warpdrive - Posted - 12/07/2018:  08:50:17

I only met Bobby the one time at Winfield Ks, when he and brother skip were staying with my friend tim bennett from wichita, and yes, for me too, it was like meeting a rock star, and yet he was so nice, and we had so much fun over the next 4 days, in jams, and talking shop.
I always like that tune he played, i think it was called "the big apple"?
All of the wooten family was so talented, and it was such a good festival when they had one.
I remember there was a local Little Rock tv station "kark" that had a early morning local talent show that would air, and i used to get up early before school and watch, that is were i first seen The Wooten Brothers, this was in the early 70's, and i guess we were one of the few people at that time in Jonesboro that had cable, so i was lucky to see the show.
Warp!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/07/2018:  09:11:13

Yes Warp. December 7 - a day that will life in infamy. Never forget. Thank you for saying.
ken

Mooooo - Posted - 12/07/2018:  13:10:01

Here's a few tunes just sent by Kevin. Life is like a Mountain Railroad, Shuckin' the Corn, and Kevin's daily slow warm-up tune: The Weaping Willow Tree. Enjoy

VIDEO: Warpdrive: Life Is Like a Mountain Railway, Schuckin' the Corn, The Weaping WIllow Tree
(click to view)

 

JMalmsteen - Posted - 12/08/2018:  04:59:25

Nice picking! Hope things get easier soon for you.

warpdrive - Posted - 12/08/2018:  06:14:52

Saturday, Nov 8th, 8:03am

Good morning.

This will be short, as i have laundry going up the street at the laundry mat and we have sleet coming down as i type. There are already various power company trucks from out of state, staged at walmart) i had to go in there this morning, and buy a new space heater, my big one shot craps yesterday, and the small one is only good enough to heat me and bernidine wilst we sleep at night, so another expenditure i didn't count on and what do you want to bet, we lose power, and i won't be able to use it anyway? My lucky streak of bad luck is still holding.

The latest video was just spur of the moment, so apologies to all if it seems like i'm not as with it, but seriously, i am running out of ideas of anything i could do that would be different or remotely interesting, i am just like you guys, i practice the same way, as you, i'm sure i don't have as nice a banjo as some of you, but, with my ears, i don't know that i could tell a lot of difference anymore or not!

I just finished my breakfast and my laundry should be close to dry, so i'd better get on up the street, i'm glad i choose to my laundry today, seeing how this weather is looking, and not knowing how long it takes to get the power back on around these parts.

Ok, if you guys have any request(and no, my banjo won't fit there LOL!) let me know.

Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/08/2018:  10:45:42

Something in some kind of open D tuning would be nice. Maybe Rockwood Deer Chase, or Black Mountain Rag, Hard Times, something we've never heard of... I'm sick of Reuben. Or, can you play us something using your Cheat-a-keys? Whatever you like.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/08/2018:  10:50:17

Moo, I want to thank you for your contributions on the page and for helping Warp get his stuff out there. You have made many contributions to the hangout community and this is another one This thread is a lot of fun.. Man it would be good times having folks like you and Warp and the ones that really love it at a big campfire.

Thanks again. Good job!

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/08/2018 10:52:17

Mooooo - Posted - 12/08/2018:  11:44:49

Thanks Ken, From Greylock to Bean Blossom, I appreciate it. My part is pretty small in this thread. I have the easy part of sitting at home and putting a video on YouTube then linking it here. Kevin's got the real hard part, in addition to all the years of learning and performing that he's put in, he also has to come up with arrangements to our requests...it's pretty impressive...then he has to video tape it, drive into town, than upload it to an email, which takes forever, then, I guess he can have a cup of coffee.
I would love to sit around the campfire with you guys. That's a great idea for a Banjo Camp/Festival. The BHO Campfire Festival. I would probably sit back and pick on the guitar most of the time, because, I am sure most of you are better than me. Imagine all the learning. Somewhere in the middle, like in the Ozarks would be nice. I love the mountains.

jlsorbit - Posted - 12/08/2018:  19:17:21

Wow Warp! My thoughts are with you.

