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Old Hickory - Posted - 05/29/2023: 11:53:51
Another good one.
One of the first tunes I learned by slowing down tape the summer of 1972. What I loved about learning Doug Dillard stuff was how approachable and within reach it was. As good sounding and imaginative as it was, there was never anything particularly difficult in what he was doing. Except for his amazing speed and accuracy, of course. Even in my 20s, I don't think I could play along with Hickory Hollow at full speed. At 72, I know I can't.
Jack Baker - Posted - 05/29/2023: 16:16:06
Ha Ken ,
There is never anything particularly difficult about most bluegrass tunes. When you talk about players like Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelney, Ryan Cavanaugh you're talking about the banjo in very advanced other worldly music terms on Banjo...Jack p.s. Doug's music was organic banjo and I loved it tremendously...
Originally posted by Old HickoryAnother good one.
One of the first tunes I learned by slowing down tape the summer of 1972. What I loved about learning Doug Dillard stuff was how approachable and within reach it was. As good sounding and imaginative as it was, there was never anything particularly difficult in what he was doing. Except for his amazing speed and accuracy, of course. Even in my 20s, I don't think I could play along with Hickory Hollow at full speed. At 72, I know I can't.
Edited by - Jack Baker on 05/29/2023 16:18:01
Old Hickory - Posted - 05/29/2023: 18:21:08
quote:
Originally posted by Jack Baker
There is never anything particularly difficult about most bluegrass tunes. When you talk about players like Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelney, Ryan Cavanaugh you're talking about the banjo in very advanced other worldly music terms on Banjo....
I understand what you mean, and agree to a large extent.
But there were things I found not too difficult to figure out, or play at practice tempo off of tab, but always had trouble executing at performance speed. Maybe that meant I wasn't adequately practicing.
I'm thinking of melodic type stuff from Bill Keith, Bobby Thomspon, Alan Munde, Ben Eldridge (who I was lucky enough to see every week the summer of '72 when I was first learning).
Sometimes, a banjo artist might use what's for me a tricky picking pattern as a way to hit certain notes and have a phrase come out a certain way. Even if I work these out and know how he or she did it, I often find myself playing such phrases my own way -- which is of course musically acceptable, but the reason may be that my fingers just don't want to do it the way the original artist did. I think my personal toolbox is full of licks I play my way because my hands refuse to do it any other way.
I believe Alan Munde, in his interview for one of the earliest Picky Fingers Banjo Podcasts, said something to the effect of: Style is what happens when you're trying to do something else.
Bronx banjo - Posted - 05/29/2023: 20:14:48
I remember having a hard time figuring out the ending to Sinking Creek on their “Live Almost!” album. Doug’s playing was superb and fit so well with their sound. I also think Rodney had a fabulous voice, way too underrated. They were a great group.
TScottHilton - Posted - 05/30/2023: 11:24:47
One of my all time favorite banjo tunes! Doug had a special sound. His note separation and ability to maintain blistering speed was like no other. I think part of his unique sound was that he played an archtop. I'm always surprised how few archtop banjos are being played nowadays.
Banjfoot - Posted - 05/30/2023: 18:01:04
This is one of the top ten all-time bluegrass banjo tunes, no doubt in my mind...the original recording is right up there with something like Earl's Flint Hill Special recording...
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