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Posted by JanetB, written by Lynn Chirps Smith
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- Play count: 238
Size: 1,564kb, uploaded 9/24/2021 10:52:38 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Chirps Smith is a legendary fiddler in my book. This Tune of the Week is an original by him, brought to my attention from Stephen Rapp, who with his fiddle-playing buddy Paul Kirk, brings us many good tunes. Though the tune is relatively new, it has a sweet old-time feel. I'm playing on a cello banjo to get to the original tuning that Chirps wrote Mississippi Palisades in.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB, written by Bert Payne
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- Play count: 814
Size: 2,128kb, uploaded 10/10/2016 1:10:13 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 10/7/16, the amazing duo of Spencer and Rains have released this tune on their DVD/CD "The Spotted Pony." Not much is known here about its author, a fiddler from Kansas named Bert Payne born in 1873. I was able to use Ken Torke's tab to learn the tune and added some cello banjo picked accompaniment. If you don't know what a snagboat is check out this TOTW for some info and pictures.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Bill Monroe
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- Play count: 267
Size: 971kb, uploaded 7/7/2011 10:13:07 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
Such a pretty waltz...
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Jim Reed
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- Play count: 148
Size: 957kb, uploaded 8/8/2017 11:41:35 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Kentucky banjo picker, Jim Reed, was posting for a while on BHO video after video, truly enchanting us with his soft, fluent, melodious 3-finger style. Molly Sue is one of his originals (which he could write instantaneously at will) which is also on his only CD. I learned it yesterday, thinking it has that descending scale (in the A part) I'm looking for and recently posted about on a Sound Off! thread called Kentucky modal tunes. I really think there's a parallel with some Native American music. Kentucky was full of Cherokee Indians at one time. Somehow their traditional music, especially as played on flute, has slipped into our modern mountains. Can it be?
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 133
Size: 1,364kb, uploaded 4/22/2023 12:08:17 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the Balfa Brothers Cajun style, the tune is, in English, The Old Wagon -- a nice dance tune. I've liked Cajun music for a long time, though we don't get many presentations on Tune of the Week, so an enjoyable learning journey for me this week. Cajun music apparently doesn't have much clawhammer banjo yet, but it's not too late to add some in!
Add CommentPosted by JanetB, written by D. Dow (1776)
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- Play count: 1020
Size: 1,651kb, uploaded 8/8/2016 3:42:06 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
When I heard BHO members bd and David Colgan play the minstrel version of Money Musk it sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. It's actually an old Scottish dance tune, notated in a publication dated around 1800. Then I consulted James Buckley's minstrel notation of 1868. Next I discovered it's also a contemporary fiddle tune. With many versions to hear, I chose to play it minstrel-style, then old-time. There's lots more to know about this tune!
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 107
Size: 1,376kb, uploaded 2/18/2018 10:24:14 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 2/16/18, Moon Behind the Hill was learned by Melvin Wine listening at a dance and remembering it 2 or 3 months later.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by O'Carolan
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- Play count: 309
Size: 1,034kb, uploaded 9/17/2011 3:57:20 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Another lively tune by the great Irish harpist of the early 1700's. His genius for composing baffles me.
7 commentsWritten/Posted by JanetB
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- Play count: 616
Size: 903kb, uploaded 6/29/2011 9:24:46 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
Inspired by front porch picking.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 244
Size: 1,089kb, uploaded 7/30/2017 5:44:09 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
It's thought that this old-time Tune of the Week comes from California Kathy Barwick's grandfather. She'a a local staple for good music here in California. The tune is simple but catchy. When played by Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones it's a real old-time treat.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB, written by Turlough O'Carolan
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- Play count: 154
Size: 1,989kb, uploaded 3/14/2017 1:15:51 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
A planxty written by Turlough O'Carolan for a wealthy patron's wife. It's a happy tune in 4/4 time with cello banjo accompaniment.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 318
Size: 1,364kb, uploaded 3/25/2016 6:20:48 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the playing of Dwight Diller for the old-time Tune of the Week, 3/25/16. The tension of the tune from G to F chordal sounds reminds me of muddy roads, indeed. I don't like them at all, but I like the tune!
6 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 761
Size: 2,442kb, uploaded 6/5/2020 9:41:00 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Passed down through generations, northern Georgia banjo player Chesley Chancey (1913 - 1980) passed the tune Mulberry Gap from his grandfather on to Stephen Wade in 1979 while Art Rosenbaum recorded it at Chesley's home. He played it in the 2-finger style. I play it in the clawhammer style.
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Simon Jeffes
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- Play count: 131
Size: 909kb, uploaded 6/2/2019 4:41:18 PM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This is a tough challenge for the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/31/19. Our presenter, Andy Alexis, plays it like a champ and his old band, the Piney Creek Weasels made it a show stopper. I'm trying it once through, based on Andy's tab that really clarified what goes on musically here. I'd call it a quirky tune, but also fun to hear.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 271
Size: 935kb, uploaded 8/12/2017 11:41:27 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This old-time Tune of the Week for 8/11/17 reminds us in melody of some other traditional songs, such as Gotta Travel On and even Worried Man Blues. The Monroe Brothers recorded this as their first ever recording in 1936 and Bill said that it was commonly sung in Kentucky at the time.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Nancy Blevins
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- Play count: 508
Size: 897kb, uploaded 2/26/2016 5:38:15 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, North Carolina fiddler Nancy Blevins supposedly wrote and fiddled this dance tune. It's described in a quote by Virginia fiddler Albert Hash, who was related to her and whose grandfather remembers dancing to it as a youngster after the Civil War.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Tom Clough
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- Play count: 85
Size: 1,555kb, uploaded 8/22/2022 5:21:57 PM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
A four-part version of the tune also known as Nancy and which resembles Fair Morning Hornpipe.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 264
Size: 705kb, uploaded 10/24/2012 6:00:11 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week on the Playing Advice: Clawhammer and Old-Time forum. This is based on Isham Monday's version as tabbed by Maya Whitmont.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 227
Size: 2,929kb, uploaded 7/22/2017 5:23:24 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Napoleon Crossing the Alps is a tune with several names I've wanted to learn for a while. One of them is Bonaparte Crossing the Rockies. This recording has two parts -- the first is in SRB tuning (f#DGF#D tuned up a step) and the second is open G tuning. Adam Hurt taught me that G tunes can often be played well and sound good in the tuning he calls SRB, or Sandy River Belle. Perhaps you'll notice no difference in the two versions, also played on two different banjos, with cello banjo accompaniment.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Earl Scruggs
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- Play count: 163
Size: 756kb, uploaded 6/16/2019 9:16:49 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Here's a bit of an Earl Scruggs classic for the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/16/19. I've always thought it's fine to play in clawhammer style whatever suits me, though others may differ in opinion. The Dm tuning (aDFAD) gives this tune flavor and then it jumps suddenly to a major chord. Great composition!
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