Thanks Moooo.

FlyinEagle - Posted - 12/08/2018:  20:53:37

Well, even if I wasn't stimulating your creative juices warp, I loved hearing you pick that tune. That's one of the pieces that made me want to learn.

Maybe you can do a melodic tune...your choice.

I'm on board with a BHO fest, Mike. That would be crazy fun.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/09/2018:  03:55:46

Warp,
It seems like your part of the country is famous for ice storms. They are tougher than snow storms IMO. good luck with it. Hope your power stays on and you can read this.
ken

warpdrive - Posted - 12/09/2018:  08:58:50

Sunday Dec 9th, 9:40 am..McDonalds,

Good Morning,

Yesterday was wintertime on the mountain, although winter doesn't officially arrive until the 21st.
We had misty ice and rain mixed with snow most of the day and although ice gathered rather quickly on raised surfaces, no power outages that i am aware of. During the night it must of snowed some, because i awoke to a bit more than a dusting, i'd say about a inch or so of wet snow, about 2 minutes work for clearing my Trailblazer, but then i'm used to Cincinnati winters.

Once again, thanks for the kind comments on my picking. Jeff , so glad you liked my shucking of the corn, and Moo, "rock wood deer chase is one of my favorites, and i work out in open D quite a bit, so i'll get to work on some d stuff for you.

The sun is bright and shinny and if i was going to drive very far at all, i would need my welders because of reflective glare from the snow and ice cover, it's almost painful.

I made me a big ole pot of Egg noodles and scrambled eggs last night......Whats that....you've never heard of that? Well hear ya go......

You get a big ole pot that you boil water in, and a bag of large, or what ever kind of noodles your partial too, and boil them till there good and soft, ya know, almost just before limp.... Then you scramble about 6-8 eggs, and dump them in the drained off noodles, and then (here's the good part) you take a stick of butter and drop in the mix of noodles and scrambled eggs, and stir it all up, add salt and pepper to flavor and buddy you got some comfort food that will hold its own with anything. This should last me 2 or three days, and it just gets better and better, each time you re-heat it.

Last nights opry was just so, so, and here lately, i keep having deja vu of a conversation i once had with "a legend" about preforming past your prime, to put it "BLUNTLY" performing when you just have lost all reality of bad you sound and living on your past.

I have so much respect for the legends decision to retire when it was time and as he put it, "not be lead to the microphone" as he watched other opry members do in there advanced years and declining abilities.

Here lately there is a steady stream of opry members that really are struggling to get even remotely close to pitch, i am just embarrassed for them, but i guess it's harder to conceal than if your just a musician, than a singer, the old pipes can only stay good for so long.
Which brings me to my next subject matter...."knowing when to say when"!
Guys, we don't get to always decide when we are no longer cognizant of our abilities or the loss of them, and it's up to others to sometimes let you know, and sometimes decide for you, that hey.....you just aint cutting it anymore.
Guys, i expect the same from you, (not that i ever did cut it). But what started as a yearly video for Christmas, has snowballed into a whole other animal, and i am having fun with it, but i stay really self-conscious of the fact that i'm just a hangout member with nothing but time on his hands, and questionable ability, so when it does become mundane and "just another old fart playing the banjo" PLEASE, PLEASE, LET ME KNOW!

Ok guys, don't read too much into that last paragraph, Bernidine and Andy have trouble giving me insight, and y'all is all i gots!

Well, that first cup of coffee got cold towards the end, those last 2 swallers just didn't do it for me, so this would be a good time to refill...be right back!

Allrighty, i can't tolerate cold coffee, and it befuddles me how these people can drink that cold, iced, crap, mixed with pop and tea, and juice, i just don't get it, but......then again......the same thing was said about Melodic Picking when it first debuted along side Scruggs style, so what the heck do i know?

