Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Classic Songs

Baltimore Fire Blues ala Cannon

writerrad — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:43:00 CST

This is an exercise on the current old time tune of the week on the hangout 3/11/26 Baltimore fire. It is a Blues/ragtime version ala Gus Cannon. The instrument is a 1923 Vega Tubaphone with the Eastman Neck Eastman has used on its White Ladies. Anyone exploring this kind of banjo playing contact me, Thanks

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

Warsaw

Stuntbaby — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 18:15:00 CST

Written by myself and Zero

"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)

Green Gates

BanjoFret12 — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 19:25:00 CST

I recording this song playing along with my own backing track that I made, which I've uploaded to the forum in various speeds for you. I used my Deering Calico banjo to record this tune. Enjoy!

Dunphy's Hornpipe

BanjoFret12 — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 21:38:00 CST

I've uploaded tabs and backing tracks at various speed for this nice Irish jig.

Rhapsody in C Minor

Kellie — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:24:00 CST

Arkansas Traveller (Deering Golden Era)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:04:00 CST

I recorded this song using a Deering Golden Era banjo. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

Golden Slippers (Deering Golden Wreath)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:02:00 CST

I recorded this song using a Deering Golden Wreath banjo. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

Mason's Apron (Deering Golden Era)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:00:00 CST

I recorded this song using a Deering Golden Era banjo. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. This is one of my favorite songs to play.

My Grandfather's Clock (Deering Calico)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:58:00 CST

I recorded this song using a Deering Calico banjo. I love my Calico, it has more resonance than any banjo I've played so far. It might be too thin and bright for recording, for some musicians. I personally think Deering's Golden Era series is best for recording, but for just picking I love the Calico! I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

My Grandfather's Clock (Deering Golden Era)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:52:00 CST

I recorded this using a Deering Golden Era banjo. I love this song. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

My Grandfather's Clock (Deering Golden Wreath)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:50:00 CST

I recorded this song using my new Deering Golden Wreath banjo. I am very happy with my purchase. It has a mahogany neck. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

Old Spinning Wheel (Deering Golden Era)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:47:00 CST

I recorded this using a Deering Golden Era. It has a maple neck. The banjo had a buzzing issue on string one when doing pull offs. I bought it from Fuller's Guitar in Houston. So I sent it back for a refund, but it has a beautiful song. I really like Deering's 06 tone ring. I ordered the Deering Golden Wreath instead (which has a mahogany neck), which I like better. The Golden Wreath is Deering's replica of Gibson's RB 250 banjo. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

Old Spinning Wheel (Deering Goodtime Special)

BanjoFret12 — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:43:00 CST

I recorded this using my Deering Goodtime Special banjo. For $1,099 it was one of the best deals I've ever purchased. I love that banjo! It doesn't have a truss rod and doesn't need one, because the Goodtime Special is solid maple. It does have a tone ring. It is 9.5 pounds, which is easier for me to play longer when writing tabs or working on a song. For the price, you can't beat the feel and sound. The intonation is very accurate. I really enjoy playing it. I'm using Dave Hum's backing track, which you can purchase on his website. Enjoy!

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

mmuussiiccaall — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:42:00 CST

Greensleaves

banjo24f — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 22:16:00 CST

very old tune

Red Rose Schottische

Geo. C. Dobson, 1892 — Tue, 6 Sep 2022 19:47:00 CST

Red Rose Schottische, fingerstyle, Classic banjo

Whistling Rufus

Kerry Mills 1899 — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:50:00 CST

Early Banjo Cylinder Rcording

Ballad of Arch Stanton

Becks — Wed, 8 Jul 2020 13:31:00 CST

Amazing Grace

Maurice McMurry — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:37:00 CST

Ethan Froese playing the Mellowtone Octave Banjo

the smiler rag

spoonfed — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:27:00 CST

first attempt at this one

Whistling Rufus a bit like Vess (hopefully)

kerry mills — Wed, 2 Oct 2019 09:27:00 CST

having now learned that this tune actually changes key I tried to play it more like ole Vess, then I got carried away making a backing track as authentic as I could. Here it is !

