kiri - Posted - 03/01/2025:  15:28:05

Hey Y’all,

I'm reaching out to the Banjo Hangout community for some help. A few years ago, I put my banjos down because I was having a hard time finding tunes that made me feel good. Much of the music I encountered felt melancholy or dark, which just wasn’t what I was looking for then (or now). I feel I’m ready to pick it up again, but I’d really like to focus on learning more upbeat, happy-sounding tunes – songs to share with my grandchildren.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with songs about vengeance, murder, or dark themes. I know that’s part of traditional music, and there’s a lot of great stories in those tunes. But after a while, I felt like I was living too long in that dark world and needed something a little lighter and more joyful to focus on.

So, I’m asking if anyone here can recommend some happy-sounding clawhammer tunes (particularly leaning toward fretless banjo style) or perhaps point me to lesson resources, videos, or tabs that showcase cheerful or uplifting tunes. I’m looking for stuff that’s fun, lively, and brings a smile!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, and I’m looking forward to learning some new tunes and getting back into playing.

:-) Kiri

Bill Rogers - Posted - 03/01/2025:  18:11:10

If you can find them, you can do no better than R.D. Lunceford’s CD “Cotton Blossom” and its tab book. Good tunes; some happy; some not. All played on a gut-strung fretless banjo.

Tuedelband - Posted - 03/02/2025:  04:50:49

When I see my granddaughter nineteen, I quietly hum,
“I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again”

I like Cousin Emmy as much as the Carter Family, have fun.

pinenut - Posted - 03/03/2025:  11:26:25

Hi Kiri, I like the happy tunes too.

Good Resources:
- banjohangout.org/tab/
- Tim Twiss Early 5-string Banjo Solos (I think this one)
- Ken Perlman Clawhammer Style Banjo: A Complete Guide
- Tim Jumper Banjo Player's Songbook

Current Favorites:
- Old King Crow, youtube.com/watch?v=fkrOdQGiALY
- Hop High Ladies (aka Uncle Joe)
- Yankee Doodle
- She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
- Oh Susanna, Camptown Races, Stephen Foster tunes...

Edited by - pinenut on 03/03/2025 11:33:40

writerrad - Posted - 03/03/2025:  12:34:55

What you say makes sense to me.  I have been playing folk music on the guitar since 1962 and singing a lot of songs, and playing the banjo since around 1999.  My life and values and understanding of things are dfferent from when I was a teenager, especially the way many thing were looked at in the 50s or 60s.   When I was 15 or 16 or even 20,  I didnt know much about death.  Now I live in a retirement community in Florida where I have carried the bodies of friends out to the undertaker.

In 1965 I learned a Stanley Brothers song called "Little Glass of Wine" and have played it and sang it before audiences since.  In a zoom Jam Friday, where mention of memories of old time music in DC in the 60s came up,  I started to sing it, but I  did not.  I surely dont believe in that conduct, and someone dying for any cause is too close to my heart at my age especially with the concentration of old folks here in W Palm.

I simply cannot sing "The Banks of the Ohio" a song I learned from a Joan Baez record I bought in 1962.   Songs are about something, and I guess there is so much misery in life I dont want to recall any more.   On the other hand there are songs of struggle,  songs about working your tail off--which seem to be popular at the jams I go to where everyone is retire/  There are love songs.

At least you are challenged by songs.  I play old time mostly,  and no one at an old time jam wants to sing any more.  All they want is fiddle tunes.

Y

Edited by - writerrad on 03/03/2025 12:51:58

writerrad - Posted - 03/03/2025:  12:44:46

quote: 

Ralph Peer said that Sara's vocal on "Single Girl" was what got him to sign the Carters.  Sara, who could play frailing banjo, did not like performing in public, but did do very well in the studios.  Moreover, she and Pleasant Carter split up, and she flew off to California with Pleasant's cousin who had his own airplane around 1937 or 38 .   After that she only joined with Maybelle and Pleasant for recording sessions and their stint on border radio.   Sara is largely forgotten by people who identify  the Carter family with her young cousin Maybelle who stayed in the business.  Sara  and  Pleasant were the real strength of the Carter Family, not to downgrade Maybelle who was a great singer and musician and also played clawhammer banjo.   You can also find some video of Maybelle playing down picking banjo if you search enough on the Smithsonian web site.

---

Originally posted by Tuedelband

When I see my granddaughter nineteen, I quietly hum,

“I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again”



I like Cousin Emmy as much as the Carter Family, have fun.

---

John Gribble - Posted - 03/14/2025:  00:19:15

Many of the traditional songs of the 19th century are great fun. "Polly Wally Doodle," "Oh Suzanna," even "Oh My Darling, Clementine" (even though she drowns, it is in a humorous manner. The verse, "How I missed her, How I missed her, How I missed my Clementine, So I kissed her little sister and forgot my Clementine" set my four-year-old son laughing every time we sang the song together. He's now near fifty.)

Edited by - John Gribble on 03/14/2025 00:20:45

carlb - Posted - 03/14/2025:  07:48:49

Feel good tunes
D
Black Eyed Susie
Ducks on the Millpond
Jaybird
Lightening Bug D/G
Lovely Jane
Singing Birds (f#DABE)
Too Young to Marry
G
Been to the East, Been to the West
Moon Behind the Hill

kiri - Posted - 03/14/2025:  12:40:07

Sorry for the delayed response—I'm still recovering from a bout of pneumonia, but I'm on the mend!

A big thanks to everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I'm especially drawn to the 1800s "Feel Good" tunes. Some of them I had completely forgotten about, like "Polly Wolly Doodle," and others are brand new to me—I'm really looking forward to learning them and sharing them with my grandchildren.

If anyone has links to TAB or videos, I'd truly appreciate it.

Thanks again!
Please keep the suggestions coming.

Andyrhydycreuau - Posted - 03/14/2025:  14:53:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by kiri

Sorry for the delayed response—I'm still recovering from a bout of pneumonia, but I'm on the mend!



A big thanks to everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I'm especially drawn to the 1800s "Feel Good" tunes. Some of them I had completely forgotten about, like "Polly Wolly Doodle," and others are brand new to me—I'm really looking forward to learning them and sharing them with my grandchildren.



If anyone has links to TAB or videos, I'd truly appreciate it.



Thanks again!

Please keep the suggestions coming.

---

Hi,

Try Doc Watson Crawdad Song, which is the same as Frog went a courting. Also "how many biscuits can you eat?"

And I might add this week's TOTW is upbeat and uplifting..... It's called "Christ Church Cathedral" but it's not a religious thing if that's not your bag. There's a tab in my post.

Soldiers Joy is a cheerful tune (not so cheerful subject but you don't often hear the lyrics) and Angeline the Baker is bright too.....

Have fun!

Andy

Lew H - Posted - 03/15/2025:  08:00:59

Most banjo tunes (melodies) are happy sounding if you stay away from sawmill tuning and some other "one-tune" tunings. Tunes in D tuning seem tome to be the happiest, and it's hard to make a sad sounding tune with that.