You know, in this thread earlier, you guys were talking about sitting around a campfire and having a hangout party, and that sounds good, (depending on which way the smoke is blowing),
but i must admit, i did my roughing it back at Ft Riley, and i mean we lived in the sticks, i remember one year, our Firing Battery set a post record for most training days in the field, and out of a 365 day year, we were in the field that year a total of 283 days, which included three trips to the National Trainning center in the Mohave Desert, before they built all those new barracks, so my idea of roughing it now a days, is a hotel room/suite or cabin, or Class a motor home.

I've often wondered why some of you guys haven't banded together and had a banjo hangout workshop?
I have my reasons for not doing it, #1 is money, #2 Bernidine and Andy, i don't leave them alone or board them anymore, but if the situation was to be just perfect it would be nice to get together with some of y'all and jam, and no, i'm not talking about sitting in the circle of death, with notebooks of tunes and music stands, i'm talking real , adult, jamming like you see at Spbgma and IBMA, just off the top of your head, and if its' good don't worry about getting to shine.

I think i've posted this before, but it bears repeating. Some of the best jams i've been in where at winfield ks, in fact, they were the best, probably because it wasn't always just hard core traditional bluegrass nor the participants in the jams i was involved with.

Ive been with friends at jams, and we've went out of our way sometimes to "invite just the right pickers" and try to pre-plan a killer jam......It fell flat on its face. You can't fabricate a good jam, they just happens, and it takes all pickers of various skill levels both in the musicianship and vocal categories.

This one year, we got started right after the stage shows closed somewhere in the 11 pm range or later, enough time for some of the booked musicians to get off stage and change out of there stage clothes and into there "walking around looking like normal folk clothes".
We had a jam going down from stage 3 and the part of the campground that is closest to the highway, and inline with the throughway to the concession area.

If there were 5 of us, there were 25 of us, on banjo in this group i remember it being my old buddy Greg Cahill, Steve Huber, Sonny Smith, James McKinney stopped through, and there were other banjo pickers sitting, just content to watch, then there was at least 5 guitars, 2 or three mandolins, two or three different bass players switching off sharing one bass, one or two good fiddlers , and the killer part of all this was...for me...."The Vocals" Greg Cahill was always good about having his whole band in the jams and they didn't just hog it all so that you were getting a Special C show all over again, it was very evenly balanced. although the songs ran very long, to let everybody that wanted a break, play there break, i could walk away and down to the concession, get a cup of coffee ,and get back before my turn in the song came around.

Of course the next day(especially if there was an adult beverage or two that happen to make into the mix) the morning brought about a show of its own. I recall a guy using a bass cover for a sleeping bag, and waking up under one of the campers, and un-zipping and crawling out just like that is what you did at a bluegrass festival.

Ok guys, i guess that's enough of the war stories and days gone past, but it would be nice to think about it, just once more before the skill set go's huh?

I'll get back to the house after a supply stop at Walley World, and start to work on some the new request, if i don't get back out later today to post it, i will do it first thing tomorrow.

Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 12/09/2018:  09:52:34

Enjoying your stories warp, and the picking - wow! when you're no longer great, I guess I'll have to let you know! 

+1 on the Winfield jams, I used to go there in the 70's (remember them)? and I'd  be in a jam with a guy from California on my left, someone from NYC on my right because people came from all over the country (and beyond) 'cos that where all the best pickers were to jam with. I even went up against Mark O'Connor in the guitar contest (I think he won everything except banjo that year) Duh! - I didn't win! Fell to pieces just hearing him warm up backstage. Keep on keeping on!

warpdrive - Posted - 12/09/2018:  09:58:57

Hah,
Larry, your Mark O'connor story, sounds like my Mike Snider Story, although your Mark O'connor story is one of legend, that year he did win every category except banjo and that is they year of the famous "dixie Breakdown on guitar, it has never been done or duplicated!
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/09/2018:  13:29:30

All I can say about this one is "Wow"

Here's Warpdrive picking Bluegrass Breakdown at warp speed, enjoy:

VIDEO: Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix picking Bluegrass Breakdown incredibly fast
(click to view)

 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/09/2018:  13:59:53

DAMN!! WOW!!!