Ballad #1

Cammeyer — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:30:00 CST

the story so far, (work in progress)

Jo-Jazz Rag

Thomas Armstrong — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 18:20:00 CST

This is a crude sight-reading of a piece in the EZ Banjo Method for demonstration on a discussion of a banjo accessory of the same name.

Paganini Caprice

Niccolo Paganini — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 08:45:00 CST

Alfred Farland

Joy To The World

Ancient — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 10:26:00 CST

Recorded by AncientSpiritMusic

Darktown Dandies

Joe Morley — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 16:52:00 CST

Composed by Joe Morley for 5 String Banjo. Played to demo Gariepy Van Eps "flush fret" banjo.

My Old Kentucky Home

hoodoo — Thu, 9 Aug 2018 17:05:00 CST

Another study from Frank Bradbury's book published by Mel Bay (recorded in my quest to read standard notation)

Banjo Jubilee

hoodoo — Sun, 5 Aug 2018 12:29:00 CST

Currently working on learning to read banjo sheet music w/ standard notation, so I've been using Mel Bay?s Banjo Method C-Tuning ? Concert Style by Frank Bradbury. Here is one of the pieces.

The Hazers_piano sounds

J.H. Jennings, 1897 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:58:00 CST

Musescore example using "Grand Piano" sounds

The Hazers_banjo sounds

J.H.Jennings, 1897 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:57:00 CST

Musescore mp3 "banjo sound" demonstration.

Razzle Dazzle

Harry Von Tilzer — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 17:58:00 CST

Arranged by Emile Grimshaw Be prepared to be Razzled, to be Dazzled! Ok, so its not perfect. I'm currently learning this piece. Its great fun.

Too Utterly Too Clog Dance

Albert Baur — Wed, 2 May 2018 16:25:00 CST

Calliope Rag

hoodoo — Tue, 1 May 2018 17:31:00 CST

My attempt at playing the Calliope Rag. Mistakes and tempo issues are included.

Nell Was A Lady

hoodoo — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 05:34:00 CST

From Buckleys Banjo Guide (1868)

Pachelbel's Canon in D

mmuussiiccaall — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 14:47:00 CST

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

Dance of the Shadows

Bill Bowen — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:18:00 CST

Tyro Mazurka

Brooks & Denton — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:17:00 CST

Played by Bill Bowen

Nola

Felix Arndt — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 06:10:00 CST

Played by Fred Van Eps (banjo) and Robert Van Eps (piano). FVE is playing "classic" style, bare fingers with nylon strings on a banjo of his own make.

Shuffle Along

Joe Morley — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 19:02:00 CST

Companion MP3 to recent TAB upload

Funeral March

Frank Converse — Tue, 9 Aug 2016 07:38:00 CST

An early fingerstyle banjo march by Frank Converse, from 1865. Played on a slightly more modern style banjo with super simple frame drum and tambourine (percussion a little bit sloppy in a couple of places, but this was a quick and dirty recording.)

Maple Leaf Rag

Scott Joplin — Sat, 9 Jul 2016 08:45:00 CST

Played by Fred Van Eps

Silverheels

Joel Hooks — Sat, 2 Apr 2016 06:29:00 CST

Fred Van Eps

Ramshackle Rag

Joel Hooks — Sat, 2 Apr 2016 06:27:00 CST

Fred Van Eps

Indian Summer

Neil Moret — Sat, 2 Apr 2016 06:26:00 CST

Fred Van Eps

The Buffalo Rag

Tom Turpin — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 04:10:00 CST

This is to accompany my arrangemnt posted in tabs.

Cotton

Albert Von Tilzer — Fri, 8 Jan 2016 08:24:00 CST

A ragtime-era tune I have been learning (slowly....)

White Christmas

Irving Berlin — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:47:00 CST

But for the blood

vlawson — Sun, 6 Dec 2015 05:27:00 CST

This is my first recording that I I played all the instruments on and sang all the vocals. Using studio one pro recording through presonus studiolive . My mics were Shure sm7b on the instruments and Rode nt1a on Vocals.

