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lespik - Posted - 09/28/2010: 08:34:54
I had noticed a little bit of bashing myself. I could listen to Earl all day and never get tired of it . I surely can't see any reason to talk smack about him on an internet forum...
bosborne - Posted - 09/28/2010: 08:57:42
quote:
Originally posted by stringbreaker
no, i said earl was overrated and repitious. that the music he played with his sons was horrible.
i got threatened, harrased, and told to post soundfiles. if i have to have soundfies to have opinion then those asking me to post better get some better ones. soundfiles dont make a persons opinion wrong or right.
the anti earl isnt more present than those bashing modern players. on here, modern bluegrass banjo cant play a melody and use blues inappropriatly.
I notice that you've got Bela Fleck on your list of favorite musicians. Who do you think Bela cites as
the best 3-finger banjo player? None other than Earl Scruggs. Think Bela might know something about banjo players?
pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs...leck.html
pickNgrin - Posted - 09/28/2010: 09:18:46
Most of the folks who tear down Earl, or rebel against what they perceive as worshipping, hold up other players as being superior: Bela, Jens Krueger, Bill Keith, Noam Pikelny, etc.
The crazy thing is... all of those "superior" players would the first ones to tell you how important Earl's contributions were! I have read a lot of interviews with great players, including the ones listed above, and to my recollection not one of them shares the view that Earl was overrated. Quite the contrary... they all recognize that Earl's made a seminal contribution to the music world and worked very hard to unlock the secrets of his style.
In becoming masters themselves, these guys all were either directly inspired by Earl, or inspired by somebody who was in turn inspired by Earl. They all recognize and appreciate the sublime beauty of the Scruggs style, and used it as a foundation to build their own sound.
The bashers all seem to view music as some sort of competition: "this guy is great and everybody else sucks". I have yet to hear a truly great musician who speaks from that point of view.
-matt
Edited by - pickNgrin on 09/28/2010 09:24:10
xplainer - Posted - 09/28/2010: 09:36:39
Although I would never "bash' Earl, it does get tiresome hearing "that's not how Earl did it".
I'm not Earl and never will be that talented.
And, although maybe not appropriate here, there is a saying that the prettiest rose in the garden gets picked.
stringbreaker - Posted - 09/28/2010: 10:36:54
im not bashing earl im only stating my views about his music. i think he is overrated and that earl didnt grow much as a musician at all. belas opinion is no more right than mine or anybody elses. does the better you play the banjo make you more right?
what about people who dont play banjo at all and dont like all earls music? they arent entitled to there view and must be wrong?
i didnt say modern players cant play a melody. thats what these guys were saying on another thread
Edited by - stringbreaker on 09/28/2010 10:46:11
stringbreaker - Posted - 09/28/2010: 10:45:14
quote:
Originally posted by Banjo Tater
quote:
Originally posted by tbfnyc
quote:
Originally posted by Banjo Tater
Name one banjo player who has the flow and the solid sound of each note that he plays. Name one banjo player who writes tunes like Flint Hill Special, Earls Breakdown, Foggy Mountain Breakdown ect. No one can compare to his music legacy.
Don Reno
Don Reno is a good banjo player but he very sloppy in alot of his playing. I have albums with him playing 'Kansas City Railroad Blues' and he goes up the neck and he flubbs it bad. Really Bad. Earl Is MUCH better.
id like to hear earl even attempt kansas city rr blues. or limehouse blues, or even a fiddle tune with notes don played!
Edited by - stringbreaker on 09/28/2010 10:46:47
androo - Posted - 09/28/2010: 10:46:33
It's very important to keep the sound of traditional banjo music alive but it's also just as important to encourage the new direction in which the banjo is being taken.
jethrobodine - Posted - 09/28/2010: 10:58:29
There you go. Yall done call the #1 Earl basher out from under his rock.
Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 09/28/2010: 10:58:54
Can be done... Both recorded Dear old Dixie...
Earl's complexity of playing lead and backup was established early and shows in Hundreds of songs, Each has its own originality and surprises.. The bar was set so high, that the ultimate had been achieved... There are/have been some fine and talented muscians... But NO ONE has even began to approach Earl and his contribution, except in limited areas..
I have never heard any accomplished musican dis Earl in anyway! The higher level and that an individual gains, the more understanding, the more appreciation they realise for Earl..
anything else is usually just blanton iggnorance, lack of knowledge..no use wasting breath.. Its kinda like the Harley thing, If they have to ask... Their not gonna understand the answer...
