Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

Greegs Favorite (solo fiddle)

carlb — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 20:49:00 CST

Source: James E. Frill?s Musick Book, p. 4` top, No. 9 Key - D

La Bastringue (solo banjo)

carlb — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 20:43:00 CST

banjo - aDAde

Pretty Little Girl

JanetB — Sun, 4 Oct 2026 14:42:00 CST

As played by the banjo of North Carolina's Fred Cockerham, he of course plays it faster and with even more slides, but it's as close to Round Peak as I've gotten by trying to arrange such a tune. This one has five parts!

Bug in the Taters (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:44:00 CST

The source recordings is Al Hopkins and the Buckle Busters from the 1920's. It's meant to be a pretty fast dance tune and has four parts.

Andy Scrimshander

E Field — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:00:00 CST

An original tune

Lake Erie

JanetB — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:58:00 CST

As played by Tennessee fiddler John Sharp, I wouldn't have know I have Lake Erie on a CD by Bruce Molsky and Bob Carlin hiding under "John Sharp Medley." I'm one who appreciates detailed liner notes, but they weren't here. So thanks to Tune of the Week and Mark Gentry this week!

Sweet Nora Lee

J. T. Adams — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:37:00 CST

Art Rosenbaum included Sweet Nora Lee in an album and a book subsequently tabbed. He played it in Seeger's up-picking style, but I arranged it for clawhammer here. It's a sweet song with some lyrics, too.

West Virginia Hornpipe

JanetB — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 16:06:00 CST

Here's a "barn burner" as played by WV fiddler Clark Kessinger, but more like a rocking chair when I play it. It sure has a range, so I turned to the cello banjo and tuned it just three steps lower than standard to play an A tune out of an equivalent to double C tuning.

Old Blue Tick

JanetB — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:47:00 CST

As played by August Merrill, Missouri fiddler, and collected by R.P. Christeson. Missouri tunes are often notey, and I suspect with more familiarity, I'd want to simplify this more for banjo ease.

Last of Harris

LyleK — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 16:02:00 CST

John Salyer's tune, played out of "Old-G" tuning. I pulled it out of another of my *.mp3's at the hangout: "Old G-athon" which has four other tunes with it.

Unknown (sounds a little like go tell it on the mountain)

C purley ward — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 20:19:00 CST

Sally in the Garden

snoot — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:28:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

The Golden Ticket

Eric Merrill — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 14:15:00 CST

A modern composition of an old-timey tune. It's a bit challenging to play with its timing, but pleasant and lively. The "Golden Ticket" may have originated as a well-understood concept from the book and movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Turning Island

E Field — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:02:00 CST

Alternative title: Sketch after a Tune by Gautier d'Espinal

John's Tune (TOTW)

JanetB — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:04:00 CST

As played by WV fiddler Ralph Roberts, recorded by Don Borchelt and Jimmy Triplett. John's Tune is short little tune and fun to hear and play. It's named after the fiddler's grandfather who began every fiddle session with it!

Moonshine vs Hartford with Gtr

Sopris — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:03:00 CST

A-B Cherokee Shuffle in G with guitar backup

Moonshine vs Hartford No Gtr

Sopris — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:01:00 CST

Cherokee Shuffle in G (forgot capo:)

Lightning Bug (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:20:00 CST

Thanks to Carl Baron who has shared a tune he's performed often in a special place at a folk festival. I don't get to see these remarkable little scenes of nature, but I can imagine their bright flight at night.

Lightning Bug - an audio tab

carlb — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 20:21:00 CST

Description of how of how I play the tune. Banjo aDADe In D and G

Lightning Bug from Goschenhoppenn stage

carlb — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 20:14:00 CST

Goschenhoppen Fiddlers playing on stage in 2011

Lightning Bug solo banjo carlb

carlb — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 20:12:00 CST

Tune from Berks County. PA in aDAde. In two keys, D and G.

The Goldfinch's Retort

E Field — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 13:51:00 CST

An original tune

Scott No. 1 (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:03:00 CST

Learned for clawhammer banjo from the playing of Missouri fiddler Bill Driver with some cello banjo accompaniment

Wink the Other Eye

Jim_VA — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:40:00 CST

Scott No. 1

Jim_VA — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:38:00 CST

A tune in the key of G, from the fiddling of Bill Driver.

Walkin in the Parlor

goose — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:54:00 CST

Ode Magician 13 inch

The Wizard's Walk

Jay Ungar — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 17:32:00 CST

A challenging piece for the Tune of the Week. I stuck with a chordal approach which I learned when studying bluegrass, and still use constantly.

Ghillie Dhu

E Field — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 09:08:00 CST

An original tune

Buckdancer's Choice

S_D — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:23:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Old Jake Gillie (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:50:00 CST

Two versions of many -- Dwight Diller and Clark Kessinger.

Two Reels

GDJames — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:47:00 CST

Snake River Reel and Nine Witches Reel. Double C tuning, tuned down to something like double Bb. First is Cerddoriarth Fynyddig/Mountain Music's version, second is an original by him.

Chadwell's Station

GDJames — Fri, 22 May 2026 08:51:00 CST

Chadwell's Station played clawhammer, slow and with standard tuning tuned down to E. Learnt it from Cerddoriaeth Fynyddig/Mountain Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amGFMKUu_6g

Old Jake Gillie (slower)

snoot — Fri, 22 May 2026 04:16:00 CST

Slower finger picked version

Catharsis

GreatKingCody — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:03:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Otter Creek

Brad Kolodner — Sat, 16 May 2026 12:06:00 CST

Learned for a Tune of the Week, I'm grateful anytime to hear the composer, Brad Kolodner, and the other fine musicians, including his father, who he often plays with.

