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Songsters and String Bands

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A group for the discussion of songsters and string bands from the 20's and 30's, and pickers who enjoy playing this music.

50 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: Paula_DHJ (owner)

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From Paula_DHJ on 1/30/2011 8:12:56 AM

Hey! Thanks for joining! Up until August 2010 I was really only into fiddle tunes, but at Clifftop I met a bunch of people who were really into a lot of songster and string band stuff from the 20's and 30's. They were playing Uncle Dave, Charlie Poole, lots of Piedmont Blues, Appalachian Blues, Pink Anderson stuff, and lots of real raggy stuff too. I became totally enthralled with this stuff. Since then I have barely even scratched the surface of all this music thats out there. I love the sound of Poole's and Uncle Dave's up-picking, but unfortunately I am really terrible at it, so I have adapted a lot of this music to clawhammer, and kind of made up my own versions of it. I find a lot of this music is very difficult to play using clawhammer, but I try to make it sound as good as I can.

Of course, Charlie Poole and Uncle Dave are two of my favorites, but lately I've been really enjoying the Georgia Yellow Hammers, the Carolina Tar Heels, and more recently Gus Cannon and his Jug Stompers (thanks Marc).

So, what are you all listening to these days?

Darren

5 Comments
	Marc Nerenberg says: 1/30/2011 8:31:13 AM Great idea for a group. Thanks for starting it, Darren. Let's hope a bunch'o'folks join!
	Paula_DHJ says: 1/30/2011 2:37:33 PM Marc, I just watched that Walk Right In video. I've watched it before, but I just gotta say, I am always so amazed when you play clawhammer, and then switch to that rapid up-down strumming motion you do. Its kind of like having the best of two worlds: clawhammering on a 5-string, and then that plectrum-like sound mixed in at the perfect time. That plectrum sound I find works really well for a lot of ragtime-type music. I certainly haven't mastered it as you have, but believe me, I'm workin' on it.
	Marc Nerenberg says: 1/30/2011 3:50:30 PM Thanks Darren, It took me a long time to get my hand to move seamlessly from downpicking to up-picking to up and down strumming and back and forth between any of the right hand techniques. Like most people, I learned them as compartmentalized different techniques...but I found that there were some songs that I played more than one way, and I wanted to be able to go back and forth. So I adopted the approach of trying to develop as much flexibility in my right hand as I could. I worked on it on and off for years, I think, until one day I realized that I could do it without thinking about it. Interestingly, in songs that I learned before I developed that facility, I still tend to play straight ahead clawhammer, or 2 finger picking...whereas in more recent acquisitions, my playing is much more varied.
	pastorharry says: 1/23/2012 11:05:45 PM Cool, I just found this group!Mainer's Mountaineers would give about anyone a run for their money.."Run Mountain" maybe the greatest get up and go tune in existance,I had it playing constantly while driving around Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia last summer. Uncle Dave's "Go long mule", "sail away ladies",and "Saro Jane" are right up there too! Aloha, PH
	Paula_DHJ says: 1/24/2012 2:48:48 PM Welcome Pastor Harry !! And welcome to everyone else who has joined in the last few months! I am embarrassed about the lack of contributions I've been making to the group. I just can't seem to find the time to sit down and write. Too busy playing banjo and all minds of other stuff. I encourage any of you out there to do a little write-up on any groups or individuals who are of interest to you! And dont be afraid to share those videos or sound files of your own renditions of old time songs etc. ! I promise I will try to start contributing more again soon.
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