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Posted by JanetB, written by John Goodin
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- Play count: 116
Size: 1,372kb, uploaded 5/28/2022 3:47:13 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Our Tune of the Week doesn't have the familiar sound of a fiddle tune, and indeed, it was written by a mandolinist, John Goodin, of the group Contratopia, who sadly passed away last year. To get his notes I reverted to cello banjo. I understood the banjo player of the group played Too Many Goats with a capo on the seventh fret -- not me. Now that would be climbing as high as any mountain goat. :)
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 426
Size: 1,627kb, uploaded 6/8/2018 10:33:10 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/8/18, Trouble on My Mind was recorded by Kentucky fiddler John Salyer's sons at home. Salyer never recorded commercially, but was an excellent fiddler. This tune is crooked in the last measure when it repeats and is unusual in having six measures in the A part and eight in the B part.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 860
Size: 981kb, uploaded 4/2/2013 9:00:27 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Played by Doc Watson, this tune was popularized at the same name in Lenoir, North Carolina--not that far from Deep Gap where Doc lived. It's an interesting piece and makes quite a left hand banjo workout.
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Sidna Myers
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- Play count: 454
Size: 1,064kb, uploaded 7/16/2012 9:30:46 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned for the Tune of the Week, 7-13-12. This song gives me deja vu!
5 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 138
Size: 2,322kb, uploaded 4/3/2015 8:55:27 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This tune is notated by William Sydney Mount, dated in 1848. It has a rhythmic sound called "Scottish snaps," which I had to look up in Ken Perlman resources to define. You'll hear them. I'm enjoying learning more about this famous painter of The Banjo Player.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 247
Size: 1,160kb, uploaded 11/28/2015 5:39:34 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 11/27/15. I learned this from an Arkansas fiddler's recording when she was 93 years old! She's now 99. The title wasn't really Uncle Henry, but she learned it from him. Check out the discussion for more: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/311807.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 306
Size: 999kb, uploaded 12/22/2014 2:40:59 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned for the old-time Tune of the Week, 12/19/14, I arranged this by using notation in the Milliner-Koken American Fiddle Tunes book for Audley Cable's fiddling, as well as Bruce Greene's recording of it on Slippery Hill. He didn't know the name of the tune when Bruce recorded him in 1985, but told him he'd learned it from Mr. Jamison.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 590
Size: 1,044kb, uploaded 4/7/2012 11:33:07 AM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This is a historic marching song for Prussian soldiers. "Plinky and Plunky" are Kit on mandolin and myself, 3-finger picking.
5 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 99
Size: 3,138kb, uploaded 4/8/2022 9:28:36 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Upper Lehigh was played in the first Brandywine Old-time Music Convention in 1974. Carl Baron was there and heard this lively polka and has presented it as the Tune of the Week. I've added the cello banjo for accompaniment and hope the recording quality is decent enough -- I'm not sure where the static came from.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB, written by Rory Dall O'Cahan, Hank Williams
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- Play count: 657
Size: 1,155kb, uploaded 2/13/2012 10:18:44 AM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Two songs from entirely different eras, but with similar themes.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 113
Size: 1,136kb, uploaded 10/26/2019 11:56:37 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time TOTW, 10/25/19, Valley Forge here is from Jimmy Driftwood's fiddled version. It's a 4-part tune where the C part represents to me the tension that must have been felt by Washington's soldiers during that horrendous experience wintering at Valley Forge. Playing it slower might be more effective to impart a story, but as it is, I'm playing at about 70% of the original recording tempo. It's said that Jimmy Driftwood learned the tune from Absie Morrison.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 192
Size: 1,567kb, uploaded 10/25/2018 5:47:24 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 10/26/18, comes from Kentucky fiddler John Salyer (1982-1952). Vance No More is based on a sad ballad about a murder and a hanging. It's a crooked tune that you get used to.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 221
Size: 1,212kb, uploaded 7/31/2020 6:57:23 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Hobart Smith, the amazing musician we old-time players much admire, learned from sources that placed some of his tunes pre-civil war. Wabash Blues is a tune whose age I don't know, but it's only known to have been recorded by him, which happened in 1963 when Fleming Brown befriended him. Stephen Wade released those recordings of Smith in 2005, "In Sacred Trust," and still enjoys playing this very tune to this day.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Daniyel Ben-Asher
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- Play count: 178
Size: 897kb, uploaded 7/20/2012 8:53:20 AM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Daniyel wrote this song and the cello banjo played along.
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Jimmie Rodgers
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- Play count: 429
Size: 1,000kb, uploaded 4/20/2012 6:15:10 AM
Genre: Country / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Known as the Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers (1897 - 1933) songs are fun to sing, but lyrically a bit sad. His yodel is famous!
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Jimmie Rodgers
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- Play count: 349
Size: 1,590kb, uploaded 4/21/2012 1:39:52 PM
Genre: Country / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
With apologies to Jimmie Rodgers, here are the vocals some of you wanted to hear.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 1179
Size: 835kb, uploaded 1/3/2015 1:07:02 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned for the old-time Tune of the Week, the story behind this tune is that it's one Melvin Wine learned by hearing his mother sing this hymn. Now the lyrics are most gone, but the melody is still shared. Check out the current Tune of the Week: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/297062
6 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 223
Size: 1,424kb, uploaded 3/6/2016 2:19:37 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
West Virginia fiddler Melvin Wine learned this from his father. The title may relate to a cake walk song of the pre-minstrel era. Walk Chalk Chicken with a Bowtie On is another title Melvin gave the tune, which is the old-time Tune of the Week for 3/4/16. I found the timing a bit odd, though it has a cheery feel.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 469
Size: 1,028kb, uploaded 9/10/2012 8:29:51 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
A Tune of the Week version from listening to several great players--Joe and Creed Birchfield, Franklin George, and Lester McCumber.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 291
Size: 861kb, uploaded 9/10/2012 12:11:57 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
After recording with a fretted banjo I tried my small scale fretless gourd, too. I find getting all the notes challenging and think of the fiddle's challenge with a very short scale compared to a banjo.
5 commentsCopyright Notice:
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