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ZEPP - Posted - 06/06/2007: 13:00:09
In another thread Glenn Godsey mentioned Billy Faier's "Green Corn Lick." Glenn said "It is a pattern that gets away from both bum-ditty and bump-a-ditty." I haven't thought about that in years, but as I remember it, it involved a repeating hammer-on and delayed pull-off, all the while doing a string pick on beats 1 a brush on beat 2, then another single string pick between beats 3 and 4, sorta thusly :
Glenn, is what you are referring to that something close to the above? It makes for an interesting rhythm, that's for sure!
Cheers,
ZEPP
* zepp@zeppmusic.com website: http://zeppmusic.com/ Skype us at zeppmusic *
oldtimer - Posted - 06/06/2007: 13:39:15
That's it, Zepp. The tricky part is learning to hold the finger down after that first hammer-on while you play a brush-thumb, then picking off with the same hammer-on finger.
Billy did it as a chordal back-up to his singing with just two chords. It has a double-time feel because you are playing twice as many notes in the time-span of one regular bumpa-ditty.
I have composed some tunes using the technique in a more melodic way with some slides, etc. They are quite difficult even after I have fooled with them for years. One of them I call, "Billy in the Faierground"...it has three parts. I played it for Bob Carlin a few years ago and he just said, "That really looks like a lot of work."...which it is.
I'll see if I can tab out here soon. BTW, Billy Faier is alive and well, and has a web site.
stay tooned....
Glenn Godsey
"Time passes unhindered"
oldtimer - Posted - 06/06/2007: 13:47:57
The posted URL has the "greencorn" lick, but I don't think it is the original first recording that was just banjo and voice. Billy must have made a second recording as an instrumental with guitar:
www.emusic.com/album/The-Riv...l?fref=150051
stay tooned....
Glenn Godsey
"Time passes unhindered"
chasgrav - Posted - 06/06/2007: 13:59:00
Sure enough! He has a website. http://www.billyfaier.com/
It was interesting to note that:
"Billy Faier. Born in Brooklyn, New York on Dec. 21, l978 rpm"
(....whoops, I think that was supposed to be 1930.....!!)
Edited by - chasgrav on 06/06/2007 14:06:45
ZEPP - Posted - 06/06/2007: 14:26:50
Cool beans, Glenn, I'm glad you reminded me about that! I have no idea where my record is, but it's in a pile somewhere.
"Billy in the Faierground," eh? I love it! I hope you'll record it for us--I'd love to hear it!
As you have confirmed that I have now remembered exactly one thing from the 1960s, I just did a qucik video to accompany (sorta) the tab above, just in case anyone has trouble visualizing the timing of all those hammers & pulls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXnX6QaoHc
Cheers,
ZEPP
* zepp@zeppmusic.com website: http://zeppmusic.com/ Skype us at zeppmusic *
janolov - Posted - 06/06/2007: 14:50:01
Billy Faier's Green Corn is one of my favorites that I haven't managed to play myself. The first part that Zepp transcribed is relatively "simple". The other parts are more complex and he puts in a simple melody line while the first part (more or less) is i backing up as a counter melody. There are several odd fingering patterns: index finger on the "pa" part (if the pattern is called" bum-pa-dit-ty" after a hammer on on the "bum" and some simultaneous thumbing and hammer-on. It is a kind of up picking, not clawhammer.
I was happy to buy Billy Faier's Banjo Book for $1.00 sometime around 1970 (where there are six selections, among them Green Corn, from the LP "The Art Of The Five-String Banjo" in music notation), but I have not used it. If someone is interested I think I can tab it down in TablEdit.
Janolov
J-Walk - Posted - 06/06/2007: 15:27:48
Thanks for the video, ZEPP.
When I first watched it, I focused on the right hand. I thought the video was horribly out of synch, or even had the wrong soundtrack!
Between you and FretlessFury, my left hand is learning some new tricks.
ZEPP - Posted - 06/06/2007: 15:58:51
quote:
Originally posted by janolov
It is a kind of up picking, not clawhammer.
True enough! The esteemed Mr. Godsey mentioned that he had used if for some clawhammer renderings, so when I did the video today, I played it in a clawhammer manner, of course! 
Cheers,
ZEPP
*
zepp@zeppmusic.com website:
http://zeppmusic.com/ Skype us at zeppmusic *
mainejohn - Posted - 06/06/2007: 17:19:10
Billy is a HO member, but doesn't check in often. He has put all his stuff on CD's and sells them out of his home in Marathon TX. Check his website and give him a call. I've called him a few times to order CD's and he's flattered to hear from his old fans. I've always loved his offbeat, progressive style...a very talented player. I don't know how else to describe his style. One of my all-time favorite players. He pleads with fans not to make copies of his CD's, etc. I respect that.