The Non Pareil

Scott Joplin — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:33:00 CST

A classic Ragtime piece written by Scott Joplin. It is played on a steel string banjo alone 2 guitars and a double-bass. It is from my new cd "The Belle Epoque Plays Scott Joplin". For more infos please visit my new blog: http://banjoragtime.eklablog.com/home-page-c27029852

Skeleton Dance

Norman Greenup — Fri, 6 Nov 2015 09:10:00 CST

Jolly Darkies

Alex Magee — Sat, 3 Oct 2015 19:00:00 CST

Classic banjo recording of a piece written by Brooks & Denton in the 1880s

Serenade

A. A. Farland — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:50:00 CST

Tremolo playing by Alfred A Farland. Finger style on gut strings.

Tam Lin - in the style of the late Dave Hum

niagra — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 02:04:00 CST

Sometimes known as Glasgow Reel. This version is in the style of the late Dave Hum in the belief that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. (Tabs available from www.davehum.com)

The Spanish Fandango

hobogal — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 06:52:00 CST

G tuning (CE Special banjo) - from the Bradbury book

The Water is Wide

Paul Roberts — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:24:00 CST

The Water is Wide is a folk song of English origin. I'm playing the prototype of a new double-course tenor banjo called the Octajo that Gold Tone is putting out.

Junk Man Rag

Fred Van Eps — Wed, 5 Nov 2014 15:18:00 CST

The Bell Chimes

Herbert J Ellis — Sat, 1 Nov 2014 08:06:00 CST

Classic Banjo (CE Special)

Sounds from the Cottonfields

J. H. Jennings — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 05:41:00 CST

First published in 1895, played on Banjeaurine and Regular Banjo.

Banjo Diddy

banjoeddie — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 06:00:00 CST

Here's a little Diddy that I put together. Its quite similar to Peaches and Cream. Very pretty and fun to play.

Hornpipe

Joe Morley — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:58:00 CST

This is a tune I wanted to learn after hearing it on a Clive Palmer album. It's interesting that it sounds so modern with melodic and single-string elements but was actually composed by Morley in the 1920s. The original score has a tricky third part which I have yet to tackle!

Shaeffer's Jig

hobogal — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 08:39:00 CST

This is a banjo tune that you may recognise from Clive Palmer's playing with The Incredible String Band - I've added variations from the 'Clifford Essex' arrangement. Can't quite play it up to speed yet - it's tricky playing with bare fingers. I get in a tangle!

James Buckley's Fancy Solo

James Buckley — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 18:40:00 CST

James Buckley's Fancy Solo, from songbook Early American Classics. Played on Helix Midnight Zephyr with Chris Sands Nylon Strings.

Has Hasapicos Sarvikos

SageAhava — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:50:00 CST

This is a traditional Greek dance tune (I believe). It was taught to me by a dear friend in Houston Texas. Enjoy!!

Dry Bones

Bascolm Lamar Lunsord — Thu, 9 Jan 2014 14:24:00 CST

Waltz with Variations

James Buckley — Sun, 5 Jan 2014 16:26:00 CST

Waltz with Variations from the book: Early American Classics for Banjo.

Shawnee Schottische

hobogal — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 10:58:00 CST

from 'Buehling's Folio', the composer isn't named but it is from the 'classic period'. Played on a nylon-strung 'CE Special' - trying to get used to playing without fingerpicks!

Alice, where art thou?

Joseph Ascher — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:00:00 CST

G-G-Granville, f-fetch your cloth! Though practically forgotten nowadays other than as the intro music for Open All Hours, "Alice, where art thou?", written by Joseph Ascher in 1861, was one of the most popular songs of its time. This typically sentimental ballad of a melancholy man lamenting the departure of a girl taken too soon is one of the quintessential standards of the popular music of the late 19th century. It was, like so many others, overplayed, and it eventually sank into oblivion. This arrangement was one of Alfred A. Farland's most popular numbers along with his variations on My Old Kentucky Home. It is a typical Farland showpiece that displays all of his fancy tricks, from chord tremolo to rapid rolls, arpeggios and runs. He displays a certain Thalberg-esque flair in the first section, which surprisingly develops into a very quiet tremolo part on the inside strings. He alternates regularly between these two registers until reaching a grand finale in which the melody dies out, accompanied by natural harmonics on the 4th string. Like most of his solos, this one has never been recorded before (to my knowledge). My performance is far from doing it justice, but someone had to do it! This style of playing is known as Classic style banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Halloween Special -- Skeleton Dance (Banjo duet)