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/09/2018 14:00:23

RB-1 - Posted - 12/09/2018:  14:02:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

Hah,

Larry, your Mark O'connor story, sounds like my Mike Snider Story, although your Mark O'connor story is one of legend, that year he did win every category except banjo and that is they year of the famous "dixie Breakdown on guitar, it has never been done or duplicated!

Warp!

---

Kevin, I can't believe he didn't win over Mark O'connor.

I mean, that time we picked together, I was mightily impressed. Too shy looking up...

Feels like a different century to me now. Probably because it was........

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mooooo

All I can say about this one is "Wow"



Here's Warpdrive picking Bluegrass Breakdown at warp speed, enjoy:

---

You haven't lost your chops, haven't you?

Good grace o mighty.....

Edited by - RB-1 on 12/09/2018 14:05:19

warpdrive - Posted - 12/09/2018:  14:14:15

guys i apologize ,

I don't have a good reason for playing something that fast, other than i'm just afraid of the days ahead when i might not be able to,....so there ya go!

There is another one that i sent to Moo a few minutes ago, that i did entirely out of D as requested.

Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/09/2018:  15:22:21

I'm gonna keep everyone in suspense for the night. I think we should all take a serious listen to Bluegrass Breakdown and fully enjoy it before listening to the new video. Two in one day might send some of us to the emergency ward. I am drunk with power. Mooooahahahaha... I will upload this in the morning so everyone can enjoy it with coffee.

patrick martin - Posted - 12/09/2018:  18:12:04

That fast, that clean, that’s good.

Mooooo - Posted - 12/10/2018:  02:34:20

Good Morning Warp and everyone, here's something to chew on while you're drinking your coffee, Kevin put together a nice video all in Open D for your enjoyment and inspiration. He picks Rockwood Deer Chase, Steam Powered Aereo Plane, Banjo Riff and Choking the Strings. Steam Powered Aereo Plane in D is the perfect key for me to sing in, and now it's time to sing along with Warp, enjoy everybody, thanks Kevin.

VIDEO: Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix picks in Open D
(click to view)

 

lyndabee - Posted - 12/10/2018:  03:23:05

Good morning Moooo, Warp, and everyone :-)



What a cool version of Steam Powered Aereoplane! I really enjoyed that. And I haven’t ventured yet into any Reno tunes, but your Banjo Riff has me wanting to devote some time listening to him on YouTube.



Warp, I really appreciate your postings, your observations and recollections...



And Moooo for posting your videos and everyone who’s sharing thoughts and memories here...



My video request is that I’d love to see both your hands while you’re picking, if it’s possible to get them both in view in the videos?



Also, any upcoming guest appearances coming of Bernidine and Andy? :-)



Hope today’s a good day y’all!

lynda

Edited by - lyndabee on 12/10/2018 03:24:41

FlyinEagle - Posted - 12/10/2018:  04:18:54

Might be my favorite video yet. Steam Powered Aereoplane is top shelf.

jlsorbit - Posted - 12/10/2018:  05:56:14

That's solid playing. Thanks guys.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/10/2018:  06:06:59

Thank you Warp and Moo,
A great selection of tunes. Banjo Riff has always been one of my favorites. I think I like Steam Powered Aereoplane best the way you played it. Must confess. I could not wait for the coffee. I attended this morning's concert while it was brewing. But will have the coffee for the re-run versions today. 12 degrees here in southern Indiana today. Warp, don't feel bad for not bein up this far north today.
Thanks again, Wonderful playing and great music. A great way to start the day.
Ken

warpdrive - Posted - 12/10/2018:  07:35:25

Monday, Dec, 10th, 8:47 am..McDonalds

Good morning.

Once again, i find myself in Awh of the positive and nice comments you all have given me on my picking, Thank you so ever much!

Lynda, i will try to be more mindful of showing both hands in the vids, but i don't know what good it will do ya, i'm not a trained, lesson taught picker, and I'm sure i'm doing everything backwards to what the professional pickers and lesson givers do it, so it may do you more harm than good, if your looking for pointers.

