Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Traditional Songs

Double File

vrteach — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:51:00 CST

Doesn't seem as though anyone plays this nowadays. This is an A tune, but I may not be quite tuned to pitch.

Hard Times

Stephen Foster — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 10:05:00 CST

"Hard Times" by Stephen Foster, played 2/3-finger style on a Bart Reiter Standard banjo with nylon strings, tuning gDGBD.

Hickory Wind By the Desert Squirrel String Band

Gram Parsons — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:54:00 CST

Hickory Wind recorded 1-30-12 with the Desert Squirrel String Band

Silent Night 2nd

ShawnKirkpatrick — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:20:00 CST

I finished figuring out some stuff and rerecorded it. Hope you like it!

Amazing Grace

ShawnKirkpatrick — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:17:00 CST

This is me messing around on Audacity doing banjo and guitar. I am making a CD for my Mawmaw and all the song in my MP3 file are going on it, she wanted me to put a little guitar pickin' in her CD too. I hope you like it.... Also I've been learning a need guitar playing method called "Chicken Pickin'" And I used it in this song. Enjoy!

Wildwood Flower

J. P. Webster — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:35:00 CST

Wildwood Flower, recorded at my dining room table on my Gold Tone (with the resonator off), using StudioMini on my iPhone. That's also me on bass (my Washburn AB-32 acoustic). It's a little sloppy in places. The best part comes near the end when my three year-old son yells "can I have some Chocolate milk?"

Let Me In

The Creak — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:25:00 CST

Fool's Gold

The Creak — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:24:00 CST

This Weekend

The Creak — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:22:00 CST

Wolf Moon Ramble

Bob Doucet — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:31:00 CST

A tune for Morris Dancers

Black Eye Susie

brojhn — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:14:00 CST

Grandpa Holbrook playing 'Black Eye Susie" in 1977 on his new banjo (shown in my profile picture). He was about 82 at the time

Long T Rail and Short Cross Tie

brojhn — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:11:00 CST

Grandpa Holbrook playing "Long T Rail." Grandpa's uncle Jimmy Lykins dancingin background. 1964

Darling Corie

brojhn — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:05:00 CST

My grandpa, Tom Lee Holbrook playing Darling Corie, in 1964

Rocky Island

brojhn — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:01:00 CST

My grandpa playing in 1964

La Mantovana

Giuseppe Cenci — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:36:00 CST

a Mantovana is a sixteenth century song composed by the Italian tenor Giuseppe Cenci, also known as Giuseppino del Biado, (d. 1616). Its earliest known appearance in print is in del Biado's 1600 collection of madrigals. The melody, later also known as "Ballo di Mantova" or "Aria di Mantova" gained wide currency in Renaissance Europe, being recorded variously as the Scottish “My mistress is prettie,” the Polish “Pod Krakowem,” Spanish "Virgen de la Cueva" and the Ukrainian “Kateryna Kucheryava." It is best-known as the melody of Bedřich Smetana's The Moldau and of the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah. I added the third part, in case old Giuseppe lifted the original riff from a raga, which I - of course - suspect:)

What Wondrous Love Is This

William Walker & Alexander Means — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:47:00 CST

This old hymn of 1835 was in a shape note hymnal.

Clinch Mountain Backstep/Whole World Round

Dillards — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 11:08:00 CST

Taking the Dillards "Whole World Round" back to Clinch Mountain Backstep on which they based the song.

House Carpenter

SCclawman — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 07:55:00 CST

A good friend of mine is in law school a couple hundred miles away. He came home over christmas break, we set up one Blue Bluebird mic and had a good time trying to play this song

When Jesus Wept

William Billings — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:17:00 CST

"When Jesus Wept", played 2-finger as a round on a Bart Reiter Standard banjo w/nylon strings, tuning gCGCD. Track on CD "Spiffy!"

Scotland the Brave

JohnB — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:51:00 CST

Sounds MUCH better on the bagpipes...

Rainbow in My Dream

JanetB — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:54:00 CST

A nice song borrowed from Chris Sharp and the John Hartford String Band.

British Field March

JanetB — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:02:00 CST

It's said in the Library of Congress that Henry Reed learned this from Quince Dillon, the fifer, and that it was a tune used by the British to retreat from their defeat in the Battle of New Orleans. Alan Jabbour recorded Henry Reed.

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

blanham — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:20:00 CST

Merry Christmas! Played by Bob Lanham, in Gm tuning (gDGBbD) on a Bart Reiter Bacophone Plus banjo. My version began with the simple one in "The Banjo Player's Songbook" by Tim Jumper, and then adding my own embellishments.

Black-eyed Suzanne (New)

MrNatch3L — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:08:00 CST

Slightly reworked arrangement with a more delta feel resulting from playing the guitar in an open tuning and using a slide here and there. And I think I'm figuring out how to get a better sound out my dumpy little home studio.

pateroller song and cluck old hen

frailinrebel — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:36:00 CST

this is not a 150 year old minstrel banjo. it is a gold tone cb100. i was just playing around with tunings and i tried a few tunes in a low g# (i think) and it didn't sound bad

Jingle Bells (updated)

James Pierpont — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:37:00 CST

"Jingle Bells", Gold Tone banjola, tuning gCGCD, jinglebells.

Christmas song--We Three Kings

Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr. — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:08:00 CST

Fun to play with full chords, like a piano.

CloverHill

Traditional — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:03:00 CST

Had some down time in the studio. Looking for me a pot of gold I am!

Christmas song--Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

JanetB — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:25:00 CST

The melody is tender and pretty.

jingle bells

Red-Ryder — Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:23:00 CST

happy holidays

Silent Night

Franz Xaver Gruber — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 04:54:00 CST

"Silent Night", Gold Tone banjola, tuning gDGBD.

Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming

kevinwholmes — Sat, 3 Dec 2011 10:00:00 CST

"Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming", Grizzly kit banjo tuned aDADE, Rover RM-50 mandolin, violin

Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

Joe the banjo guy — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 16:36:00 CST

An attempt at a clawhammer Christmas tune. Played on my no-name open back.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

kevinwholmes — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 15:33:00 CST

"Ding Dong Merrily on High", Bart Reiter Standard banjo, tuning gDGBD.

The Holly and the Ivy

kevinwholmes — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:48:00 CST

"The Holly and the Ivy", Bart Reiter Standard banjo (gDGBD), violin, Gold Tone banjola (gDGBD), 'cello

Silent Night

Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 07:32:00 CST

Jingle Bells

J. Pierpont — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 03:47:00 CST

Joy To The World

Isaac Watts and George Frideric Handel — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 03:20:00 CST

The Kettle Valley Line

Words by Ean Hay — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:42:00 CST

Like the contemporary fate of many Canadian railroads, sections of what used to be the Kettle Valley Line are now wonderful hiking trails in the British Columbia interior. But between 1916 and 1961 of Canadian railroading, the line was an active and important link for bringing the riches of BC's lush valleys to the rest of the country. Ean Hay wrote "The Kettle Valley Line" for a 1952 CBC radio programme. He based it on stories told to him by his father who was a railroad cook in the early 1900's. The original tune was written in jig time (6/8) but Stan Triggs changed it to 4/4, as we've sung it here.

O Come All Ye Faithful

John Francis Wade — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:02:00 CST

Playing in double c---capo 2

Christmas song--Angels We Have Heard On High

JanetB — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:00:00 CST

A song that celebrates the season.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Hankspoppy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:54:00 CST

Playing in double C ---capo2.

Little Drummer Boy

Katherine K. Davis — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:46:00 CST

Just got my new Blue Yeti usb mic. Playing in double C ---capoed at fret 2.

Joy to the World

Isaac Watts/G.F. Handel — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:55:00 CST

"Joy to the World", Bart Reiter Standard banjo w/nylon strings, tuning gDGBD.

Carol of the Bells

JanetB — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:20:00 CST

A round with banjo and mandolin.

Bonaparte crossing the rhine

joemac — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:03:00 CST

Bonaparte crossing the Rhine as played by "The Old Grey Dogs" I chose to play this out of double C tuning as i love the bottom end of the banjo in this tuning. Hope you all enjoy i.t

Bring a Torch

kevinwholmes — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:34:00 CST

"Bring a Torch". Bart Reiter banjo, Rover RM 50 mandolin, fiddle, bowed psaltry.

The Farmers Son and the Shantyboy

MarkDespault — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:18:00 CST

An old tune I recorded with the Traditional Canadian Folk Band The Wakami Wailers.

Rain On The Water. With Guitar, and Mandolin.

Tony Ellis — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:17:00 CST

Love this Song,

Wreck of the 97

alfiedog — Wed, 9 Nov 2011 13:25:00 CST

Good Old Classic done with my Mixer, and Audacity. Guitar, Banjo, and Mandolin

Sebastopol

Henry Worrall — Thu, 3 Nov 2011 08:16:00 CST

Played on the guitar in open D (DADF#AD from low to high). Originally published in 1860. Go to http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/208635 for more info. One of these days I'm going to work out a version on the banjo.

Joy to the World

JedMarum — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:54:00 CST

This is a sample from my upcoming Christmas album. The album is called Rejoice! and it has lotsa banjo!

Green Willis, the Raw Recruit

JanetB — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:12:00 CST

It sounds like a marching soldier. It must be easier marching to music.

Lynch Mountain Lament

DWhelchel — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:42:00 CST

Nice tune written by DebbieLee Whelchel.

Kiss Me Waltz/Over the Waterfall medley

JanetB — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:58:00 CST

Listened to Bill Monroe and liked Kiss Me Waltz. He recorded some great instrumentals like this one during the early 70's. Over the Waterfall seems to go along with the theme and also stays in the ending chord of Kiss Me Waltz, which modulates from G to D.

Randers Hopsa

John D — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:26:00 CST

A 3 part Danish tune learned from the Dick Gaughan Album "Handfull of Earth." I accidentally play the 2nd part only once the first time through.

Fly Around

farmer bob — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:02:00 CST

This is a demo of my newest homebuilt long neck banjo tuned e AEAB...

Heel and Toe Polka

JanetB — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:05:00 CST

Learned from a Bill Monroe recording. A polka danced this fast must be easier than playing it.

Sally Ann

MIke Iverson — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:15:00 CST

Learned from Mike Iverson's tab then went a slighty different direction. Song is probably played a lot faster most of the time, but this fit the mood I was in for the night!

John Lovers Gone

Bill H — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:31:00 CST

Double D tuning on a Vegaphone

Texas (New Castle)/ Salt Creek medley

JanetB — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 06:08:00 CST

I've heard the first song, but didn't learn it until it was played at the end of a Thomas Hart Benton documentary. Salt Creek was the last picking song I learned as a novice picker who changed over to clawhammer, and then much later back to picking.

Sandy River Belle

Bill H — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 03:40:00 CST

Key of A played on vintage no-name banjo

(Oh) Shenandoah - Irish Tuning

albert52 — Tue, 4 Oct 2011 15:53:00 CST

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

Going Home (Antonin Dvorak's famous "Largo" theme from his Symphony No. 9

Antonin Dvorak /arr. for Tenor Banjo-A.J. Wrigglesworth — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:54:00 CST

I am in the midst of teaching this to my violin student class. There are 3 violin parts for my students and I play the banjo. Weird or what? it works and they are enjoying it.
Hope you enjoy
AJ

Sally Johnson

JanetB — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:31:00 CST

Learned from Pat Cloud's book Key to 5 String Banjo. Also similar to Katy Hill. Very pentatonic (Pat Cloud's major focus in this instructional book).

June Apple

Bill H — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:43:00 CST

June Apple, Key of A

Clawhammer Jongara Bushi (Traditional Tsugaru Shamisen Piece)

crashingbooth — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:37:00 CST

A few years ago I used to take lessons on Tsugaru Shamisen, which is a banjo-like instrument played in the Tsugaru region of Japan. Jongara bushi is the signature 'piece' for the instrument, with each player developing their own interpretation of it/improvisations around it. This is a nearly note for note clawhammerization of a traditional version of Jongara Bushi. Tuning is gCGCC

Wafering Stranger

staronjeff — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:09:00 CST

on my Recording King Ne

Satan Your Kingdome Must Come Down

staronjeff — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:08:00 CST

on my mountain banjo

Barlow Knife

SCclawman — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:46:00 CST

Played on a Morgan Monroe OB and high strung (nashville tuning) Larrive Parlor guitar

First Try Bluegrass

Pattylvk — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 17:04:00 CST

Clawhammer Bluegrass

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Pattylvk — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 16:59:00 CST

Clawhammer Jig

Reel Eugene

John D — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 08:08:00 CST

French Canadian Reel. A part is in Bm; B part is in D. Double D tuning.

Beregovski Freilachs

andyrubin — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 09:39:00 CST

These two Jewish dances were collected by the legendary folklorist Moshe Beregovski in Ukraine, probably before World War II. The cut appears on our "Klezmer at the Confluence: Jewish Music from Sacramento" CD. Wayne Lutzow on accordion, Marc Epstein on clarinet, Lou Ann Weiss on string bass, Andy Rubin on banjo.

