Polecat Blues (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Tommy Magness

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- Play count: 161

Size: 1,922kb, uploaded 6/10/2022 3:32:51 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

In topics:
TOTW 06/10/2022 Polecat Blues

Here's Benton Flippen and The Smokey Valley Boys version of Polecat Blues. The fiddler seemed to be leading the bandmates on quite a chase and I could scarcely keep up.

Polecat's Den

Posted by JanetB, written by Clyde Davenport

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Size: 923kb, uploaded 9/29/2017 5:36:02 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This tune was once a TOTW back in 2012, but I'm just getting around to it. I once had a polecat (i.e. a ferret) visit the classroom one day and I'll try to dig out photos. I recall the owner said he didn't have a permit for it, so mum's the word... When Clyde Davenport sings "ain't goin' there no more" I'm not sure what he's referring to as a polecat's den. Don't enlighten me unless it's gentle! The tune is catchy, beginning on a IV chord, in this case a G chordal sound when the tune is in C. Mr. Davenport (who I think is in his 90's now) played it greatly on banjo, though he's known more for his fiddling. If you play it still in jams, like RG did when it was TOTW, let me know, please.

Polly Put the Kettle On (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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Size: 1,948kb, uploaded 1/18/2015 3:41:14 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

The old-time Tune of the Week for 1/16/15 allowed me to look at many sources. I ended up learning from Kentucky fiddler Emmett Lundy, Virginia banjo player Wade Ward, and traditional children's nursery songs. Check out more information on the tune: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/297815

Possum in the Well

Posted by JanetB, written by Randy Marmouze

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Size: 805kb, uploaded 3/11/2014 8:30:44 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, 3/7/14. I like all the possum tunes! Played with new nylgut strings on my oldest little banjo.

Possum on the Rail (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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Size: 1,508kb, uploaded 6/3/2016 4:11:59 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From the 1930's recording of the Mississippi Possum Hunters for the old-time Tune of the Week. I'm partial to possum tunes, and anything Bigfoot plays....

Possum Up a Simmon Tree

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 827

Size: 775kb, uploaded 10/28/2013 5:35:02 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Learned from a recording by Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas. I like to learn any of Buddy's tunes--he had a smooth, intricate style. And also to learn any of the possum tunes as my memory of one is quite fond.

Possum's Tail is Bare

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 966

Size: 1,207kb, uploaded 8/3/2012 10:24:43 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, August 3, 2012.

Prairie Lullaby

Posted by JanetB, written by Jimmie Rogers

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- Play count: 275

Size: 800kb, uploaded 7/8/2011 9:27:25 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

A pretty lullaby by Jimmie Rogers, the yodeling brakeman. "Tumble in bed my tired little ole sleepyhead to a prairie lullaby."

Pretty Boy Floyd (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Woodie Guthrie

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- Play count: 119

Size: 533kb, uploaded 4/23/2022 3:47:58 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This is 2-finger picking learned via the playing by BHO member RG. He presented lots of research on the song you can read if you go to the TOTW discussion thread. He also recorded Pretty Boy Floyd's many verses.

Pretty Little Cat (CB)--TOTW

Posted by JanetB, written by Wilson Douglas

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Size: 913kb, uploaded 4/12/2014 2:43:05 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, 4-11-14. I listened to Erynn Marshall's fiddling for this version. As I was learning this old-time tune my pretty little cat, Louie--black with a white tuxedo, was amusing me with his hunting antics.

Pretty Little Dog (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Lee Triplett

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- Play count: 628

Size: 1,089kb, uploaded 9/23/2016 8:16:42 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

After reading Lew Stern's new book, Dwight Diller, West Virginia Musician, I became more inspired to keep learning this region's special branch of mountain music. For the old-time Tune of the Week, 9/23/16, Pretty Little Dog is a sawmill tune with kind of funny origins. Lee Triplett wrote it, along with Pretty Little Cat, after having trouble learning his friend Doc White's Pretty Little Shoes. Dwight learned it from Lee in the 70's and still plays it today. Lots of Hangout members have recorded it. Check out the TOTW for more info.

Pretty Little Widow (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 191

Size: 1,113kb, uploaded 6/18/2016 3:11:12 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/16/16, this arrangement uses three sources: fiddlers Clayton McMichen, of North Carolina, who learned it from his father and recorded with Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers in 1928; William Stepp, who recorded it with John Lomax in 1937; and John Ashby of Virginia, with his Free State Ramblers band. If you go to the TOTW thread, http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/319572, there's a great link of Stringbean playing and singing. It's a much better piece with the singing, IMO, but strangely the vocals don't use the double tonic mode like you hear in the A part.

Pretty Polly (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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Size: 1,316kb, uploaded 9/28/2018 4:57:40 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, 9/28/18, Pretty Polly is an old, old song with other titles and many lyrics. I listened to Ralph Stanley with Patty Loveless and to Abigail Washburn with Bela Fleck's banjo, so this arrangement modulates in sawmill tuning as I imagine Willie and Polly having their depressing conversation.

Puncheon Floor (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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Size: 1,543kb, uploaded 11/19/2016 11:27:01 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old time Tune of the Week, 11/18/16, Puncheon Floor (or Puncheon on the Floor) comes from the fiddling of Esker Hutchins of North Carolina. A puncheon floor was made from split logs finished on one side. This upbeat tune modulates from G to D. Rather than play it in open G I tried it in Cumberland Gap tuning (gEADE). Check out the TOTW for more info.

Quail is a Pretty Bird

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 1075

Size: 1,316kb, uploaded 10/15/2012 7:20:07 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Based on Missouri fiddler Gene Goforth's version as played by John Hartford. Known as Sandy Boys elsewhere.

Queen of the Earth and Child of the Sky

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 647

Size: 1,544kb, uploaded 2/2/2013 6:53:13 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This is a West Virginian fiddler Edden Hammons tune. He probably learned it and didn't have the title, so gave it this unusual one. The title is found in similar lyrics in an 1850's shape-note book. He liked it so much he's heard to say, "Ain't that nice" at the end of the recording.

Queen of the Earth and Child of the Sky (CH)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 833

Size: 963kb, uploaded 8/25/2013 2:33:43 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This is my clawhammer version based on West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons. It's also known as Wounded Hoosier or Wounded Hussar. I've also heard the recording from Marcus Martin of North Carolina so I think Mr. Hammons learned it without knowing the title at the time.

Quince Dillon's High D

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 253

Size: 725kb, uploaded 5/1/2012 6:59:49 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Henry Reed learned this from the Civil War fifer Quince. Alan Jabbour recorded Reed and it's in the Library of Congress. I learned it when a friend showed it to me. The high D note creates a unique sound. I'm playing in open G tuning.

Quince Dillon's High D (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 142

Size: 1,242kb, uploaded 9/21/2018 4:07:27 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Re-learned for the TOTW, 9/21/18. When Carolyn (the presenter for Quince Dillon's High D) introduced me to the tune a while back I was trying to do everything with 3-finger picks and without re-tuning. Now I'm back to good old clawhammer re-tuning mode and my short scale Carolina Banjo made it even easier to hit the high D at the 10th fret when tuned to double D tuning.

R.D. Lunceford's Wolves A-Howlin' (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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Size: 2,254kb, uploaded 6/7/2017 7:03:05 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/2/17, this is R.D. Lunceford's recording from his seminal CD Drop-Thumb, 21 Clawhammer Banjo Solos. He graciously gave permission to upload it here and his tab will be included in the discussion forum for TOTW.