Cheers,
John
Scarborough, Maine
oldtimer - Posted - 06/06/2007: 22:48:30
quote:
Originally posted by ZEPP
Cool beans, Glenn, I'm glad you reminded me about that! I have no idea where my record is, but it's in a pile somewhere.
"Billy in the Faierground," eh? I love it! I hope you'll record it for us--I'd love to hear it!
I haven't been playing that tune for awhile, but I'll practice it for a few days, then make a video. Someone will have to tell me how to put it on youtube.
stay tooned....
Glenn Godsey
"Time passes unhindered"
FretlessFury - Posted - 06/07/2007: 10:03:15
Nice video and an interesting pattern. I tried it yesterday. It's tricky!
Tom Collins
--------------------------
www.newhottimes.com
Red hot old time music.
scawa - Posted - 06/07/2007: 12:08:50
Can't seem to get the video to load.... I go to the link and get that whirly gig thing in the middle of the screen.... Other video's in your channel load, but not that one.
Any suggestions?
ZEPP - Posted - 06/07/2007: 12:14:53
quote:
Originally posted by scawa
Can't seem to get the video to load.... I go to the link and get that whirly gig thing in the middle of the screen.... Other video's in your channel load, but not that one.
That's weird--it's doing that to me now, too. Hmmm. Lemme try uploading it again...
Cheers,
ZEPP
*
zepp@zeppmusic.com website:
http://zeppmusic.com/ Skype us at zeppmusic *
janolov - Posted - 06/07/2007: 13:57:00
I just watched it without problem. However it took a very long time to load.
Janolov
stringbeaner - Posted - 06/07/2007: 14:16:12
I learned it from Billy's book "Art Of the 5-string
I learned it from his recording "Art Of The 5-String Banjo" Back in the 50s (I think,). I also have a 2nd edition copy of his book "Billy Faier's Banjo Book" (Hargail Music Press Harold Newman, Publisher, 157 West 57th Street, New York 19, New York. [before Zip Codes]).
Doug Dillard and I used to play this back in the 60s and it really rocks with Doug's 3-finger pickin'.
Last time I saw Billy was 6 or 7 years ago in Santa Fe, NM when Erik Darling, Jim Bowie, Billy and I kind of hooked up at the "Jackalope" sort of by luck. Glad to know where he lit at.
Stringbeaner
scawa - Posted - 06/07/2007: 16:15:11
Thanks. I'm finding that several video's on several other channels (berlkeemusic) are spinning like a whirly gig, too.
I don't think it's isolated to just your stuff.
mainejohn - Posted - 06/11/2007: 07:22:48
I just received an email from Billy. He is in Dallas "getting healed of a few medical problems including a new eye." I knew his eyesight was bad, but I was unaware that there were other complications. He did not go into detail.
Cheers,
John
Scarborough, Maine
Edited by - mainejohn on 06/11/2007 07:25:09
Hopalong - Posted - 06/11/2007: 11:32:02
I learned Green corn many years ago my noodling around and I came up with several playable but moderately interesting variations. After seeing this arrangement,I am so glad that I am not limited to playing from tabs written by those in another galaxy from me. Billy Faier was a great banjo picker and side man who played professionally as far back as the late 50's I saw him once playing at a pasta restaurant in the Village,NYC. After the set we talked over some vino and garlic rolls. Real nice guy with a unique perspective on the banjo. Extremely inovative and my 78's of his are extremly prized. Played commercial as well as esoteric music of all kinds.
Unless you are very confident with your playing, this tune as written can shake your confidence. Try taking out the hasmmer on/ pull off combinations at first and maybe move on slowly at first. As for me, I'll keep it simple, steady and right.
hopalong peter
quote:
Originally posted by ZEPP
In another thread Glenn Godsey mentioned Billy Faier's "Green Corn Lick." Glenn said "It is a pattern that gets away from both bum-ditty and bump-a-ditty." I haven't thought about that in years, but as I remember it, it involved a repeating hammer-on and delayed pull-off, all the while doing a string pick on beats 1 a brush on beat 2, then another single string pick between beats 3 and 4, sorta thusly :
Glenn, is what you are referring to that something close to the above? It makes for an interesting rhythm, that's for sure!
Cheers,
ZEPP
* zepp@zeppmusic.com website: http://zeppmusic.com/ Skype us at zeppmusic *
oldtimer - Posted - 06/23/2007: 23:25:51
Back to the "Greencorn Lick". I have uploaded a recording of my original tune I call "Billy in the Fairground" based on the Greencorn Lick. I based the tune structure on "No Supper Here Tonight" and I play a short snatch of that to start. It is in "F" tuning capoed up to G. I composed this decades ago and I haven't played it in years so my playing is very imprecise to say the least. But, it will give you a rough idea of the tune and the structure. It doesn't sound like clawhammer, but it is. Get the moves from Zepp's tab and his video...that is basically what I am doing. Sorry it is so rough...I'm getting old.
stay tooned....
Glenn Godsey
"Time passes unhindered"
