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Posted by JanetB
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- Play count: 643
Size: 1,197kb, uploaded 4/9/2016 7:44:08 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This old-time Tune of the Week is quite old -- from the 1700's -- and comes from Sweden (and has a Swedish name if you check it out here: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/317105. I liked the fact that the lyrics describe the lonely but important work of the Swedish "cowgirl" who had to move and keep watch on the herds of cattle and goats at certain times of the year to allow the fields to be used for crop growing. I'm playing in open G in the key of Am.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 83
Size: 2,194kb, uploaded 3/29/2024 4:48:19 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the playing of an Alabama fiddler, Paisley Hagood. Mostly he plays ABAB, which is kind of a treat after always playing AABBAABB. The high note in the A part gives it an ancient tone feeling for me.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 622
Size: 1,053kb, uploaded 5/1/2013 12:10:01 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Kentucky fiddler Owen 'Snake' Chapman learned this from his father, 'Doc.' Played on a Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Noah Bingham
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- Play count: 880
Size: 507kb, uploaded 6/30/2012 2:42:55 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Estill Bingham (1899 - 1990) learned this from his father, Noah, in southeastern Kentucky. I had learned another one of his songs for last week's Tune of the Week and it was recommended I also listen to this nice crooked tune.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 418
Size: 1,220kb, uploaded 8/26/2016 5:02:13 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For this week's old time Tune of the Week (8/26/16) one of my favorite tunes learned from my lessons with Adam Hurt has been chosen. I've already recorded Old Beech Leaves a couple of times, so I thought I'd listen to the source recording and try arranging it in another tuning. This one is worked out in open G tuning, played on my cello banjo (so actually tuned down to an open C). It was recorded from the rather rough playing of a Kentucky fiddler from Logan County, Sid Hudnall, who lived with his family pretty much isolated from the rest of the world. Check out the TOTW for more info and tab of Adam's version (with his permission).
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 330
Size: 885kb, uploaded 6/8/2013 5:39:59 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week 6-7-13. Something about this tune makes me play faster than usual.
6 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 53
Size: 2,744kb, uploaded 8/18/2024 6:04:36 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
From the playing of Bruce Greene via Kentucky fiddler Gusty Wallace. The measure count is very unusual, but it's a neat tune. Bruce Greene has found good crooked tunes, many probably from Kentucky. Check out his Five Miles from Ellum Wood CD.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 192
Size: 1,484kb, uploaded 12/26/2015 3:05:02 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12-25-15, luckily Old Christmas refers to the continuation of the Christmas celebration until January 6, the day of Epiphany, so I'm not late in posting this. :) I found out more speaking with my sister living in Spain. January 6th celebrates the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus. It took them 12 days to walk there after His birth, therefore the January date. Those 12 days in Spain mean much to the people and the tourists who enjoy the many festivities. In the recent past most presents for Christmas weren't delivered until Jan. 6th, though that's changing these days to make room for Santa Claus and school vacation schedules. This arrangement comes from Bruce Greene, who recorded Kentucky fiddler Manon Campbell and also listened to the Lomax LOC 1937 recording of another Kentucky fiddler, Uncle George Custer Nicholson (1854 - 1941).
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 774
Size: 1,448kb, uploaded 12/2/2017 10:41:52 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This archaic tune has more than one related version, but this week's old-time Tune of the Week for 12/1/17 focuses on West Virginian fiddler French Carpenter (1905 -1965). I now know why January 6 is also celebrated as Christmas, or "Old Christmas," as the English calendar was changed in 1752 and 12 days were left out, bringing December 25th to January 6th. Learn something new every day....
2 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Pat Conte
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- Play count: 91
Size: 2,268kb, uploaded 7/15/2023 1:39:48 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
A new version of Cumberland Gap for me. I can hear a bit of the traditional one here.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 333
Size: 849kb, uploaded 4/10/2015 11:20:29 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, this comes mostly from Burl Hammons, then Dwight Diller and Jimmy Tripplett, then David Margolin and Yigal Zan. That makes it 4th generation here! It's in modal tuning (gDGCD), but if you check out the current TOTW you'll learn of another beautiful tuning to try it in: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/302159
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 194
Size: 1,903kb, uploaded 9/22/2015 7:23:45 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Since the current old-time Tune of the Week, Rattletrap, is said to be related to Old Granny Rattletrap I thought it would be interesting to compare the two. I discovered that within the first part of the Granny version is the second part of the Rattletrap tune. Old Granny Rattletrap was recorded in the 40's by a fiddler, Bill Hensley, originally from eastern Tennessee, born in 1873. Rattletrap was recorded much later by the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, a group from eastern Tennessee begun by the Birchfield family in the 70's (though the founder, Joe Birchfield, born in 1912, had learned fiddling with his family as a youngster). I'd conclude Bill's Old Granny Rattletrap influenced Joe's Rattletrap, a tune said to be the group's theme song.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 159
Size: 1,564kb, uploaded 12/16/2022 11:40:50 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
A nice Celtic tune used as a contra dance tune here in America, it is in Em and only uses two chords (also a D, but it has a dramatic, catchy melody.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 154
Size: 1,304kb, uploaded 10/14/2017 10:20:30 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
As played by Ozark fiddler, Cecil Snow, this is the old-time Tune of the Week for October 13, 2017. It's called a hoedown and its style is compared to Texas swing style with slurred notes. I found it was easy to play because it only used open strings and the second fret. It also has a neat ascending melody in the B part.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 233
Size: 1,160kb, uploaded 4/18/2015 4:34:32 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This version of the old-time Tune of the Week, 4/17/15, comes from the Kessinger Brothers. It has more of a swinging beat. I haven't listened a lot yet to Clark Kessinger, but in Jake Gillie I hear the skill and smoothness in his fiddling that's highly regarded.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 1072
Size: 1,508kb, uploaded 4/28/2015 6:03:15 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
A second tune I've learned from the playing of Missouri fiddler Lonnie Robertson (1908 - 1981). Old Joe was also played on the Opry and possibly has some links (in its "odd metric patterns") to a minstrel tune of the same name.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 280
Size: 1,041kb, uploaded 8/8/2015 3:14:43 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 8-7-15, this comes mostly from the original source, fiddler Noah Beavers who recorded for Gerald Harrison on the Dear Old Illinois collection. I also listened to the Indian Creek Delta Boys. I'm playing on a Gold Tone cello banjo just re-strung with nylgut minstrel strings.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 215
Size: 1,065kb, uploaded 8/9/2015 1:17:11 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Here is a second rendition of this old-time Tune of the Week for 8/7/15 played on a Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie. The first recording was on a Gold Tone cello banjo, an octave lower. Here's the link to the current discussion: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/307438.
Add CommentPosted 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: 205
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.
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