Bessarabian Hora

andyrubin — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 09:31:00 CST

Also known as A Noch Glez Vayn (Another Glass of Wine), this tune appears on our "Klezmer at the Confluence: Jewish Music from Sacramento" album. Andy Rubin on banjo, Dave Rosenfeld on mandolin.

Dem Tsadik's Zemerl

andyrubin — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 09:24:00 CST

The Tune of the Totally Righteous Man. This version of an old hasidic melody appears on our "Klezmer at the Confluence: Jewish Music from Sacramento" CD. Andy Rubin on banjo, Marc Epstein on clarinet and Dave Rosenfeld on guitar and baraban (a traditional Eastern European drum/cymbal).

Turkey in the Straw

Bill H — Mon, 5 Sep 2011 07:02:00 CST

Open D tuning

John Henry

Bill H — Mon, 5 Sep 2011 05:19:00 CST

John Henry from John Burke's book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes Open D tuning, played on a 10" Little Wonder conversion banjo.

Julianne Johnson

xtopher — Sat, 3 Sep 2011 13:47:00 CST

Little Sadie

blockader — Fri, 2 Sep 2011 08:25:00 CST

Played in D minor on an Ome Juniper. Melody derived from Wayne Erbson, B part is my own composition. The lyrics combine the traditional and Johnny Cash's Cocaine Blues.

Wild Bill Jones

blockader — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:47:00 CST

In mountain minor on an OME Juniper inspired by the McCrae sisters.

Good Night Hurricane Irene

Plinky & Plunky — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:37:00 CST

We have close family in Virginia and thought about them during the hurricane.

The Sustead Schottische

john fincher — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:57:00 CST

This dance tune was collected in the 1970s from George Craske who was a melodeon player and lived for most of his life in the tiny village of Sustead just a few miles from where we live in North Norfolk. I have arranged it in a 'Double D' tuning.

Gospel Medley

JanetB — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:17:00 CST

Precious Memories, Farther Along, In the Sweet By and By The first time I've recorded in one take, in honor of Jim Reed, my BHO friend whose friend, Paul David Smith passed away yesterday.

Chinquapin Hunting

JanetB — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:33:00 CST

Inspired by David Grier and friends. Chinquapins are like chestnuts. One thing I do enjoy is gathering pine nuts.

Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine

SCclawman — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:13:00 CST

Learned the tab from the book "The All-In-One Jam Book" by Mary Gordon and Hilary Dirlam from Brevard, NC.

Cindy

SCclawman — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:03:00 CST

Blame Me Not

Steve Miller — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:22:00 CST

There is an inscription written over the door of a church in Germany with a version of these words written in stone. I wrote a song from the poem and added music to it.

Ring, Ring De Banjo

Stephen Foster — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:53:00 CST

1851 tune (same year as Swanee River)

I'll Fly Away

KnarfEK — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:24:00 CST

Traditional gospel tune. My own and various other arrangements. Played on a Noel Booth sympathetic string banjo.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

KnarfEK — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:03:00 CST

My own arrangement of this traditional tune. Played on a Noel Booth sympathetic string 5-string banjo.

Molly Malone

DantheBanjoMan — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:21:00 CST

I'm posting this for a friend who is working on this song so we can play it together the next time he visits. It's just me noodling around with Christina.

down to the river to pray

Majorjer — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:50:00 CST

Ida Red

Maggie Patrick Isaac — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:34:00 CST

My grandma recorded by Bruce Green in Salyersville, KY.

Rocky Island

Maggie Patrick Isaac — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:33:00 CST

This is my grandma recorded by Bruce Green in Salyersville, KY.

Pretty Polly

Maggie Patrick Isaac — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:31:00 CST

Sourwood Mountain

Maggie Patrick Isaac — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:30:00 CST

Lonesome John

Maggie Patrick Isaac — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:29:00 CST

This is my grandma playing and singing. This was recorded by Bruce Green in Salyersville, KY in the 1970's.

Coleman's March

banjukebox — Sun, 7 Aug 2011 16:16:00 CST

I initially learned this tune from a Mike Iversen tab, but have taken the liberty to make a few changes here and there.

Songs for Kids

JanetB — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 08:14:00 CST

Five songs: Buffalo Gals, Froggie Went A-Courting, Groundhog, The Fox, Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas