Kate Somerville - Posted - 04/30/2013:  07:44:23

mudthumper.com/sittininthecatb...book.html

Not one that likes tablature but loves Walt's playing, this is the closest I have ever come to sounding like him and get a feel for his particular snappy rhythm.  I am on my third tune learning from this book;  I am sounding pretty good, because the tunes are good. And I wish he would do the same treatment for his other tunes.  He's got lots of tunes tabbed out, but not published.  His tabs do help learn some snarly but makes-sense moves in service of keeping that rhythm going.  C'mon, Walt, can we have s'more then?

p.s. Book/cd set is on sale til May 15.

chip arnold - Posted - 04/30/2013:  07:49:41

This is one of the best things to happen to old time banjo learning in ages. Buy the book/cd!!!!!!

J-Walk - Posted - 04/30/2013:  08:00:18

Kate, which three tunes have you learned? 

I can play Peas and Taters, Br'er Bear, and (almost) Run Down Shoe.

Kate Somerville - Posted - 04/30/2013:  09:37:51

I started with Peas & Taters, learned Sittin' In The Catbird's Seat, and am on to Stone Road.  Want to get Br'er Bear and Chinquapin Pie in soon.  I like that Waltz too.  I learned Down At The Mouth Of Old Stinson, but need to smooth it out and get some speed.  These are tabs I can live with!

INFP47 - Posted - 04/30/2013:  15:44:32

How difficult is this tablature? Is it likely that someone with just basic drop-thumb skills could benefit from it? I'm tempted to get the book but I don't think I'm ready to replicate Walt Koken's playing.

J-Walk - Posted - 04/30/2013:  17:07:43

I'd say it's for "intermediate" players (whatever those are). But it's always good to push yourself. If you listen to the tunes and get them in your head, the tab will guide you. Eve if you can't recreate his playing, you'll most certainly pick up a few things.

Kate Somerville - Posted - 04/30/2013:  19:32:43

I agree with J-Walk.  Anyone who can drop-thumb can do a pull-off and hammer-on.  And there several tunes in there that are rather basic for that and don't force you up the neck, which for me is some work.  Hammer-ons and pull-offs are good rhythmic tools and add flavor.  You gotta go there.

INFP47 - Posted - 05/01/2013:  09:13:36

J-walk and Kate - Thanks for the input. I can drop-thumb, hammer-on and pull-off. My problem is with rapid combinations of them, especially above the 7th fret. I'll give it a try.

banjo_brad - Posted - 05/01/2013:  17:12:43

I ordered the CD & book last night. I like Walt's playing, but I doubt I'll do much work on any of the tunes that go up the neck. I'm just not that kind of a banjo player, preferring to stay below the 7th fret. I've always been a first-position player on guitar, venturing up the neck only on occasion.

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 05/02/2013:  02:31:27

On the up the neck stuff, that what my thinking, too.  However, I dabble in the black art of up-picking, and two bluegrass instructional DVDs – one by Bill Keith and the other by Bill Evans -- convinced me of the utility of learning the whole neck, and full chord forms.  That made some elements of clawhammer such as practiced by Walt somewhat more accessible. 

The Bill Evans DVD: amazon.com/Power-Pickin-Backup...000TD1I7C

The Bill Keith DVD: homespuntapes.com/CatalogueRet...ctType=27

One doesn’t have to buy the videos to get a sense of the capabilities conveyed in these instructional materials.  Some samples are available on Youtube:

Bill Keith:

youtube.com/watch?v=4PEqPa9BG_E

and especially:

youtube.com/watch?v=xyNS6anrp_o

and for Bill Evans:

youtube.com/watch?v=PuVF8TVgG5A

I admit, the “application” to clawhammer might be in the mind of the beholder, but this is what got me started on trying to find up the neck possibilities for down picking.

For me, the other part of the equation comes from studying Mark Johnson’s clawgrass techniques.  See youtube.com/watch?v=blWJ8-E6T14 and youtube.com/watch?v=Ohe9vY1Es3E

I don’t practice this or apply all of it in everything I try to do in clawhammer, but it has opened up a range of possibilities for me.

I was lucky enough to find my way into a Walt Koken workshop in northern VA some years ago.  That helped immensely. 

Play hard,

Lew

Kate Somerville - Posted - 05/02/2013:  05:03:53

youtube.com/watch?v=Hh_qODzNf28

youtube.com/watch?v=0hRKUrxgV1s

I'm sure you found this yourself, but it was nice to hear it again.  He should post some from the book!