Norton Greenop — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 05:50:00 CST

Captain Bones rattles out one of his favourite tunes on the bonejo, written by Norton Greenop over a century ago, as a duet with the famous French player, Eric Squelettelli. The composition is rib-tickling and humerus, and it was quite hip back in the day. This style of playing is known as Classic banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

International Cake Walk

BDCA — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 05:15:00 CST

Fred Van Eps Circa 1903 from an Edison Cylinder

LOVE

Alex Mal — Mon, 9 Sep 2013 11:19:00 CST

Original by Alex Mallett

Galop de Concert - Nassau Kennedy

AH Nassau Kenney — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 08:41:00 CST

The galop (not gallop) was a lively society dance in 2/4 time which was particularly popular during the second half of the 19th century; the Post Horn Galop, by Herman Koenig, is probably the most famous example of this dance. This one lacks a title; the "de concert" part was often added to dance forms (polkas, waltzes, etc.) meaning that the compositions were not actually meant to be danced to. It was written by a prolific composer and teacher for the banjo, A.H. Nassau Kennedy, born in Peterborough, Ontario, who came to England in 1894 and returned to his native Canada in 1924. He is probably best known nowadays for his "Colorado Buck Dance" which is featured as an introductory piece for the Classic Banjo style in "Banjo for Dummies" by Bill Evans.

Shuffle Along (on the new Weaver banjo)

Joe Morley — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:18:00 CST

One of the most fascinating things about Joe Morley is that, due to the fact that his carreer as a famous banjoist spanned about 50 years, he went through a number of musical fashions and styles, and his music adapted to suit them. His distinct style of Classic Banjo playing proved equally suited to ragtime, oriental foxtrot and jazz, as it was to the earlier forms of music he played. This runs contrary to the stereotypical view of Classic banjo peddled by many contemporary documentaries, which would divide banjo history into cut-and-dried "periods". Shuffle Along was one of the great musical hits of the 1920s. The first all-black musical show, written and performed by African Americans, Shuffle Along embodied all things jazz and it was a smash hit when it premiered on May 23rd 1921. Even though there is no date on the Morley composition, it is very likely that he was inspired by the show to write this jazzy swing number in the 1920's. Everything points to the fact that this became one of his most popular numbers -- young William J. Ball recalled hearing him play it at the 1931 banjo rally, and the minutes of the London Banjo Club record it as one of the last pieces he performed in September, 1937, shortly before his death. This solo is another example of Joe Morley's remarkable versatility as a banjoist and a composer, as well as the extreme adaptability of Classic Banjo as a playing style. The success of this composition endures to this day, as it was also recently adapted for guitar by Richard Yates. This style of playing is known as Classic style banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

The Sunflower Dance (Backup track)

Vess L Ossman — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:49:00 CST

I have recorded this backup track at the tempo I usually play the piece. Feel free to use it for your practice sessions, recordings or live performances -- and if you have found this useful, please let me know! I'm always glad to be of service.

El Certámen de Jaén (arranged for two banjos and one cello-banjo)

Lorenzo Suárez — Thu, 9 May 2013 08:40:00 CST

So I was researching on early fretted instrument ensemble traditions in the late 19th century and I stumbled upon this little gem. This obscure piece of music, written as a piano reduction to be arranged for ensembles (presumably marching bands) is a delightful march in the Spanish style written by a music teacher and businessman who worked in Jaén, Spain, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The title seems to indicate that he organised some sort of musical pageant or contest in his hometown, though I have not found any further information on this subject. He was apparently a representative of Heinrich Zimmermann of Leipzig, one of the foremost German musical instrument makers at the time. When I saw the score I felt it would make a great ensemble piece for banjos, so I arranged it for one first banjo, one second banjo and one cello banjo. The piece is surprisingly effective, with a nice exotic sound, and my arrangement only requires knowledge of a few easy chords in the keys of G and C. I would like to dedicate this performance and arrangement to the under-appreciated banjo legend, Alan V. Middleton, and to his Spanish alter-ego "Alonso Medio", the pen name under which he published a number of books and music for the guitar. This style of playing is known as Classic style banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Bonja Song