Pigeon on the Gate solo banjo

carlb — Thu, 7 May 2026 17:31:00 CST

A Doc White fiddle tune I originally learned back in the early 1970s. Banjo tuned aDAde

Pigeon on the Gate from Doc White

carlb — Thu, 7 May 2026 17:25:00 CST

I don't remember where I got this recording but it's for TOTW. Doc White playing the tune from two different sessions.

Pay Me Up Eleven Pence (TOTW)

JanetB — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:24:00 CST

From the fiddling of WV Israel Welch. I used the Gold Tone cello banjo tuned down five steps from a regular banjo open G tuning.

Far and Wide - Ruth Moody

dbrooks — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:41:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Skimmington Ride

E Field — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:45:00 CST

An original tune

Doctor, Doctor / Folding Down the Sheets medley

JanetB — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:37:00 CST

Hope you enjoy this medley. Check out the Tune of the Week for April 17, 2026 for details.

Little Sadie - Basic

dbrooks — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Drunken Billy Goat

JanetB — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 16:56:00 CST

This tune is probably composed of parts of three tunes, as stated in research of Brilliancy Medley by Eck Robertson, a Texas fiddler a hundred years ago. I have yet to recognize all the tunes he juxtaposed in that one 1929 recording posted in the current TOTW.

cripple creek

ak3 — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:06:00 CST

Bean Walker's Mile

snoot — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 05:37:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 2

dbrooks — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:57:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 2

dbrooks — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:56:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Speed the Plough

hudie — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:20:00 CST

key of G in 2 finger style, Bare finger

Grigsby's Hornpipe

JanetB — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:55:00 CST

A 9-part tune, Grigsby's Hornpipe source recording is Eck Robertson, the "Famous Cowboy Fiddler" from Texas. Colonel Melvin Grigsby may be the namesake for the tune, having gained some fame himself when he prompted Congress to pass an act to form his cavalry. That act led to Teddy's Rough Riders, which may have led to his ascension to the U.S. presidency.

Snowbird on the Ashbank (Oscar Wright)

JanetB — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:00:00 CST

Though another melody goes by this title, and this version of WV fiddler Oscar Wright's resembles Paddy on the Turnpike, it's a tune that's been recorded with credit given to Wright.

Snowbird On The Ashbank

gentrixuk — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:22:00 CST

TOTW 03/13/26

Gibson Bowtie

Russell Carson — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:07:00 CST

The Baltimore Fire (TOTW)

Charlie Poole — Sat, 7 Mar 2026 14:52:00 CST

Charlie Poole wrote the song and recorded it with the North Carolina Ramblers in 1929, but it's said that a similar older song centered around a much earlier fire in Boston was the inspiration.

Chadwell's Station

snoot — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 02:50:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Chadwell's Station (CB)

JanetB — Sun, 1 Mar 2026 08:40:00 CST

This arrangement of Chadwell's Station using cello banjo tuned down four steps allowed me to hit the lowest notes, but it also caused me to re-tune the first string because of the high fret notes needed. So the tuning is dGDGB -- open G. The alternate method to play used a regular banjo in normal tuning -- gDGDB -- and is easier to play.

Chadwell's Station

JanetB — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:37:00 CST

From the 1840's Hamblen collection of a Virginia fiddler, David Russell Hamblen. As these tunes become known and played from the musical notation made by Hamblen's grandson, their richness is appreciated in the old-time music world.

Big Footed Man In The Sandy Lot

snoot — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:08:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Big Footed Man in the Sandy Lot (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:00:00 CST

As played on fiddle nearly one hundred years ago by the Stripling Brothers, without the insertion of the hymn In the Sweet By and By.

Shady Grove

jef — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:11:00 CST

Shady Grove might be the most universal old time tune that ever existed. It 's pretty hard to make a rendition that is satisfactory as to combining the banjo with the singing.

Queen of France

snoot — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--<a href='/tab/browse.asp?m=bymember&v=103904'>view my tabs here</a>.

Queen of France (TOTW)

JanetB — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:06:00 CST

From the notation of Virginian David Hamblen's fiddling, as played by Christian Whig. Thanks to Noah Cline for bring this collection to our attention.

My Wife Died Saturday Night (TOTW)

JanetB — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 14:25:00 CST

As played by Humphrey Bates' harmonica in a 1928 recording. Terrible title, but a good dance tune, as it was probably intended.

Ripple

Garcia, Hunter — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 13:17:00 CST

My Wife Died Saturday Night

carlb — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 17:19:00 CST

Banjo aDAde Derived from Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters

Rovin' Gambler

JanetB — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 16:39:00 CST

Via Eddy Arnold, here are the lyrics the woman can sing. She's determined to go with her roving gambler. Good luck to them both, but ....

Coon Dog

DelusionsOBanjer — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:13:00 CST

Two-finger arrangement by Matt Brown

The Rovin' Gambler

RG — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:18:00 CST

The Rovin' Gambler based on Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers 1929 Columbia Records recording

Katy Did

snoot — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:47:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

The Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman

snoot — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:29:00 CST

Three-finger style, G rather than the usual A as I wasn't using a capo.

Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman

JanetB — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:59:00 CST

A French Canadian tune with a title that says it all!

Tink Queer's Special (CB)

JanetB — Sat, 3 Jan 2026 10:50:00 CST

From the collection of Samuel Bayard of Pennsylvania around the 1930's, Harry "Tink" