maxmax - Posted - 01/08/2008:  04:09:04

---

Hi folks!

I was just picking out Dwight Dillers version of Washington's March which he uses f#ADAD tuning for. I am quite enjoying this tune but figure that I'll never play it if it's the only tune I play in this tuning (even though I actually tuned it up one step to g#BEBE since that makes more sense to me). Do you guys know of any other tunes that work well in this tuning? I know that he also plays Boll Weevil in it, but I'm not super keen on learning that one right now.

Thanks in advance,
Max

vernob - Posted - 01/08/2008:  06:25:13

---

From my notes, f#ADAD D variant: "John Henry", "Dead Man's" tuning. See also g#BEBE, below. Roscoe Holcomb, Old Smokey ("The Music of Roscoe Holcomb & Wade Ward". Greg Jowaisas, Valley Forge ("Old Time Banjo Pieces". Bob Carlin, Payday ("Where Did You Get That Hat?". John Les, Elkhorn Ridge (not recorded). Dwight Diller, John Henry Blues ;Washington's March ("Piney Woods". Paul Brown, The Old Man's & Old Woman's Quarrel (Grumbling Old Man...), from Fields Ward (Tab, BNL, Aug 1994). Stu Jamieson, Georgie Buck (fretless banjo) (" Banjos, Lamas & Bagpipes". Dwight Diller, John Henry Blues ("Harvest: West. Va. Mountain Music" . Ernie Fasse (communications to Banjo-L) has also, on his fretless banjo, been delving into this tuning, e.g. for Dance Boatman Dance; Say Darling Say; If I Lose Let Me Lose; Billy Wilson.

Does this help?

Bruce Vernon

"A gentleman is a man who knows how to play the banjo, but chooses not to." - Mark Twain

"Don't worry about mistakes. There aren't any." - Miles Davis

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 01/08/2008:  12:17:14

---

"Shavin' a Dead Man"
I got it from a recording of Oscar Wright, but couldn't give a reference now.
The only thing I can direct you to is my "Drop-Thumb" CD.

R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917

ndlxs - Posted - 01/08/2008:  17:04:39

---

There are several pieces on the 3 volume Clawhammer Banjo series from County Records that are in that tuning; the liner notes quote Bob Carlin as saying they are in open G, but they ain't. I contacted Carlin, and he was a little unclear on the answer, either the notes were old ones from the vinyl releases or else the tunings were not provided by him.

I can't tell you exactly which ones right now, I think there is a version of John Henry by Glen Smith in that tuning, and I recall a version of Old 97 too.

Andy Alexis
Sacramento, Calif

maxmax - Posted - 01/08/2008:  18:55:48

---

Thanks a lot Bruce, R.D. and Andy! Some great tunes there for sure!

Best,
Max

J-Walk - Posted - 01/08/2008:  19:25:14

---

This is not an answer to your question, but have you tried playing Washington's March in Double C? It works out pretty well, actually.

BTW, I'm just like you in that I tend to avoid learning tunes in odd tunings because I simply won't play them.

torhougen - Posted - 01/08/2008:  21:08:49

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by maxmax
(even though I actually tuned it up one step to g#BEBE since that makes more sense to me).

---

Funny you mention this tuning at the same time Frank Proffitt is mentioned in the other thread.

I think I first came across this tuning on zeppmusic's ever helpful banjo tuning site.
http://www.zeppmusic.com/banjo/aktuning.htm
I started using it to practice claw hammer and often sang and played the tune "Warfare".

Later, after hearing "Satan your Kingdom Must Come Down" (on the High Atmoshere CD) I tried recording a version of it.
Using the tunings mentioned in the Frank Proffitt thread didn't work for me, so I tried the "Dead Man's" tuning you mentioned above.

Tor

---

Edited by - torhougen on 01/11/2008 01:15:23

steelhead - Posted - 01/08/2008:  21:27:45

---

I think this has been discussed before but Jonh Hermann does a couple tunes from the Banjo Gathering CD in the g#BEBE tuning. "Old Man Can Your Dog Catch A Rabbit" and "Protect The Innocent" which to me sounds like "Shaving A Deadman".

CageyK - Posted - 01/08/2008:  22:08:33

---

I think Dwight also has "Low D Blues" in this tuning in his Yew Piney Mountain tab book.

CageyK

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 01/08/2008:  23:07:08

---

I highly recommend R.D.s "Drop Thumb" both the cd and the book. Clear clean accuratley written tabs. His "Cotton Blossom" is equally good. There is a lot of good material in them.
"Shaving" was re-titled "Protect The Innocent" for the O and E Wright album and that is also the title the Fuzzy Mountain Band recorded it under. It is one of the prettiest tunes ever written.

There is something rather "Spinal Tap" about tunes like "Shaving...", "Half Shaved...", "Big Footed...", and a few other with titles in similar bad taste. Think of the scene where Nigel is sitting at the piano demonstrating his new composition for Rob Reiner.

Rocket Science Banjo, Chapters 1 - 4.1 REVISED is ready now
oldwoodchuckb@yahoo.com
You can watch the videos for some Rocket Science Banjo subjects starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdRuf4X0X7g

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 01/09/2008:  04:12:55

---

Thanks Tony.

There's something that is primal about those tunes. They are all fairly simple, but just seem to capture the essence of what banjo playing is all about. If I engage in a free-association type of thing, those tunes bring up visions of an old guy playing in a tobacco barn for me. I think visualizing your music can really help put you in the proper frame of mind to play it.

"Half-Shaved...". Another great tune. Be sure to tune your 5th down to "E" for it (eCGCD). I didn't figure that out for awhile.

I personally like the f#ADAD tunes up in g#BEBE in a solo situation. It helps with the rubber-band like tendency of the low-tuned 3rd and 4th. On "Drop-Thumb" I spazzed out and left the capo at the second fret and so "Shaving a Dead Man" actually did come out in "E". The best choice is to tune up rather than capo though.

R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917