arranged by Alan V Middleton — Tue, 7 May 2013 09:13:00 CST

The "Bonja Song" is the first piece of printed music ever to mention the banjo. Published in the UK circa 1800, it is earlier than minstrelsy and it confirms that the banjo, or banjo-like instruments, was associated with Africans and their music at the time. This is also confirmed in period artwork, such as the "old plantation" painting. It was marketed as a genuine black folk song, though this is unlikely, as the lyrics are the usual condescending, racist and paternalistic fare of the times, though it is less hateful than many later minstrel songs. The melody, however, falls admirably on the banjo strings, as can be seen in the original piano sheet music. Could it be that the melody was indeed originally played on the banjo? We will never know. This little ditty remains, however, an important part of the musical history of the banjo. This has been arranged for the banjo for the first time by Alan V. Middleton, in his book "Early Minstrel Music for the Five-String Banjo", available from Clifford Essex: http://www.cliffordessex.net/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=148, and printed in both notation and tab. This is not a book about "minstrel banjo", but rather, a compilation of music from the time arranged for Classic style five-string banjo.

My Old Kentucky Home

Alfred A. Farland — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 06:48:00 CST

I wasn't really sure if I should upload this recording, but since this is about as well as I'm every going to play this one I thought I might as well. I've been struggling with this monster for over a year and, well, here are the results. Plenty of mistakes, some passages I still couldn't play smoothly if my life depended on it, crappy uneven tremolo... so, for me, this is a way of burying this solo for once and for all. The arrangement, in itself, is very nice, but it is far too demanding, so unless you're the ghost of Fred Bacon, don't waste your time on this like I did. There are plenty of great, pleasant and easy arrangements out there that are just as effective and a lot easier. Now that I got that off my chest... here's some small talk about this piece. My Old Kentucky Home was originally a minstrel song by Stephen Foster, which was introduced to the public by the famous Christy's Minstrels. Even though, like many songs from that time, the song contains ethnic slurs, Frederick Douglass, the African-American abolitionist and intellectual, said of it that "[it stimulates] the sympathies for the slave, in which anti-slavery principles take root and flourish." It has since become the state song of Kentucky, and, recently, the lyrics have been cleaned up to remove the ethnic slurs. Alfred A. Farland wrote and played this arrangement sometime in the 1890s, and it became an instant favourite with his audiences. The presence of such classic, "characteristic" banjo songs in Farland's repertoire is a nod to his origins -- he worked in a minstrel troupe for a number of years -- and to the audience's expectations. Although Farland never recorded this solo, his pupil, Fred Bacon (of the Bacon banjo co.) played two of the variations in his medley of Southern airs. This recording is available on the website of the Library of Congress, and you would do well to listen to the lightning-fast rolls to see how it's meant to be played. I find the rolling variation to be particularly awkward due to the fact that, unlike Scruggs rolls, these are triplet rolls and the melody is carried by the third string. The structure of the piece is as follows: - Intro - Theme - "Brilliant" variation - Minor variation (tremolo on 3rd and 4th strings) - Rolling variation - Tremolo variation This style of playing is known as Classic fingerstyle banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Sammy on Parade

Alfred D. Cammeyer — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:33:00 CST

Sammy on Parade was one of Alfred D. Cammeyer's most popular solos, though it is seldom heard nowadays. As a march it ranks with the best written for Classic Banjo, such as Return of the Regiment or the Palladium March. According to Bernard Sheaff, Cammeyer's star pupil, Cammeyer was inspired when he saw the parade of the American troops though London in 1917, after the USA joined the war. He reputedly wrote this solo in only one hour, and it was published shortly thereafter. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Home Sweet Home with variations

Herbert J. Ellis — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:03:00 CST