As for future appearances from Bernidine and Andy, they don't seem as eager when i'm on the couch, usually from where i shoot the indoor vid's, andy is right behind the camera in the recliner, and Bernidine is usually down on the floor, either sleeping or snouting around for an illegal snack, but i will ask them if there about ready to make a cameo again.

You know, i kind of thought in this last vid that "Steam Powered Aereoplane " might end up being the sleeper.
I've always loved the tune, and something just came to me one day when i was in open d and noodling around, i stumbled across the melody lines, and it just fell together, rather easily, and after i worked out the up the neck break, i found that i just liked playing the tune, each and every time i was in open d, and it always makes me miss John Hartford, what a treasure he was.

I'm not sure what i can do for the next vid, you guys have seen pretty much all my capabilities, i am in every sense of the phrase " a one trick pony", i will see maybe if i can come up with a Tuner Tune or two that isn't done very often, but that is a tall order, once you get outside of the 4 that Earl did, and the one that Alan Shelton made famous.
I have no idea about how to play "bear tracks" never attempted it. I might can pull off Stoney Mt Twist (crow's name for it) i've always heard it as Walt's Breakdown, after the great Walt Hensley, i dunno?

As i was saying, i'm afraid i am running out of material, i'm used to playing breaks to singing songs,
To me, that is where the good banjo pickers shine, not that instrumentals are a give me, but they do take on a different and bit more concentration when you are playing them without some backup to hide the mistakes and intonations, i tell ya, i can't wait to have a healthy banjo in my hands again one day!

I think the temps might touch 50 today. We had just a touch of re-freeze last night, but nothing i had to put the 4x4 into play for, but it was cool this morning, probably in the low to mid 20's....i think, at least that is what it felt like.
My new space heater is working out nicely, really does a good job(it better for 50$!).

Watched the most of a Elvis Special last night (pledge drive's, you never know what these hillbillies are gonna like!)
This one was interesting, it was a 25th anniversary shot back in 02 that the original band members and a added orchestra all played together in the Pyramid in Memphis in sync with the video of Elvis, and as good as it was, i just can not move past the fact, that like me, (and i've never played with anybody that famous)it was just a bunch of old farts, trying to re-capture there glory days. "Really" is this what life as a senior is all about?

"I DONT' LIKE IT" NOT ONE DAMN BIT!"
But i guess we don't have a choice do we? So I guess i will choose to take comfort in the thought that right now, thanks to you guys, this is my Glory days!

Ok guys, again, don't read too much into my personal dribble, i have way too much time on my hands, and sometimes my thoughts get a bit on the poison side, any good shrinks that might be lurking, i'd be willing to trade some banjo lessons for Therapy, just a thought!

I guess this will do it for today, as i said, not sure about when the next video will pop up, but when it does, Moo will be the first to know,LOL,
Thanks again to all, and Mike MOO

Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!

bill t - Posted - 12/10/2018:  08:57:08

I've enjoyed your playing. Don't know if you're looking for tuner tune suggestions.
Have you ever played Bela Fleck's "Texas Barbecue"? I use to play it. It's not
terribly difficult and is, I think, a good tune.
All that said, please play whatever you like. Your playing's excellent. Thanks, Bill

lyndabee - Posted - 12/10/2018:  11:07:46

Warp,
Don't worry about getting your hands in there or that I'm seeing these as "teaching" vids... it's just me being a sponge, trying to soak it all in from the players I like :-)
Lynda

Edited by - lyndabee on 12/10/2018 11:08:09

Mooooo - Posted - 12/10/2018:  13:22:55

My first concert was Elvis back in '77, I probably saw those old farts picking in that special. Yepp, my grandparents, who took me, were the coolest people around.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/10/2018:  17:43:32

Warp, I wish I was there with my Hatfield to let you play on it a bit and do it some justice.
ken

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/10/2018:  18:01:11

Well Warp, You asked so I will keep riding that hoss till he give out. Would you mind playing a version of Oh Holy Night using the what I call tremolo style that you played on Just A Closer Walk with Thee. I love the slow stuff played that way and that is one of (I think the prettiest) Christmas songs.

