Posted by JanetB, written by Jim Reed
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- Play count: 211
Size: 1,436kb, uploaded 9/15/2012 10:01:59 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
An original Jim Reed tune played on gourd banjo.
5 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 195
Size: 1,269kb, uploaded 2/28/2019 12:06:48 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned from a Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson recording, Same Old Man Living at the Mill is the old-time Tune of the Week for 3/1/19. Mary Z Cox recently recorded this with all of the lyrics for her new CD Carolina Banjo and says she learned it from the Dillards. What I like about the song, besides its mixolydian melody, is the fact that it has square dance calls in some of the lyrics. I only sing the ones with the dance calls.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 250
Size: 1,278kb, uploaded 9/18/2021 12:15:22 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
In topics:
TOTW 9/17/21 "Old Man's and Old Woman's Quarrel"
The tune's title meaningfully fits the music. I added some reconciliation at the end. The tuning is so different from what I normally play in the old-time genre -- f#ADAD -- which made playing it even more fun. Look it up on Tune of the Week to learn more and for tab.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 128
Size: 1,364kb, uploaded 3/23/2019 11:06:22 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This Pennsylvania tune was tracked down by Carl Baron after about 45 years! See the current TOTW for 3/22/19 for its history and story. Rumor has it that Martha was a messy housekeeper...
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 716
Size: 1,745kb, uploaded 9/30/2016 8:20:57 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For this good ole old-time Tune of the Week, here's a cello banjo/mini banjo duet. After learning that Old Molly Hare's roots go back to Fairy Dance, I couldn't help but thinking of my little Plucky mini-banjo as dancing fairies (I can thank my granddaughter for appreciating the Good People).
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 263
Size: 689kb, uploaded 7/8/2011 10:27:55 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned from Miles Krassen's Clawhammer Banjo book. Played on a Bart Reiter Whyte Ladye open back.
5 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 165
Size: 1,420kb, uploaded 10/31/2020 3:08:41 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the Samuel Bayard collection called Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife, this old march has a repugnant name, but may have been named after a General Pisselli. The Tune of the Week has introduced us to several fiddle tunes from the enormous SW Pennsylvania collection, but this may be the first one from a fifer.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 416
Size: 1,452kb, uploaded 8/14/2020 9:49:13 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This is the one of the versions for the old-time Tune of the Week, differing from the famous Uncle Dave Macon song. My arrangement comes from Erich Schroeder (BHO's vrteach). I wish he was still active here and I really enjoyed learning a tune from his recording. The title, as we learn in the discussion thread, is probably not the real one. But if it were to be, I'm reminded of Old Sacramento where you walk on the historic old plank road as you visit the shops and museums and go on the old Delta King steamboat on the Sacramento River. At least, I nostalgically hope we can still do that....
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 980
Size: 1,340kb, uploaded 6/18/2015 8:51:45 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned this week from Missouri gentleman and musical extraordinaire Joe Newberry at the annual music camp in Grass Valley sponsored by the California Bluegrass Association. He turned up the fun meter! He learned this from listening to field recordings of Fred Cockerham, a musical hero he never got to meet.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by John Hartford
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- Play count: 228
Size: 1,078kb, uploaded 8/3/2011 8:43:43 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
John Hartford captured our attention and our imagination. These two songs are about steamboats--one of the loves of his life.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 178
Size: 801kb, uploaded 8/26/2012 6:58:24 PM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This one's for Jim Reed's pick-a-thon, played ever so slowly and delicately for an old sailor to dance a hornpipe, actually because it's all I can do. You've got to respect these pickers who whip out this song like it's a ship in full sail.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 101
Size: 1,384kb, uploaded 7/10/2021 12:41:29 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
In topics:
TOTW 7/9/2021 Old Skedaddalink
Here's how Melvin Wine played a tune which is also found in the 1903 book of Irish fiddle tunes compiled by Chief Francis O'Neill, known as Mountain Hornpipe. I like this funny title given, though it sounds like skedaddling to me. If you hear how Melvin played fiddle in the recording with Carl Baron on banjo and Bob Carlin on guitar, you would hear how fast skedaddling really is. You can check out the current TOTW and hear it.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 128
Size: 1,268kb, uploaded 5/28/2017 2:49:02 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/26/17. I didn't really think I'd try to arrange Ed Haley's more complex version, but here it is anyway. I had read it wasn't a "notable" version, but when I heard a few good fiddlers play it, I thought it was worth trying. I sure wouldn't want to memorize this one -- 56 measures and at least four parts. Ed Haley knew the source fiddler, "Uncle Jack" McElwain (1856 - 1938) and they would "trade tunes." This was supposedly one of Haley's favorites to play, but for Uncle Jack it was his most winning fiddle contest tune. See the TOTW for more info.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 162
Size: 897kb, uploaded 5/26/2017 8:04:22 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, Old Sledge traces back to a West Virginia fiddler born in 1856 named Louis Johnson "Uncle Jack" McElwain, said to be one of the best fiddlers ever, though never recorded. The title could refer to many things, including a card game or a mule. This version comes from Burl Hammons, who learned it from his uncle, Edden Hammons.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 190
Size: 1,747kb, uploaded 5/26/2017 8:08:48 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/26/17, Old Sledge traces back to a respected West Virginia fiddler born in 1856, Louis Johnson "Uncle Jack" McElwain. He won many fiddle contests with the piece, including one at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. This clawhammer arrangement includes the versions of West Virginian fiddlers Melvin Wine and Ernie Carpenter, both who learned it from Uncle Jack.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 182
Size: 1,600kb, uploaded 5/9/2020 3:10:06 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the singing of Roscoe Holcomb, I admit having a hard time with his banjo 2-finger picking. Even his singing has a timing I can't get -- it's very irregular. But for the Tune of the Week I gave it a try and used his singing to arrange a clawhammer solo instead. Singing here is included, though it's not my fort? to sing solo, so be kind. The interesting thing about this song is that it's related to the familiar one via the lyrics and title, On Top of Old Smokey. There are many more lyrics.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 193
Size: 1,364kb, uploaded 12/14/2018 4:54:16 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12/14/18, this sentimental song plays out in clawhammer rather than the Scruggs picking style I originally learned it in.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 183
Size: 1,208kb, uploaded 3/5/2017 8:00:34 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 3/3/17, this tune was once called Billy in the Lowground, but was given the prefix "Old Time" so as not to be confused with the other widely played tune. Mr. Gilbert played AB parts with crooked endings. These days it's played AABB. I arranged it for cello banjo in order to try a tuning equivalent to double C but would still remain in the original key of G.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 98
Size: 1,288kb, uploaded 6/13/2021 8:14:18 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
In topics:
TOTW 6-11-2021 Brickyard Joe
Via Bruce Greene in his Five Miles from Ellum CD, Bruce gleaned Old Time Brickyard Joe from James "Pop" Baker (b.1889 from Franklin Co., KY). Bruce said the fiddler James was part of a band called The Sixty-Fivers because they were all at least that age.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 133
Size: 1,663kb, uploaded 7/16/2016 11:35:48 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
In topics:
TOTW, 8/13/21, Yell in the Shoats
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 7/15/16, the fiddler credited with the tune is Bill Livers of Owen County, Kentucky. He apparently was a well-liked character and entertaining performer. His grandfather taught him this tune and it's named after a dog, with the sharp barking being heard quite clearly!
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