Home Sweet Home, written by Henry Bishop, is one of the world's most enduring and well-known melodies. It has also been a favourite with banjoists ever since the minstrel era, with arrangements composed and played by Frank B. Converse, Alfred A. Farland, Herbert J. Ellis, S. E. Turner, or Earl Scruggs. Sets of variations on melodies such as this one were extremely popular with audiences at the time and were therefore a staple of Classic banjo playing. This set of variations is probably one of the best of its kind, as it is neither too simple nor too difficult. It follows the following structure: - Intro w/cadenza (semi-improvised fancy ornaments) - Theme - Rolling/arpeggio variation - "Brilliant" variation (with fast, fancy ornaments) - Tremolo variation - Thimble variation (down-picking with a metal thimble pick) This style is known as Classic style banjo, for more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Hava Nagila (Arranged for Classic style banjo by Mike Moss)

Mike Moss — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:12:00 CST

Here's an arrangement I've made of this celebrated Jewish folk song for Classic style banjo. It is a bit of an unusual arrangement as it integrates as much of the bass line as the banjo's tuning allows for. This makes it a bit of a finger twister but the complete solo effect is also very rewarding. The illustration for the video is a statuette found in ancient Israel which depicts someone playing what looks like an early gourd banjo-like instrument. Here is a link to the sheet music for my arrangement: http://www.mediafire.com/view/?4yy0zebaf8zz3yn This style is known as Classic style banjo, for more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

The Palladium March (Weaver banjo)

Joe Morley — Wed, 3 Apr 2013 03:11:00 CST

As with the "Palladium Rag", the title of this piece reminds us of when Joe Morley led a troupe of 34 banjoists in the "London Palladium Minstrel Show" when the minstrel show was revived in the London Palladium in 1912, eight years after the closing of St James's Hall in 1904. During this time which harkened to the halcyon days when Morley played with the Moore and Burgess (former Christy) Minstrels, Joe featured as a soloist and dazzled audiences with some of his most impressive showpieces. The show eventually disbanded and Morley entertained the troops during the war in Alec Huber's concert party, "The Jesters". You can hear the piece played by the master himself (recorded after the war, as a duet with Olly Oakley) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIi4W-kZmaM

The London Club Parade

Joe Morley — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 05:17:00 CST

Some of you noticed the quality of the sound in my recordings has declined, lately. I took the microphone apart and found that one of the pins in the XLR connector had come loose. Fortunately, after rebuilding it, the sound has gone back to normal, as you can hear in this recording. This solo was written by Joe Morley when he was the president of the London Banjo Club, where he often played during the inter-war years hoping to stimulate sales of his compositions. This implied a considerable effort on his part as he lacked money for the return bus fare and he had to walk a long way home. The Club closed during WWII and re-opened in the 1950s. It has since closed for good, like most other banjo clubs, due to dwindling membership figures. I have recorded this solo on a Weaver banjo similar to the one Joe Morley used to play (pictured, centre).

The Policeman's Holiday

Montague Ewing — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 06:01:00 CST

So here I am, playing Olly Oakley's arrangement of the classic tune "The Policeman's Holiday" in honour of our resident Banjo Bobby and arranger extraordinaire on Classic-Banjo.Ning, Steve Harrison. You can also listen to the "genuine article" -- played by Oakley himself on his zither-banjo, one hundred years ago -- here on Youtube. Oakley was one of the most prolific and popular banjoists of his time. He cut countless records during the early days of sound recording and his skill in spontaneously improvising on solos or making up "variations" on the fly -- some would say making mistakes! -- means that he hardly recorded a solo in the same way twice. He played the zither-banjo in a brash, strident fashion and pulled a brilliant tone from it, in contrast to the popular perception of the ZB as a soft, subdued instrument. Unlike Oakley, I have recorded this on a regular (nylon-strung) banjo similar to the one Joe Morley would have played. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

A Sea Breeze

Joe Morley — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:13:00 CST

A medley of sea songs with a banjo twist, this is also one of Morley's trickiest solos to play at speed, in which Old Joe predates Bill Keith's performance of Sailor's Hornpipe by at least 50 years! Nothing new under the sun, eh? The songs/melodies in this solo are: 1 - Intro (Joe Morley) 2 - Tom Bowling (Charles Dibdin) 3 - Rule, Britannia! (Thomas Arne) 4 - Jack's the Lad/Sailor's Hornpipe (Anonymous) 5 - Outro (Joe Morley) Played on my new Clifford Essex Weaver banjo, similar to the one Joe Morley would have played. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Crying time machine