I love this little ladies singing and she does a great job on it. What a beautiful little lady with a huge voice. Here is a good Christmas fireplace for you and the dogs Warp: youtube.com/watch?v=Gec2NfUZM-E

Ken

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/10/2018:  19:31:46

Warp,

Let me ask you another question. I got into Haggard on the internet tonight. And I got stuck on the great tear jerkin song: Sing Me Back Home. A great song. is there anyway a banjo can fit in that song or are there some the banjo doesn't fit. What a great song. I can't imagine it on the 5 though. Maybe just chords/melody if that makes sense.

See, that kind of messes me up. I was getting ready to go downstairs and play but then I get that song in my head and it does not fit anything I can do and I don't know if I can get it out of my head to play something else.

sober as a judge although you may not believe it.

ken

youtube.com/watch?v=5PEwBdCeINg

BTW. Glenn Campbell was playing guitar on that song!

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/10/2018 19:35:56

dmiller - Posted - 12/10/2018:  21:35:51

Hey there Ken, how are you doing, eh?  After reading your post (while practicing fiddle)  - - I put down the fiddle (since the fiddle fits along with dang near any and every song regardless of style/ genre/ etc./) and picked up the banjo to try and pick along with "Sing Me Back Home".  That's a great tune that'll forever stand the test of time.  I think it can be done with banjo (imo)  with no problem, but then again I'm not the "Scruggs style" picker you are.  With my history of being more of a melodic banjo player  (and also playing fiddle and mandolin in square dance bands) -  - I've learned to adapt to slower tunes with all the instruments, so I might have "versatility" on my side.  I don't know - - just a guess.



Sing me Back Home isn't the easiest song to pick banjo along with, but if you play it over and over again - -  I think you'll be able to hear what you need to do on the banjo for accompaniment/ playing along with the tune/ etc./ - - with 3 finger style/ and with picks/ and with bluegrass rolls here and there (not a lot but some).  Good luck!!  I've never tried this tune on banjo myself  (fiddle/ guitar/ and mandolin yes,  but never banjo)  - - until tonight, so now I'm working on it and trying to figure it out for myself.  

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/11/2018:  03:13:11

Thanks Dave, I did try last night, but my efforts leave a lot of soul lacking. this is a song I will continue to mess with.

ken

warpdrive - Posted - 12/11/2018:  08:54:32

Tuesday, Dec 11th, 10:36 am...McDonalds..

Good Morning,

Sorry, i didn't post anything yesterday, but my shoulder was bothering me, so i just took a day, and noodled around for a few minutes and then put here away, if i'd had the internet, i could have seen these request and got to work on them.

Ken, the minute i read your request in the above threads, i started to work on them in my head, and even as i'm typing, i am working them out, hopefully i can get them ready and record them later today.

Lynda, thanks so much for thinking i'm "spoungeable " and i told bernidine and Andy that there presence was requested soon!

Moo, your lucky to have seen elvis, i was on the list to get tickets to his concert in memphis when he passed, but me and a friend of mine a couple of years before happen to be in Memphis at this little drive in that was across from Graceland and you could see through the fence all the way to the house, and we saw who we thought was Elvis come out one afternoon and get on a big motorcycle and ride a couple of laps around the estate, then park right back outside the front door and get off and go back in, it sure looked like Elvis to us, guess i will never know!

Well, the temps are supposed to hit the mid 50's (so they say, it's gonna have to hurry if it makes it) but if it does, i might try some front porch picking today, i know the kids are dying to get out, the ground is still wet from this past weekend's snow mix, and we've had a couple of days of hard freeze, a nice warmish day on the porch would be a early Christmas gift for us!

Ok guys, thanks again for the encouragement, and i will get to work on those request.

Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/11/2018:  13:45:36

You can pick outside in the mid 50s? I am such a wimp, I have a hard time picking under 70F. Last night it got pretty chilly in the house and I couldn't pick over about 152bpm with my metronome. I don't usually pick fast, but I am pushing myself to pick between 160-168. Wish me luck, I need all the help I can get. I know that's nothing for you Kevin. Any hints would be appreciated.

warpdrive - Posted - 12/11/2018:  15:33:22

Ha Ha Moo,
My advise to you is "DON'T GET OLD" but picking fast is highly overrated, but there is such a stigma with banjo, everybody expects it to be fast, and going against tradition, todays songs i just sent you, are anything but fast.

The two songs today are Ken's request, and sorry about the lateness, but my banjo was really getting out of line today, and it's lucky to still be in one piece, i almost tried to re-set it with a hammer, but i didn't.

Ok guys, try to enjoy, but every time i listen to it, all i hear is my mistakes and buzzes and fret intonations.

see ya'll tomorrow,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/11/2018:  15:58:45

Here it is Ladies and Gentlemen, O Holy Night and a cover of Merle Haggard's Bring Me Back Home. I like the way they complement each other. Very cool Kevin, Thanks. p.s. I had to pick a genre, and picked Bluegrass as the default, not trying to pigeon hole these tunes. Enjoy

Edited by - Mooooo on 12/11/2018 16:02:50

VIDEO: Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix picks O Holy Night and Sing Me Back Home
(click to view)

 

jlsorbit - Posted - 12/11/2018:  17:40:21

Beautiful Kevin. That was a real treat. Thanks.



Thanks Mike for uploading.

Edited by - jlsorbit on 12/11/2018 17:45:18

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/11/2018:  18:30:34

Wow, Kevn. Thank you very much. Great playing. Very interesting. This will take a lot of watching. Thanks for your time and for using your talents.
What are some of the most "different" types of songs you have been personally drawn to on the banjo? How long does it take you to work up an arrangement for songs like Oh Holy Night or Sing Me Back Home?
We are working you like a convict and getting a free concert each day. I guess this is how the privileged aristocracy lived.
Thanks again,
ken

Mooooo - Posted - 12/11/2018:  20:17:25

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

Ha Ha Moo,

My advise to you is "DON'T GET OLD" but picking fast is highly overrated, but there is such a stigma with banjo, everybody expects it to be fast, and going against tradition, todays songs i just sent you, are anything but fast....

Warp!

---

That's great advice, Kevin. I'm gonna try that!! I did celebrate my 28th birthday 21 times, then when I restarted counting up from 29, my girlfriend was upset because she became older than me...

mike gregory - Posted - 12/11/2018:  20:29:41

Ronnie McDowell claims "Older Women Make Beautiful Lovers"

youtu.be/O3hRamSOlDk

I have not yet found reason to disagree with him.

Irene was 8 years older than I was, and it worked out JUST FINE!

May 1974

Somewhere between Lauren Bacall and Kathryn Hepburn

warpdrive - Posted - 12/12/2018:  08:54:05

Wednesday, Dec 12th, 10:23 am....McDonalds,

Good Morning,

The temps did make it into the 50's yesterday, but a stiff wind kept me off the porch for any length of time, i started out with attempting to record from the porch swing, but my hands decided rather quickly that they didn't want to participate , and they have the biggest say so, when it comes to banjo playing, so we relented, and went indoors.

Ken,
I don't know that there is any one genre that draws me to the banjo, meaning....."I hear banjo rolls behind every genre of music". It seems like the more unorthodox the tune, the more i want to make something up that will work behind it.
I draw a lot of inspiration from the late GREAT Bobby Thompson, and how he could texture in rolls behind various country and pop tunes, it seems like anything that came out of nashville in the 70's that had a banjo in the background, it was Bobby Thompson, and i would hon in on it.
For me, if i can hear the rolls behind the music and i hear them within milliseconds, i can usually figure out a lead fairly quick, but the key for me is rolling through the chord progressions first.
I hear banjo rolls in my head fluently to hip hop, and rock, and this new country, and i caught myself the other night with my banjo in my hands as the opry was coming on, and the next thing you know, i had sat in the living room, and played half the set, just playing back up rolls to what was on the radio.

