schlange - Posted - 05/06/2015:  15:40:09

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Key of A – aEAC#E

Yes! That’s right. This week we tackle a waltz. And yes, the bonus this week is a short waltz workshop on how to play the 3/4-waltz rhythm with the clawhammer stroke.

This week’s tune again comes from the fiddle playing of Kenner “KC” Kartchner. Kenner was born in Snowflake, AZ back in 1886 and is important in the old time music world in many ways. A wonderful fiddler who’s music we urge you to find and take a listen to. His biography “Frontier Fiddler” is likewise a great study of early US and Arizona fiddling and history. This is not a very common tune yet but we do see it growing in popularity, which is why Dan included it in his latest book Old Time Favorites for Clawhammer Banjo (Melbay 30224 and its fiddle companion 30225). In the Clawhammer version you will find 2 lines of tab (basic and advanced) as well as a standard notation line. The fiddle version has 2 lines of standard notation (basic and advanced) as well as a line of mandolin/fiddle tablature for those not yet reading the dots.

The recordings Dan has are the one by Kenner himself and another by Rafe Stefanni on his CD Glory on The Big String – which does have clawhammer banjo playing for you to hear. That CD is well worth getting to hear not only this tune but also Walk Along John to Kansas (tunetorial 41) – another Kartchner tune (which also appears in Dan's Clawhammer Favorites book) and many other great tunes.

As in past weeks, Dan just plays the tune and breaks down sections on the fly.

Feel free to post any questions you have on it, remark on sections you would like clarified or things you might like added. Yes even the things you don’t like are fair game. It grows the tune and the community when you know what you like and don’t like as you build your own style. 

You can purchase the video lesson (for unlimited streaming and download) here on the Banjo Hangout for $6.

Get it here >

Feel free to post any questions you have on it, remark on sections you would like clarified or things you might like added. Yes even the things you don’t like are fair game. It grows the tune and the community when you know what you like and don’t like as you build your own style.

It would be great to hear some of your versions so far so post them here for all to hear!