Edited by - Kenneth Logsdon on 09/28/2010 11:00:47
Gymbal31 - Posted - 09/28/2010: 11:26:53
Here’s a story that might explain some of the anti-Earl attitudes. It might be true. Or maybe not.
Little Billy wanted a puppy.
It was the fall of 1975 and Billy played banjo. He wasn’t a popular boy at school. He was 11 years old and always carrying around a case with a 13 lb. stringed instrument. He wasn’t a big kid either. In fact, he was the smallest and youngest in his family of 9 children. He was a “surprise” in the family and a full seven years younger than the next oldest. He had 6 brothers and two sisters. All were great athletes. His sisters were spoken of as potential Olympic volleyball players. His brothers all lettered in three sports in high school and received multiple scholarship offers for college.
It didn’t look like Little Billy would ever be an athlete. But he loved his banjo.
His parents did what they could to help him. They found him wonderful banjo lessons in Murray, Kentucky. And while Little Billy was competent at the banjo, he didn’t show any prodigious ability. But that didn’t keep Billy from telling everyone he knew at his small school that he would someday be a great banjo player.
Billy’s attitude created great animosity amongst his classmates. His lack of friends made him and his parents sad. A new school year had just begun in September of 1975 and Little Billy’s relationships at school were getting worse. So his parents agreed that they should grant Billy's wish for a "friend" of his own. they would get him a puppy.
Billy’s father had a cousin in Nashville who could provide a puppy for the boy. They only needed to get the dog to Murray, Kentucky. His father’s cousin worked at the small airport outside of Nashville where many private plane owners would take-off and land. He happened to notice the flight manifest for one particular plane was leaving soon on a trip to Murray, Kentucky. He eagerly called Billy’s father to tell him. He had a flight that could deliver the puppy to Murray. Not only that, the plane was being flown by Little Billy’s hero: Earl Scruggs.
Standing with his father at the small airstrip in Murray, his banjo in hand, Little Billy eagerly awaited his new friend, his first real friend, and of course, Mr. Scruggs.
That was thirty-five years ago today. The puppy was found wandering the airfield a week later. The small dog had survived the crash just fine. But the damage was done. Little Billy didn’t understand how his hero could let him down so badly. He never got to meet Earl Scruggs and he never got his friend.
And perhaps he still holds a grudge to this day.
dflowers - Posted - 09/28/2010: 11:51:14
I like the story about when Earl was first developing his Scruggs style. He played it for his brother as he walked up to old home place. This was the beginning. Embrace it or do not embrace it. In my heart and soul, I know what is right. And so do you all.
Ronnie - Posted - 09/28/2010: 12:17:39
The 5 string banjo is ever-evolving. Mr. Scruggs added his own ideas to the styles of the North Carolina 3 finger banjo pickers he listened to a child and created a unique sound of his own. I have met and spoke with several well known professional banjo players and they all cite Earl as being a great influence on their music or the inspiration that caused their initial interest in the banjo in the first place. People have come up with new ideas, of course, but Earl is highly respected for his contributions. I have not spoken with Earl in many years, but he has always been a humble, mild mannered gentleman. I still play those LP's and continue to be spellbound!
Gymbal31 - Posted - 09/28/2010: 13:26:57
Now my serious reply.
In the past year or so, I've spoken with several well respected, professional banjo players who have worked for most of their lives around the country and around the world, have multiple recordings available for everyone to listen to (some have won many awards for their banjo playing) and whose names are mentioned often here as the best current banjo players around. I've seen and read interviews with others of equal stature. When asked what banjo player has had the most influence on them, all say some slight variation of, "Well, of course, Earl..."
Fortunately, I don't have to take their word for it. I can listen to Mr. Scruggs myself, watch video any time I want. Hopefully, I will have the time and chance to make a trip to Nashville the next time he is playing at the Ryman (should have done it this last July. Stupid job.). I don't take anything away from anyone currently playing banjo. Incredibly skilled players and I wish I could play like them.
But it all starts with Earl Scruggs.
tbfnyc - Posted - 09/28/2010: 14:26:31
quote:
Originally posted by Gymbal31
But it all starts with Earl Scruggs.
Actually, (with no disrespect to Earl Scruggs who is a great man etc., etc.), it all starts with Snuffy Jenkins. Earl Scruggs refined and popularized Snuffy's three finger style.
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 09/28/2010: 15:22:12
quote:
Originally posted by tbfnyc
quote:
Originally posted by Gymbal31
But it all starts with Earl Scruggs.
Actually, (with no disrespect to Earl Scruggs who is a great man etc., etc.), it all starts with Snuffy Jenkins. Earl Scruggs refined and popularized Snuffy's three finger style.
But Snuffy had no other influences? he just came up with that style out of nowhere?
It 'starts' way back, but modern banjo does start with Earl - just look at his influence on the rest of us.
Laurence
Edited by - Laurence Diehl on 09/28/2010 15:22:51
tbfnyc - Posted - 09/28/2010: 16:22:08
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence Diehl
quote:
Originally posted by tbfnyc
quote:
Originally posted by Gymbal31
But it all starts with Earl Scruggs.
Actually, (with no disrespect to Earl Scruggs who is a great man etc., etc.), it all starts with Snuffy Jenkins. Earl Scruggs refined and popularized Snuffy's three finger style.
But Snuffy had no other influences? he just came up with that style out of nowhere?
It 'starts' way back, but modern banjo does start with Earl - just look at his influence on the rest of us.
Laurence
Well if you want to start talking about
influences then we could go back to Joel Walker Sweeney who supposedly added the 5th string. Or maybe back to friggin' Africa. But this isn't a thread about banjo history.
To quote Jim Mills, "Snuffy learned the three finger style directly from both Smith Hammett and Rex Brooks
the two men most claim to be the earliest proponents of the style. Both of these men reportedly played with only a thumbpick and fingernails, or just their fingernails."
It was Snuffy who added the metal fingerpicks but more importantly
it was Snuffy Jenkins who had the radio show that Scruggs and Reno both listened to. Whenever he performed live near Scruggs' or Reno's home town they would show up and hang out with him backstage.
Mills goes on to say "Snuffy was 20 years older than either of these two boys who would have been approximately 10 to 14 years old at the time. It's almost unimaginable that they didn't look up to him as a musician. Snuffy had been playing the three finger style of banjo since 1927 and was heard on the two most listened-to radio broadcasts in the area since 1934. Therefore I see this man, Snuffy Jenkins, as one of the most important men in history concerning the creation of bluegrass banjo playing as we know it today."
So what Jim Mills is saying here is that "modern banjo" as you put it, starts with Snuffy Jenkins.
BTW Snuffy also was a previous owner of Earl's famous Granada which he sold to Don Reno who eventually traded it to Scruggs for "Nellie".
Edited by - tbfnyc on 09/28/2010 16:39:56
MickG - Posted - 09/28/2010: 17:04:16
The three-finger style of playing "rolls" goes way back. In a publication by S. S. Stewart in 1880 entitled "The Banjo by Ear", he describes the "three-finger style of playing (using thumb, index, and middle fingers), and tablature in his publication shows forward, backward, rolls, etc.
Check the attachment. Top of page 2 describes the "modern" three-finger style. Scan down through the tabs and note roll patterns.
Three-finger style of playing banjo is the culmination of many years of trial and error by many players. But Earl is the man who refined and mastered the style for application to a bluegrass setting and set the standards for the rest of us to build on. Earl's playing goes beyond the mechanics of three-finger; he has that uncanny musical ability to find what sounds good for a song. To paraphrase John Hartford " ... Earl doesn't just play banjo, he speaks with it ..." This ability combined with impeccable Timing, Touch, and Tone is what makes me listen to him over and over and over.
Thanks Earl.
Mick
Edited by - MickG on 09/28/2010 17:41:40
Richard Dress - Posted - 09/28/2010: 17:14:18
Very well said, Mick.
larry p - Posted - 09/28/2010: 17:32:51
Far as I'm concerned-nobody played 'Scruggs Style' before Earl Scruggs. He made his own 5th string capo and his other capo while working at Lily Mills, and nobody was playing stuff like 'Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms' in that style, or taking inventive breaks on stuff like 'Toy Heart' with the dropped 'D' into 'C' tuning, or 'Why Don't You Tell Me So' out of 'F', or 'Down The Road' up in 'B', or playing those incredible back-up phrases on stuff like 'Baby Blue Eyes' or 'I'll Go Stepping Too', or taking it to the young audiences with the 'Revue' as memorialized on the 'Live At Kansas State' album, or rocking with it like he did on 'The Swimming Song' & such. Of course there were other people playing the banjo with picks, and playing some really good, entertaining music, but 'Scruggs Style', in my mind-begins with Earl Scruggs, just like 'Reno Style' begins with Don Reno-I'm sure Mother Maybelle, Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, and Merle Travis must have heard other players in their formative years-but seems to me that they are responsible for their incredible styles.
I'm reminded of a quote I read somewhere; "If you know, no proof is necessary. If you don't know, no proof is possible".
I'm profoundly grateful myself for the enormous contributions these great artist/trailblazers have made, and continue to make
stanleytone - Posted - 09/28/2010: 18:03:20
quote:
Originally posted by lespik
[I could listen to Earl all day and never get tired of it . I surely can't see any reason to talk smack about him on an internet forum...
I feel the exact same way about ralph's playing!
tbfnyc - Posted - 09/28/2010: 18:36:28
quote:
Originally posted by stanleytone
quote:
Originally posted by lespik
[I could listen to Earl all day and never get tired of it . I surely can't see any reason to talk smack about him on an internet forum...
I feel the exact same way about ralph's playing!
Ditto for Don Reno
Edited by - tbfnyc on 09/28/2010 19:29:10
patrick martin - Posted - 09/28/2010: 21:57:02
I like anybody that plays the banjo.
skoobee - Posted - 09/28/2010: 22:10:45
As someone not from the States, who has grown up with Bluegrass and Old-time music as a musical oddity, I have to say that Earl was the one who introduced me to Bluegrass Music and the Banjo as an instrument.
Does that mean he's the best player of a 5-string banjo ever? I don't know. What I do know is that without Earl and his undoubted popularisation of Bluegrass music around the Globe, there would be a much smaller market than there is now, and a whole lot less people playing.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I'm an old-time man myself, but I can still appreciate that Earl made a massive diference to modern Banjo music (and even not so modern banjo music!). Whilst 'bashing Earl' is a perfectly healthy thing to do - which of us hasn't complained at some time of the seeming incompetence of our predecessors - I don't think it's a discussion that's going to yield a consensus.
I suspect those who don't appreciate Earl, his music, and his contribution to music, aren't going to change their opinions any time soon. And those of us who do appreciate the man, his music and his achievements, can let Earl and his legacy speak for itself.
Just 2p from an intersted observer.
gdoc - Posted - 09/28/2010: 22:56:00
Class envy... and Earl's all CLASS!
stanleytone - Posted - 09/29/2010: 05:03:22
i bet there is more smack talk about ralphs playing than any other big name banjo player.
it's always"all he does is a forward roll", or they'll play the 10th fret choke lick with a rodney dillard like look on their face.i have many of ralphs breaks tabbed out in the photos section of my bho homepage.it may open some eyes to how ralph really plays,especially how he takes a scruggs lick and makes it his own.
one thing i have noticed is that i ve never seen or heard ralph play foggy mountain breakdown,and ive never seen or heard earl play clinch mountain backstep.that may be a sign of mutual respect.
thombanjo - Posted - 09/29/2010: 05:28:55
quote:
Originally posted by stringbreaker
im not bashing earl im only stating my views about his music. i think he is overrated and that earl didnt grow much as a musician at all. belas opinion is no more right than mine or anybody elses. does the better you play the banjo make you more right?
what about people who dont play banjo at all and dont like all earls music? they arent entitled to there view and must be wrong?
i didnt say modern players cant play a melody. thats what these guys were saying on another thread
As far as opinions and valuing some over others...let's say you have heart pains...your wife has an opinion. your mailman has an opinion and your doctor has an opinion...each is entitled to an opinion but which one carries more weight?
minstrelmike - Posted - 09/29/2010: 05:38:35
The heart analogy doesn't hold up because we're talking about entertainment (preference), not physics or geology or biology (knowledge).
If you are going to let performers judge entertainment value, then it holds up, but performers aren't the ones who create the popularity. The audience does that. And if you start measuring by audience size, then you get immediately to the 'truth' that pop music is the best music of all because it has the biggest audience.
Using that flawed approach always brings me back to personal preference and the social analogy of churches and believers. And again, Earl ain't the one who is doing the over-rating; it is the people who think he's being bashed when it is really on their own personal ideas that are being questioned.
thombanjo - Posted - 09/29/2010: 05:53:44
I see your point ...i think we are agreeing...I am talking about performers' opinions based on their knowledge of the instrument, not popular opinion
Edited by - thombanjo on 09/29/2010 06:14:40
The KIDD - Posted - 09/29/2010: 07:09:46
" I think we're agreeing"....mmmm? Dont think so....I 
..I think the wife or the mailman had better scrub for surgery...
stringbreaker - Posted - 09/29/2010: 12:45:56
quote:
Originally posted by Ronnie
Let's add (blind) Mack Woolbright to the mix. Compare his 1928 (Earl was 4 years old) "Home Sweet Home" to Earl's 1960 recording
youtube.com/watch?v=27VbHEfjcPs
youtube.com/watch?v=yl9hMSWi9IQ
bingo, see my blog.
its a blatant ripoff. he ripped off snuffy on cumblernad gap, sally goodwin, dear ole dixie.
stop acting like the guy created this stuff. he was in right place at right time. with few exceptions, he doesnt give the people he ripped off credit either.
smoothing out a few rolls and playing same licks for 50 years will get you famous.
Edited by - stringbreaker on 09/29/2010 12:51:39
stringbreaker - Posted - 09/29/2010: 12:49:11
quote:
Originally posted by minstrelmike
And again, Earl ain't the one who is doing the over-rating; it is the people who think he's being bashed when it is really on their own personal ideas that are being questioned.
.
Edited by - stringbreaker on 09/29/2010 12:50:02
stringbreaker - Posted - 09/29/2010: 12:55:38
earl and belas opinion arent some objective truth in music anymore than the 1000s listening to miley cyrus.
the better you play the more right you are? and all those millions of non banjo playing people that dont care for bluegrass and banjos are wrong, because they dont see things the way you do?
great banjo players dont have a market on truth.
Edited by - stringbreaker on 09/29/2010 12:59:27
archtop717 - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:26:09
I respect and admire how he plays and all he has contributed. But the other day I was listening to Bluegrass on XM and heard a Banjo solo that just wasn't up to par compared to others I had heard that day and I made a comment to my wife " how did this guy get on the radio, and I found out it was Earl. I was taken back and wondered how I felt about that.
I still don't know.
Banjophobic - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:30:41
Earl never 'ripped off' anyone. Everyone who plays an instrument does the same thing: we absorb sounds we hear around us as we learn to play. No one can create music in a vacuum and its impossible not to have the influence of others in your music. Listening to these other players like Snuffy, Hammet,Woolbright,etc just shows you that Earl was actively listening and absorbing good things from these players. Carefully listening to what Earl did in honing his music reveals that his style has its own unique syncopation and elements, much differnt than his perres at that time. His drive /feel was his own. Much of his licks and phrases are his own design. He could take someones idea at the time and remake it to fit the new 'bluegrass' music style. These other players were great, but thier styles were not 'bluegrass' oriented. I could listen to you play and say you 'ripped off Earl" if I hear you play the Boogie Woogie lick. Did you consciously attempt to 'rip him off'? I'd bet not, but that you learned a lick that you liked,used it and it became part of your banjo style. Since you wont post any music, we will never know how much of Earl you use in your playing. If you can play, I bet you dont want to reveal this fact since it would make you a hypocrite.
Im saying this for others who might read what you write and think theres merit in it. But in reality, theres nothing but trolling BS, for the most part. Anyone with a brain can read your 'claimed' influences and know that they all revere Earl and know what the truth is about him. You choose to hide behind a keyboard, call him a " bad musician, with a bad ear, who never was creative" and now, he's a" thief".
From these comments you also reveal that you dont know much about the banjo in general, since you dont understand that to learn songs, you copy the versions you hear..uh, because they are the versions you have to work with. Theres no " thievery" in this. Music is mostly an aural art form and thats how tunes are usually passed on to others. Earl never claimed to have written the songs or these versions. He has publicly given credit to all the great players he learned from. You are the guy who makes it his online lifes mission to smear him and its quite a sad little life you've created. Add to that your need to Troll, and well, its doubly sad..
Edited by - Banjophobic on 09/29/2010 13:38:00
jethrobodine - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:35:45
Stringbreaker, on this topic, other topics and heck, even on your homepage, you have made it very clear that you despise even the air that Mr. Scruggs breaths. I for one happen to adore him more than you could even imagine despising him. Your hatred towards him is beginning to seem obsesive, even lunatick-ish. I think every single member here on the hangout is very, very aware of your views towards Mr. Scruggs. Your response on this subject is the same in every single thread, almost "copy and paste" same.
Please, it's time to give it a rest.......really, just chill out.
pickNgrin - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:41:19
This thread is well past its useful life for me, but to stringbreaker... I offer you this sincere suggestion:
Form a band that plays the stuff you like with no hint of Scruggs influence, and call the band... wait for it.... Auntie Earl!
-matt
oettingm - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:45:03
I think some of you on this thread need to take a deep breath, back away slowly from the computer keyboard, and pick up a banjo! Isn't that the real reason of all of this? Many respect Earl, and Ralph, and Doug Dillard, and Bela, and (fill in the blank with your favorite). They all made contributions. Let's keep the focus on the playing and the instrument and the music, not the credit or "who did it best" or "right"!
Banjophobic - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:46:38
quote:
Originally posted by archtop717
I respect and admire how he plays and all he has contributed. But the other day I was listening to Bluegrass on XM and heard a Banjo solo that just wasn't up to par compared to others I had heard that day and I made a comment to my wife " how did this guy get on the radio, and I found out it was Earl. I was taken back and wondered how I felt about that.
I still don't know.
I remember the first time I heard Earl make a goof-up on one of the live albums. Someone mentioned to me how shocked they were and that it may lessen their admiration for him. I was shocked that the guy would loose his admiration, from a few goofed licks. I could count on my fingers how many goofs there are in these recordings. Most of the time, Earl recovered quickly and no goof he made detracted from the over all performance. If anything, it made me respect him even more, He's human and makes goofs.
As far as performances go, Ive never heard any that made me think any less of his talent. Yes, maybe I liked some cuts better than others but Ive never heard any that made me think "that guys shouldnt be on the radio". If those of us who have been recorded and played on the radio want to be honest about it, we could say "man, I could have played that one better...I wish they wouldnt use that one". But in reality, most folks would have no issue with it. We tend to judge it really harshly as banjo players.
Edited by - Banjophobic on 09/29/2010 13:47:43
Banjophobic - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:51:19
quote:
Originally posted by minstrelmike
And again, Earl ain't the one who is doing the over-rating; it is the people who think he's being bashed when it is really on their own personal ideas that are being questioned.
Thanks for that online therapy session..I needed that
I happen to think its "Earl" whos being bashed on these thread comments. Maybe I need an inkblot test and see butterflies in it, or maybe its just that Earl is being unjustly bashed.
MickG - Posted - 09/29/2010: 13:57:21
quote:
its a blatant ripoff. he ripped off snuffy on cumblernad gap, sally goodwin, dear ole dixie.
Snuffy Jenkins wasn't the orginator of three-finger style nor many of the songs he played:
In the book "Masters of the 5-String Banjo" Snuffy says that he got songs from Rex Brooks and Smith Hammett (including Sally-Goodn'). He says that he got Dear Old Dixie from the Barnett Brothers.
Snuffy says of the three-finger style --- " ... I don't think anybody knows for sure who started it. I'm getting credit for a lot of it, but I didn't do it. I got it from somebody else and he got it from somebody else and he got it from somebody else ... The only thing I claim is, I believe and don't know for sure, that I was the first one to go on the air with it in 1937 ... "In "Masters of the 5-String Banjo" Earl says that he was influenced by Smith Hammett, Mack Woolbright, Snuffy Jenkins, and Fisher Hendley. He says about Woolbright ..."The G7 chord he played in Home Sweet Home was one of the most thrilling sounds I had ever heard ..."
So who was the real originator of some of old songs Earl plays? He was listening to the same players Snuffy copied from, etc. Who did Rex Brooks, Smith Hammett, Woolbright, copy, etc, etc, etc.
The bottom line is that the versions of a lot of songs we hear played today have been floating around for many years (origin unknown) being played by many folks in slightly different ways. Music (especially folk song) is an evolution process. Musicians have been "borrowing" from one another for centuries, massaging and modfying what they learn into slightly different versions of songs. And that process continues today.
