Dowel - Posted - 04/16/2026:  07:58:28

Hi all,

I’ve been playing banjo for a little over two years now and practice pretty much every day. I started out with clawhammer, but over the past year I’ve focused on two-finger style, which I’ve found suits me much better.

Lately I’ve realised I’m especially drawn to slower, more moody and atmospheric tunes. I love the way Nora Brown interprets songs like Chilly Winds, Rye Whiskey, Shade Grove, Darling Cora, and East Virginia. I’m also really into Lost Lula by Pharis and Jason Romero, John Riley the Shepherd by Adam Hurt, and tunes like Twin Sisters.

That said, I sometimes feel like the banjo naturally leans a bit more upbeat, which has even got me thinking about picking up guitar (I’m a big fan of Nick Drake and Bert Jansch).

Before I go down that route, I thought I’d ask here: does anyone have recommendations for moody, atmospheric banjo tunes (especially ones that work well in two-finger style)?

I’d really appreciate any suggestions—thanks in advance!

Craig

Nopix - Posted - 04/16/2026:  08:10:51

I just did a search on "fiddle tunes in Am"
That uncovered a bunch.

teetommy - Posted - 04/16/2026:  12:38:41

Texas (New Castle) by Henry Reed -- it's in the Tony Tischka fiddle tunes book

Tim Jumper - Posted - 04/16/2026:  16:48:01

Some masters of slower tempo clawhammer tunes:
Mark "Clawgrass" Johnson, Michael J. Miles, Dirk Powell, Adam Hurt, Frank Lee.

Steve Firth - Posted - 04/16/2026:  17:57:50

This is one my very favorites.
youtube.com/watch?v=wv_wbmUIxs...t_radio=1

tonygo - Posted - 04/17/2026:  08:30:28

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Firth

This is one my very favorites.

youtube.com/watch?v=wv_wbmUIxs...t_radio=1

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I believe that tune on youtube is "British Field March" not what it is labeled as.

carlb - Posted - 04/17/2026:  13:25:02

You check out these in my media files, if you'd like. The tunes without the words are pretty neat also.

Alone and Forsaken

Elk River Blues

Now is the Cool of the Day

clarinetagogo - Posted - 04/17/2026:  19:07:59

I really like Lukas Pool's version of "Ghost Riders in the Sky":

youtube.com/watch?v=DHWfukGCHMY

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 04/17/2026:  19:53:41

Hard Times Come Again No More - Clawhammer Banjo

Cherry Blossom Waltz

Farewell My Home

I suspect I'm flying a bit wide of the mark with these tunes, but they're quite pretty so I'll send them along anyway.

Andy McGhee - Posted - 04/18/2026:  00:23:54

Hi Craig
There are a few tunes here that might interest you - I'm sure some of them would work well in 2-finger style: youtube.com/channel/UCX0UdlUVb...lgzUqArNA

As an example: youtu.be/__5YBwW5frw

All the best
Andy

JSB88 - Posted - 04/18/2026:  10:54:56

Jack Beuthin Boll Weevil blues. I just love this and play it over and over
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3-znAJr...ldmlsoAcB

cevant - Posted - 04/18/2026:  15:46:52

Check out Nora Brown’s Lady of the Lake album

youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK...lTqTGzHDC

reubenstump - Posted - 04/18/2026:  16:18:07

You could just slow a song down, maybe play in a different key. Cluck Old Hen is usually pretty lively, but it doesn't have to be.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPCt0f_JVQ

JSB88 - Posted - 04/19/2026:  02:16:49

quote:

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Originally posted by reubenstump

You could just slow a song down, maybe play in a different key. Cluck Old Hen is usually pretty lively, but it doesn't have to be.



m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPCt0f_JVQ

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Excellent point, especially as Nora Brown is mentioned in this thread. Compare versions of Frankie&Albert, for example 

Don Borchelt - Posted - 04/19/2026:  12:49:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by R.D. Lunceford

Hard Times Come Again No More - Clawhammer Banjo

Cherry Blossom Waltz

Farewell My Home

I suspect I'm flying a bit wide of the mark with these tunes, but they're quite pretty so I'll send them along anyway.

---

I am with R.D., Hard Times Come Again No More is one of my two or three favorite tunes, as mournful as it gets while still holding onto a little lilt.  I used to play it all the time with my clawhammer pal, the late Ed Britt,  who could really pull all of the feeling out of it.

Dowel - Posted - 04/29/2026:  06:16:42

cheers guys.

if anyone's interested, I just found a playlist on Spotify called; Gothic Banjo

JSB88 - Posted - 05/06/2026:  11:06:32

Now I'm expecting 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' on the five string :0

reubenstump - Posted - 05/06/2026:  11:52:57

quote:

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Originally posted by JSB88

Now I'm expecting 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' on the five string :0

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There's a great live video of that song at some place like Coachella.  No banjo, however.

5Stringtrout - Posted - 05/11/2026:  18:35:08

Just listen to some Dwight Diller.

Tractor1 - Posted - 05/12/2026:  05:57:35

I play 3 finger but these are the mood for me
sally in the Garden
Eileen Curran (Sailor on the Shore}
Bonepart Crossing The Rhine

peanutroad - Posted - 05/12/2026:  06:49:56

I was just listening to Mean Mary performing Wayfaring Stranger. Banjo for accompaniment, not tune, but it's certainly a song that fits the 'slow and moody' criteria.

pastorharry - Posted - 05/12/2026:  21:25:05

Cold frosty morning, Coleman's march wagoner's lad Bright sunny south