nosepickerbob - Posted - 12/02/2016:  22:50:22

Earl was smokin' on this one : youtube.com/watch?v=u31HmnFIgzk

He was very lively on this song and looked excited compared to other times I've seen him.

And his knees during the tuner passages had me laughing.

Hope you enjoy,

Nose.

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 12/04/2016 10:14:37

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/03/2016:  05:19:01

Nose,

thanks for posting. A great video. But it made me schizophrenic. I want to go play my banjo and burn it at the same time. some of the best video of earl's right hand.

Ken

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/03/2016:  06:57:49

Thanks for posting, here is another one:



youtube.com/watch?v=-ZkIlGcFKZA

northwoodspicker - Posted - 12/03/2016:  08:38:57

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave1climber

 

Thanks for posting, here is another one:



youtube.com/watch?v=-ZkIlGcFKZA

---

That was just awesome, take a lesson on solid backup right here. Thanks for posting!

Jack Baker - Posted - 12/03/2016:  10:26:30

Great videos,

Let me just add that I see a lot of postings about backup and improvisation. As a teacher for many years, I've learned that it takes an extreme amount of patience to teach this to students as they all have great difficulty with this part of banjo playing. Why? Well, because it requires hours of practice and making decisions on your own and putting it out there for people to listen to. I try to persuade students to listen very carefully to what they are playing and do it ten thousand time.

Also, it's spontaneous and takes a certain kind of courage and confidence. I believe that it will come in time. It does take a lot of patience and that's the hardest part. Hang in there and just do it all the time. Work on your left hand chords and memorize the F shape and the D shape up and down the neck and identify where you are placing these chords and what they are....Jack  p.s. I personally would advise beginners not to listen to so many "pros" doing or teaching backup until they get down the basics first. People get exhaused doing it too quickly and too much information...

Edited by - Jack Baker on 12/03/2016 10:29:20

northwoodspicker - Posted - 12/03/2016:  14:56:08

+1, Thanks Jack for your tips.

BTW does anyone know what the tune is in the video of Earl and Frazier?

5stringJim - Posted - 12/04/2016:  05:48:29

Yeah, and listen to Earl's tone throughout both videos, and the general sound of that Granada ! Not recorded using big reverbs, studio equipment or any sound-altering devices, shows the potential of great prewar Gibsons. In case there was any doubt 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/04/2016:  08:11:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by 5stringJim

 

Yeah, and listen to Earl's tone throughout both videos, and the general sound of that Granada ! Not recorded using big reverbs, studio equipment or any sound-altering devices, shows the potential of great prewar Gibsons. In case there was any doubt 

---

I hope Warpdrive does not shoot me for saying this, but maybe it  equally or more-so shows the magic in Earl's hands. Some of the prettiest banjo I have heard came from a Stelling in Sonny's hands doing Banjo Medley.

Ken

youtube.com/watch?v=kXCd_DC7FCQ

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/04/2016 08:12:16

warpdrive - Posted - 12/04/2016:  14:26:00

Ken, i am one of the few people that do understand that the magic was in Earls hands and not his banjo!

And your assessment of Sonny's banjo medley on that Stelling is spot on also.
I remember talking with Sonny about that Stelling, and he liked the tone, but had trouble with keeping it in tune, and i also experienced the same difficulty with a Sonflower that i owned, it was great with the tone and volume, more volume than any other banjo, but i had trouble with overtones and tunning also.

The Chief deserves every bit the legend status he has, in many ways, he was equal and at times, better than
Earl, Why? because he could play all of Earls stuff, and his stuff too.
When the Chief was on, and really feeling it, with his Granada(earls was never as good sounding as the Chief's)
The Chief was like Zeus, standing on stage with a lighting bolt in his hands, absolutely deadly!
Warp!

southerndrifter - Posted - 12/04/2016:  15:05:28

I don't believe you can truly teach backup. Oh sure, you can teach the licks or the notes, but backup has to do with feeling. In fact, it's really ALL about feeling! Lead playing will be pretty much the same......i.e. pretty structured. If you play a song's melody, it remains about the same from player to player. But when it comes to backup, what is played depends on what is being played (What or who you are backing up) and how it is being played. The best of the backup players, rarely play backup for the same tune, the same way, twice. And it's more "trial and error" with years and years of experience factored in. It's probably the most difficult part of banjo playing to master........and equally as difficult to teach!

Gabejohn_ - Posted - 12/04/2016:  16:17:05

Wow great find, Thanks for posting!

Such great note seperation and tone

The Old Timer - Posted - 12/04/2016:  20:30:56

That's some rare video of F&S and the Foggies (including Sech). Earl looked wound up. Flatt, not so much. Look at that subtle single step Flatt took to open up space for Earl to back away for Paul Warren at the end of the first break.

nosepickerbob - Posted - 12/05/2016:  00:31:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Old Timer

 

That's some rare video of F&S and the Foggies (including Sech). Earl looked wound up. Flatt, not so much. Look at that subtle single step Flatt took to open up space for Earl to back away for Paul Warren at the end of the first break.

---

I've always seen that in all of their videos.

They were so perfectly choreographed that everybody got to take their break and step out in perfect time.

They were the coolest.

Nose.

5stringJim - Posted - 12/05/2016:  00:45:43

Yeah, Ken and Kevin, but note I used the word "potential" regarding the prewar sound !  I've previously remarked on the sound of that Medley clip of Sonny with the Stelling, Absolutely stunning tone, and testament to how these guys could pull tone.

warpdrive - Posted - 12/05/2016:  01:17:24

That is right Jim, proof of the "magic hands" is the audio clip of Earl playing his "vega Scruggs model" i forget the song, but i think it's shucking the corn, it was on one of the radio shows i've listened too, and the vega sounds just as good and his granada,
As for sonny, i got to watch him play not only his Granada, but his Rocky Top before he sold it to Aaron, and many of the first Chief Banjos, before he retired, he would play them on stage, then deliver them to the customer at the festival site.
Sonny has big hands, and i swear you could see a banjo come to life the minute he put picks on the strings.

I've seen many people play a banjo that sonny was playing weather it was the Granada, or Rocky Top, or a Chief, and "NOBODY" ever came close to getting the tone out of his banjos the way he did, it was like the banjo was on Steroids when sonny was really in it, especially his back up, Not even Earl,(imho) could match sonny for his inventivess for back up, and the "Bellesque"tone high up the neck on the Granada to my hears, has never been matched, he could do the two finger last fret f tickle(thats what i call it)and the hair would stand up on the back of my neck, simply amazing to watch and more special to hear!