Playing banjo to other genre's is just about the timing, it's that simple, once you figure out the timing, the finger rolls,(at least for me) fall into place!
Last night, just before i came up here and sent the video to Moo, i had turned the radio up and was listening to the rock station i listen too here, and they were playing Cyndi Lauper's "Girls just want to have fun" i still had my banjo out and turns out, it is a great 4/4 straight time with only 3 or 4 changes. "SOMEBODY GET CYNDI ON THE PHONE AND ASK HER IF SHE'S INTERESTED IN A RE-BOOT TO HER SONGS DONE WITH BLUEGRASS INSTRUMENTATION?

Ok guys, i don't see anything happening today, if it does, it will be a big surprise.

Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/12/2018:  10:39:09

One Cindi Lauper tune that gets stuck in my head from time to time is Time After Time. It's a really nice melody that works well in 3-finger Banjo picking, nice and slow....but plenty of pop/rock tunes work well, the ones with a good melody at least...Song Sung Blue by Neal Diamond is a good one.

warpdrive - Posted - 12/12/2018:  12:03:54

Moo,
I think what many people lose sight of is a banjo has the same possibilities as a piano. and most anything that can be played on keyboards, should be able to be played on a banjo, at least, for me, that is how i've simplified it in my mind, now granted, i'm not trained on piano either, but i did take lessons as a young boy for several years till i was 12 or 13, so even though i never learned to read music or tab, i have a really good set of ears,(at least they used to be).

Seems to me, i heard not long ago, that the first time, something gets done, that once was thought impossible, it's usually done by a person, that didn't know, or ever hear that it was impossible !

Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 12/12/2018:  12:25:27

Well said Kevin, I think that as long as you can pick out the melody and the important instrumental aspects of a song, you can play just about anything on the banjo. O.K. you can't play every part of an orchestra piece, but you can get the essence with a little work and creativity. Now, I am not at your level, but for my purposes, I can convincingly pick out lots of songs from the radio and pick along, either with the radio or friends jamming. I think most people can do it, but just don't know it yet.

phb - Posted - 12/13/2018:  06:10:22

Kevin, have you ever composed a tune of yourself? If so, would you record it for us?

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 12/13/2018:  07:09:12

Time after time is one of my favorite tunes. There's a great bluegrass version by Donna Hughes,check it out.Its fun to sinf as well,though the words don't make much sense. Part of the charm,I guess.
Hey Kevin,can you give us an example of pickin in the key of F,G tuning? Darcy Farrow or other?

warpdrive - Posted - 12/13/2018:  08:07:02

Thursday, Dec 13th, 9:46 am....McDonalds...

Good Morning.

Well it started raining about sunup, so i guess it's going to be fairly steady till Saturday, and that means that Bernidine will fight me, tooth and claw, every time it time for potty, i've never seen a dog that detest rain as much as she does, Andy, he would like nothing better than to let me let him roll in the mud!

Rod, i'm not sure what you meant in your questioning me on playing out of f/g? Are you meaning playing a song out of the first closed position f whilst in standard g tuning? or are you talking about some "special tunning"?

I've played some f stuff like "wonder where you are tonight" it sounds real cool out of f, and i've played Munde's version of "Marie" that is out of f/bflat, but other than some Scruggs breaks like "rabbit in a log, and things like that, i've not done a lot out of f. I've heard the name Darcy Farrow, but i can not place the tune, when i am done with this posting, i will go to youtube and find a recording and give it a listen to familiarize myself.

I have seen seriously thinking about taking a file to my frets and see if i can get the "boogers" out of them, so this is me, Asking if any of you have any expertise in this and is it something i can do, on my own, in my living room or out on the porch?

I have a couple of fairly sharp and looks to be cutting type files, and i have it in my mind that all i need to do is shave some off the tops, but i'm afraid i'm really over simplifying this and seriously underestimating what needs to happen, but desperate times, call for desperate measures, and i'm really getting to where i can't stand the thought of trying to play,when i know that i never know where intonation or buzz is going to show up, it like walking through a land mine field.

Ok guys, not a lot going on, i have no ideas of what to do next, i will try to check out Rod's request and see if i can do something out of f , but that is a lot to expect from someone with my limited ability......we'll see.

Ya'll have a gooderun,
Warp!