Garbageman5678 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:35:00 CST

Out of luck Jukebox

Choppers over Siagon

Garbageman5678 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:31:00 CST

Just what it is Welcome Vietnam Vet home to

Return of the Regiment - New Weaver Banjo

Emile Grimshaw — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:06:00 CST

One of Grimshaw's most famous solos, Return of the Regiment is a fun, rousing military-themed piece which cleverly incorporates a few bars from "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" towards the end. The late, great Bill Ball rated this as one of the greatest marches ever written for the banjo, and, like many Grimshaw compositions, it falls very easily on the fingerboard as any good solo should. Played on my new Clifford Essex Weaver banjo. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Carry On - New Weaver Banjo

Alfred Kirby — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:36:00 CST

This is Alfred Kirby's most famous solo and arguably one of his very best, with a great foot-tapping rhythm and a brilliant use of the fourth string, particularly in the trio part. One of the earliest recordings of this solo was cut in the 1920s by Kirby's friend, Ernest Jones, a zither-banjo player of no small skill who produced a brilliant, strident tone with his instrument. I have chosen this solo as the third in a series of recordings to demonstrate the capabilities of my new Weaver. The fourth string produces a fat, round bass that makes a neat contrast with the clear, nasal trebles. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

The Syncopatin' Shuffle - New Weaver Banjo

Frank Lawes — Sat, 9 Mar 2013 04:28:00 CST

A more modern composition in the Classic banjo repertoire, The Syncopatin' Shuffle is also one of the most popular and has been recorded countless times. Frank Lawes, also known as "Fifthless Frank" because he liked to play a 4-string banjo fingerstyle, was an outstanding player and composer with a characteristic foot-tapping, furiously syncopated style. He kept on composing pieces into the 1960s and was well known by banjoists on both sides of the Atlantic. I have chosen this as the second piece to showcase the musical capabilities of my new Weaver banjo, a 12" Classic-style cannon based on the banjo perhaps most famously played by Joe Morley. The tone has a piercing, nasal quality and has plenty of cut, with a fat, round bass on the fourth string, and "Syncopatin' Shuffle" called for both. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Cornish Dance No 1 - Cammeyer - New Weaver Banjo

Alfred D. Cammeyer — Fri, 8 Mar 2013 05:58:00 CST

This is an oddball composition by banjo standards -- it's complex, subtle and intriguing. Reminiscing about his late teacher Alfred Cammeyer, Bernard Sheaff wrote: "In this group I regard the "Cornish Dances" already mentioned as the composer's highest achievement - and I think Cammeyer did too. We both played them often - but not publicly, as far as I can remember. Of the "Dances" Cammeyer said more than once, "I know I've gone 'way above their heads this time but, anyway, they don't tread on anybody's toes." - the second part of his remark meaning that this work owed nothing to any other composer." I chose this piece as the first of a series of recordings to showcase the capabilities of my new banjo -- a brand new "Weaver" banjo, made by Garry Silvert for the revived Clifford Essex Company. Based on the Classic banjos by the legendary luthier Alfred Weaver most famously played by the legendary Joe Morley, it has a 12" rim with block construction, made out of English oak and with a Chakte Viga tone ring, a mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard. Strung with heavy nylon strings it is an absolute cannon with a crack like a whip, but it can also be subtle, quiet and extremely musical, with an almost zither-banjo like voice, when called for. This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

The Kilties

Emile Grimshaw — Mon, 4 Feb 2013 06:41:00 CST

A fun solo by Emile Grimshaw which includes the Scottish classics "Highland Laddie" and "Annie Laurie". I've only heard two recordings of this one -- one by Olly Oakley, who played the entire thing very fast and with his typical rhythmic flair, and another by Charles Mansell, who slowed down for the Annie Laurie part. I play it "Oakley style" throughout and at full speed -- even though "Annie Laurie" does sound a bit comical played fast! This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/