the Week for April 17, 2026 for details.

Little Sadie - Basic

dbrooks — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Drunken Billy Goat

JanetB — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 16:56:00 CST

This tune is probably composed of parts of three tunes, as stated in research of Brilliancy Medley by Eck Robertson, a Texas fiddler a hundred years ago. I have yet to recognize all the tunes he juxtaposed in that one 1929 recording posted in the current TOTW.

Bean Walker's Mile

snoot — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 05:37:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 2

dbrooks — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:57:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 2

dbrooks — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:56:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Speed the Plough

hudie — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:20:00 CST

key of G in 2 finger style, Bare finger

Grigsby's Hornpipe

JanetB — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:55:00 CST

A 9-part tune, Grigsby's Hornpipe source recording is Eck Robertson, the "Famous Cowboy Fiddler" from Texas. Colonel Melvin Grigsby may be the namesake for the tune, having gained some fame himself when he prompted Congress to pass an act to form his cavalry. That act led to Teddy's Rough Riders, which may have led to his ascension to the U.S. presidency.

Snowbird on the Ashbank (Oscar Wright)

JanetB — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:00:00 CST

Though another melody goes by this title, and this version of WV fiddler Oscar Wright's resembles Paddy on the Turnpike, it's a tune that's been recorded with credit given to Wright.

Snowbird On The Ashbank

gentrixuk — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:22:00 CST

TOTW 03/13/26

Baltimore Fire Sacred and Profane versions

writerrad — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:23:00 CST

Here are 2 version of the Baltimore Fire Song, one perhaps approximating a playing of it as a hymn or parlor ballad, another with my rough approximation of the banjo playing of banjoists like Gus Cannon who were mixing blues and rag on the banjo. My instrument is a 1923 Vega Tubaphone pot with a Eastman neck

The Baltimore Fire (TOTW)

Charlie Poole — Sat, 7 Mar 2026 14:52:00 CST

Charlie Poole wrote the song and recorded it with the North Carolina Ramblers in 1929, but it's said that a similar older song centered around a much earlier fire in Boston was the inspiration.

Chadwell's Station (CB)

JanetB — Sun, 1 Mar 2026 08:40:00 CST

This arrangement of Chadwell's Station using cello banjo tuned down four steps allowed me to hit the lowest notes, but it also caused me to re-tune the first string because of the high fret notes needed. So the tuning is dGDGB -- open G. The alternate method to play used a regular banjo in normal tuning -- gDGDB -- and is easier to play.

Chadwell's Station

JanetB — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:37:00 CST

From the 1840's Hamblen collection of a Virginia fiddler, David Russell Hamblen. As these tunes become known and played from the musical notation made by Hamblen's grandson, their richness is appreciated in the old-time music world.

Big Footed Man In The Sandy Lot

snoot — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:08:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Big Footed Man in the Sandy Lot (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:00:00 CST

As played on fiddle nearly one hundred years ago by the Stripling Brothers, without the insertion of the hymn In the Sweet By and By.

Shady Grove

jef — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:11:00 CST

Shady Grove might be the most universal old time tune that ever existed. It 's pretty hard to make a rendition that is satisfactory as to combining the banjo with the singing.

Queen of France

snoot — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Queen of France (TOTW)

JanetB — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:06:00 CST

From the notation of Virginian David Hamblen's fiddling, as played by Christian Whig. Thanks to Noah Cline for bring this collection to our attention.

My Wife Died Saturday Night (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 14:25:00 CST

As played by Humphrey Bates' harmonica in a 1928 recording. Terrible title, but a good dance tune, as it was probably intended.

My Wife Died Saturday Night

carlb — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 17:19:00 CST

Banjo aDAde Derived from Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters

Coon Dog

DelusionsOBanjer — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:13:00 CST

Two-finger arrangement by Matt Brown

The Rovin' Gambler

RG — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:18:00 CST

The Rovin' Gambler based on Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers 1929 Columbia Records recording

Katy Did

snoot — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

The Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman

snoot — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:29:00 CST

Three-finger style, G rather than the usual A as I wasn't using a capo.

Wild Horses at Stoney Point

Bill H — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:54:00 CST

3-Finger Arrangement

Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman

JanetB — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:59:00 CST

A French Canadian tune with a title that says it all!

Tink Queer's Special (CB)

JanetB — Sat, 3 Jan 2026 10:50:00 CST

From the collection of Samuel Bayard of Pennsylvania around the 1930's, Harry "Tink" Queer liked "tinkering" with his father's fiddle at a young age and grew to be a capable fiddler. The A part of this tune sounds unique and the B part reminds us of Little Billy Wilson's part A. The cello banjo's lower tuning allowed me to arrange this tune in equivalent to a double C tuning. Because the original tune is in A, open G tuning would work, too. Here it goes from the low fourth string up to the 10th fret on the first string. I had to memorize my tab's part B to accurately get up there. (Normally for Tune of the Week, I arrange and tab a tune after slowing the fiddle down to hear what is played and don't make an effort to memorize it.) I like imitating the fiddle on banjo and often have said my banjo thinks it's a fiddle. :) I get the melody best from a fiddle, and for me it's melody that makes the tune, with the clawhammer rhythmic style giving it body.

Tralee Gaol (CB)

JanetB — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:17:00 CST

An Irish polka with a long history and various titles. I'm curious how the cello banjo would sound with regular banjo chordal accompaniment. Perhaps I can try that later for this Tune of the Week.

Christmas Time's A-Comin'

Tex Logan — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:08:00 CST

Bill Monroe's 1951 recording is the inspiration here. Such a cheerful song!

Hog Eyed Man

Mtngoat — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:55:00 CST

Goodbye Liza Jane

hudie — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 17:36:00 CST

Key of G and played on a newly constructed open back

Going Up to Hamburg

JanetB — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 16:07:00 CST

From the Mississippi collection called Great Big Yam Potatoes. Lots of fun tunes to explore!

Cavalry - Banjo Backup

dbrooks — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:50:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Briarpicker Brown

Don Borchelt — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 12:45:00 CST

This tune comes from fiddler Buddy Thomas (1934-1974) of Lewis County, Kentucky, who learned it from Ohio fiddler Morris Allen. Jeff Titon notes the A part's close similarity with the English dance tune The Rose Tree.

Foggy Mountain Top (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 11:17:00 CST

The Carter Family first presented this iconic song to the world of country music. These lyrics came from Carlene Carter, daughter of June and Johnny Cash. The 3/4 timing for the verses was my idea.

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut (w/chordal accompaniment)

JanetB — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:50:00 CST

Using cello banjo, this recording adds chordal accompaniment to the previous solo banjo posted for Tune of the Week.

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut (Melvin Wine)

JanetB — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:13:00 CST

A fun little tune where I keep singing the more common B part in my head, "Johnny, get your hair cut, hair cut, hair cut..."

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut

Jilly Grace (maybe passed down from someone else) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:12:00 CST

Tippy Get You Hair Cut (Melvin Wine, fiddle GDAD and Carl Baron, banjo gDGDE) was recorded from an over the air public radio broadcast of the 1977 Chicago Folk Festival.

Martha Campbell

Fortune — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:04:00 CST

Hoppin' John

Fortune — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:21:00 CST

Going Across the Sea

Fortune — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:00 CST

Sallie Gooden (Eck Robertson)(TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 12:23:00 CST

Eck Robertson, Arkansas fiddler with a phenomenal recording history, played multiple versions of the commonly known old-time tune Sally Goodin. Check out the Tune of the Week link for an interesting story. I play just a few of his variations, plus add my own at the very end.

Red Rover

E Field — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:18:00 CST

An original tune

Waiting for Nancy

Fortune — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:36:00 CST

Rare Up (TOTW)

JanetB — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 15:48:00 CST

An upbeat tune, sounds to me like a horse that rears up in great spirit and power. This arrangement is first arranged from the source recording, Oklahoman fiddler George Mert Reeves, and then from Kerry Blech (1947-2023), wonderful collector, scholar and player of fiddle tunes.

Old Jimmy Sutton

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 13:20:00 CST

Double C; key of D, After Bob Siggins. "Hell if you can't play that you can't play nothing"

Candy Girl

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 13:00:00 CST

G tuning key of A

Ways of the World

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 12:36:00 CST

Double C tuning; Cello Banjo

Road to Boston

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 12:01:00 CST

Bound To Have A Little Fun

Don Borchelt — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:01:00 CST

This tune comes to us from fiddler Gustace "Gusty" Wallace (1890-1985) of Metcalf County, Kentucky, recorded by fiddler and tune collector Bruce Greene, in 1973. Wallace told Greene that it was the first tune he ever learned, taught to him by his father. I'm picking this with my fiddling pal John Reddick.

Sweet Nell

hudie — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:59:00 CST

Played on a early 1900's vintage pot with a modern neck

Briarpicker Brown - November 2012 Contra Dance

dbrooks — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:47:00 CST

Recording from a Monday contra dance in Louisville, Kentucky, by the volunteer string band, Monday Night All Stars.

Chasing Mayflies

E Field — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:33:00 CST

An original tune

Walk Old Shoe, Heel Come A'Draggin' (DOI)(TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:31:00 CST

From the playing of Illinois fiddler Pauline McGinnis on the Dear Old Illinois compilation, it's a great little tune!

Red Rocking Chair (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 17:43:00 CST

It must be an old song because it has much variety in titles, lyrics and even melody. This version based on Sherman Hammons of West Virginia has a sad feel.

Red Rocking Chair

Sherman Hammons — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:42:00 CST

Red Rocking Chair based on the playing of Sherman Hammons, banjo tuned eEABD or thereabouts...

Crook Brothers' Breakdown

Mtngoat — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:45:00 CST

Crook Brothers Breakdown

Don Borchelt — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:26:00 CST

Uploaded for the Old Time Tune of the Week for 8/15/25.

Crook Brothers Breakdown (TOTW)

JanetB — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:30:00 CST

The source of Crook Brothers Breakdown is a 1964 recording of a group who were with the Grand Old Opry from its inception in the 1920's. They play fast, fast, fast! I play at 65% of their speed. You'll hear a bit of cello banjo accompaniment.

Turkey Foot (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 9 Aug 2025 13:02:00 CST

Here's a 4-part Alabama tune from fiddler Ralph Whited. I guess my favorite part was his slide in the A part. We have wild turkeys every day at our place -- big birds who use their feet to scratch, scratch, scratch the dirt, and also in ash and weed piles.

Jenkins' Ear

E Field — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 12:23:00 CST

An original tune

Stelle Elam medley of three tunes (TOTW)

JanetB — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:47:00 CST

The current Tune of the Week honors the only Illinois female fiddler Stelle (or Stella) Elam who recorded ten tunes for the immense Dear Old Illinois compilation. The medley of three included in this medley are called Grotts, Jaybird, and Crooked Road. They've been arranged in double C tuning and use an AAB format, as she did for the most part.

Cold Frosty Morning 2 Finger

DelusionsOBanjer — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 07:00:00 CST

Here's my attempt at Matt Brown's arrangement of Cold Frosty Morning, from his 2-finger Patreon/YouTube stuff.

Grotts

LyleK — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:30:00 CST

From the fiddling of Stella Elam. Key of D (aDADE)

Elam's Jaybird

LyleK — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:28:00 CST

Stella Elam's version of Jaybird (in key of G) with banjo tuned gEADE.

Big Sciota

Burl Hammons — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:26:00 CST

Old time fiddle tune finger picked on a new 12" open back.

The Old Churchyard (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 16:35:00 CST

A song from an 1800's hymnal, being brought back to life, as the departed souls are promised to be in the last verse.

My Little Home in West Virginia

JanetB — Sat, 5 Jul 2025 10:48:00 CST

As played by WV fiddler Ellis Hall, here's a three-part tune that's been played all around by many well-known players. I'd like to hear James Bryan, but can't find his version. However, his partner, Carl Jones, plays it prettily on guitar and you can hear it on a link in this week's Tune of the Week.

Le Saut De Lapin (Rabbit Hop) (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 11:29:00 CST

A tune popular especially in Quebec, Rabbit Hop is a dance tune with some hopping heard in the B part.

Cigarette Trees by The Local Honeys - Intro

dbrooks — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:07:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Annabel and the Moonbeam

E Field — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:37:00 CST

An original tune

Jessie's Dream

E Field — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:36:00 CST

An original tune

One-Legged Stool

E Field — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:35:00 CST

An original tune

Coon Dog

JanetB — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 16:05:00 CST

From the playing of Virginia fiddler Dudley Spangler (1885-1981), the association with Angeline the Baker is strong, but who knows which came first...

Tippin Back the Corn

hudie — Sat, 7 Jun 2025 14:02:00 CST

Key of G and played on a newly crafted 11" walnut open back

Little Maggie

JanetB — Sat, 7 Jun 2025 12:21:00 CST

From the vocals of Doc Watson

Blind Steer In a Mudhole

zach w — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 05:56:00 CST

fiddle and Banjo

Ducks On The Millpond

zach w — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 05:55:00 CST

Fiddle and Banjo

Mowing The Meadow

zach w — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 05:55:00 CST

Fiddle and banjo

Yellow Barber

zach w — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 05:54:00 CST

fiddle and banjo

Jenny Get Around

zach w — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 05:53:00 CST

fiddle and banjo

Cold Frosty Morning (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 31 May 2025 15:51:00 CST

This version of Cold Frosty Morning is from Melvin Wine, WV fiddler, learned from his father. It's different and "happier" than the other two more commonly known tunes with this title.

Cold Frosty Morning from Melvin Wine

carlb — Fri, 30 May 2025 05:21:00 CST

Melvin Wine learned this tune from his father. Banjo - aEAC#E

Pear Tree

JLouis Thiry — Thu, 22 May 2025 09:23:00 CST

The Jolly Blacksmith (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 17 May 2025 12:20:00 CST

From the playing of the late Christian Wig and the collections of old tunes by William Hamblen. Blacksmiths are near and dear to me, as my son is one.

"Parker's" Old Time Jig

John Parker — Tue, 6 May 2025 18:29:00 CST

Banjo solo played from original A notation sheet music

Parkers Old Time Jig

John H. Parker — Tue, 6 May 2025 16:58:00 CST

Stroke Style or Guitar Style (3 finger)