As relates to old-time folk songs, mountain music, public domain fiddle tunes, etc., to say that someone ripped off such-n-such a song from so-in-so is ludicrous. Because so-n-so probably copied it from someone else, etc, etc.
Edited by - MickG on 09/29/2010 16:29:00
stanleytone - Posted - 09/29/2010: 14:03:23
quote:
Originally posted by jethrobodine
Stringbreaker, on this topic, other topics and heck, even on your homepage, you have made it very clear that you despise even the air that Mr. Scruggs breaths. I for one happen to adore him more than you could even imagine despising him. Your hatred towards him is beginning to seem obsesive, even lunatick-ish. I think every single member here on the hangout is very, very aware of your views towards Mr. Scruggs. Your response on this subject is the same in every single thread, almost "copy and paste" same.
Please, it's time to give it a rest.......really, just chill out.
maybe it's not so much earl that stringbreaker is tearing down,but rather the altar that his many fans have built to him
excuse me while i go burn a candle at my little ralph shrine..............
stanleytone - Posted - 09/29/2010: 14:04:56
quote:
Originally posted by justryin2play
now THAT is hilarious!!!!i get it!!!!
Banjophobic - Posted - 09/29/2010: 14:06:24
quote:
Originally posted by stanleytone
quote:
Originally posted by jethrobodine
Stringbreaker, on this topic, other topics and heck, even on your homepage, you have made it very clear that you despise even the air that Mr. Scruggs breaths. I for one happen to adore him more than you could even imagine despising him. Your hatred towards him is beginning to seem obsesive, even lunatick-ish. I think every single member here on the hangout is very, very aware of your views towards Mr. Scruggs. Your response on this subject is the same in every single thread, almost "copy and paste" same.
Please, it's time to give it a rest.......really, just chill out.
maybe it's not so much earl that stringbreaker is tearing down,but rather the altar that his many fans have built to him
excuse me while i go burn a candle at my little ralph shrine..............
Make sure its a 'stringbreaker scented" ,and burn it a long time..............
Edited by - Banjophobic on 09/29/2010 14:10:06
stanleytone - Posted - 09/29/2010: 14:31:40
quote:
Originally posted by oettingm
I think some of you on this thread need to take a deep breath, back away slowly from the computer keyboard, and pick up a banjo! Isn't that the real reason of all of this? Many respect Earl, and Ralph, and Doug Dillard, and Bela, and (fill in the blank with your favorite). They all made contributions. Let's keep the focus on the playing and the instrument and the music, not the credit or "who did it best" or "right"!
you may be right ,but isnt this more fun than talking about "what fingerpicks do you use?
we need something like this once in a while to wake us up,and to examine just what it is that draws us to the banjo or to a certain artist's style.i was playing guitar and singin bluegrass for years before i picked up the banjo,and while i admired any and all good banjo playing,it was ralphs drive and sound that made me want learn it.
if you listen to earls "sally ann" then listen to ralph's"fling ding" they are the same song,both done to perfection,but done completely different.if im feeling rsather uptownish,ill play sally ann.if im feeling downtownish,ill play flingding.
whats the point im trying to make here?? i have absolutley no idea!!
minstrelmike - Posted - 09/29/2010: 15:15:34
quote:
Originally posted by Banjophobic
...or maybe its just that Earl is being unjustly bashed.
If it is a bash, then it is unjust. OTOH, if it is just a criticism or differing opinion, then you're the one going overboard, not the person who you happen to disagree with. I see the same thing with religions and computer operating systems. Some folks take any question as an assault on their beliefs.
alfiedog - Posted - 09/29/2010: 15:39:42
I am pretty new to the Banjo. But i do pride myself on being a pretty good judge of chracter. Now as far as Earls Playing i think he is awesome. But apart from that seeing the Guy being interviewed he comes across as a really Humble Guy.
Ebanjo - Posted - 09/29/2010: 16:00:22
Guys, We just need to quit paying attention to guys like stringbreaker who know it all and have their hind ends up on their shoulders. As I've said before, consider the source and ignore
it.
Eric Ellis
P.S. Earl is a talented and humble man.
Ebanjo - Posted - 09/29/2010: 16:08:35
Marty, You made a good point in your post about backing away from the computer and picking
up our banjos. You hit the nail on the head with that one. And by the way, that's a nice looking
Beagle with you there. They're fine dogs.
Eric Ellis
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