Surfbanjosurf - Posted - 05/16/2026:  09:25:16

Hello again.
Hope all is well.
I have a question regarding the so called Galax Lick.
I have been incorporating it into my practice and its become pretty natural and sound delightful. However I really can't find much on where best to utilize it. If anyone can give me the short of it, where best to put them into existing songs or know of any decent intermediated/lower advanced tunes that would give me a good chance to practice them in situ.

Thanks again for your help on my journey! For now I can not contribute much but no doubt one day I hope to be able to return assistance to those developing a relationship with the banjo!
Cheers

janolov - Posted - 05/16/2026:  09:44:52

Galax lick is a way to play melody notes by the thumb on the fifth string. So whenever you have a melody note on the fifth fret first string, you can try Galax lick. Sometimes it work, sometimes not.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 05/16/2026:  09:50:06

I used to use it more but I tend to like sliding the 1st string up to that note. There are some of the old tune versions (esp. the ones I learned from the Miles Krassen book) that don't sound right without it.

KCJones - Posted - 05/16/2026:  09:57:54

Basically what Jan said. Any time you're going to have a high G note, you can try to get that note on the 5th string using the Galax lick. I really like throwing it the 2nd repetition of the A section of fiddle tunes to really 'liven up' the beat and make it more driving, particularly if there's dancers.

Alvin Conder - Posted - 05/16/2026:  10:13:16

Best way to figure it out…listen to a bunch of old field recordings taken around the Galax area in the 1960’s-70’s. Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham, Kyle Creed and the usual suspects. They all threw it in there, not too much, but enough that people still try and pull it off.

Great music and players.

SurfBanjoSurf- the fact that you are asking the question bodes well that you will contribute in the future. Enjoy the journey.

Surfbanjosurf - Posted - 05/16/2026:  11:05:43

Wow great replies as always guys thanks a bunch !
Time to play around with and have some fun.
Any particular track of Kyle creeds that has good examples?

carlb - Posted - 05/16/2026:  12:12:18

Kyle Creed - Ducks on the Millpond

slippery-hill.com/content/ducks-millpond-1

slippery-hill.com/content/ducks-millpond-

BrendanD - Posted - 05/16/2026:  12:43:39

Two good examples of Kyle using the “Galax lick”, both from his “Liberty” album are Nellie Gray (A part) and Big Liza (B part).

dbrooks - Posted - 05/16/2026:  17:00:01

You have gotten good advice that will help me too.  I tend to think of the Galax lick as a lick that kicks off a phrase.  This old video of Clarence Ashley playing "The Cuckoo" is a good example. About 3:30 into the video, he plays the tune with a couple of Galax licks at the beginning of the intro.

Clarence Ashley performs "The Cuckoo"

David

BrendanD - Posted - 05/18/2026:  01:28:43

quote:

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Originally posted by BrendanD

Two good examples of Kyle using the “Galax lick”, both from his “Liberty” album are Nellie Gray (A part) and Big Liza (B part).

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I've located the recordings of the two tracks I mentioned above; here are the links:

Kyle Creed’s “Liberty” album

Edited by - BrendanD on 05/18/2026 01:43:36

BrendanD - Posted - 05/18/2026:  01:53:39

quote:

---

Originally posted by BrendanD

Two good examples of Kyle using the “Galax lick”, both from his “Liberty” album are Nellie Gray (A part) and Big Liza (B part).

Oops, ignore my most recent post above; I was trying to edit it, but ran into that maddeningly short time limit to make edits - which also meant I couldn't delete the post and start over. I sure wish they'd fix that annoying "feature"! Anyway, here's what I meant to post:

I've located a YouTube link to Kyle Creed's album "Liberty" containing the two tracks I recommended above. Nellie Gray is the first track, and Big Liza is the fifth track, at 11:10.

Kyle Creed’s “Liberty” album

Edited by - BrendanD on 05/18/2026 01:59:34

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/18/2026:  14:45:22

FWIW, Some of the older native players in the MO Ozarks east of Branson in Taney Co. used the lick, and mostly knew nothing of Galax.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/18/2026:  22:14:23

The Definitive Guide to the Galax Lick | Clawhammer Banjo | with Tom Collins - YouTube

Hopefully this will be of help.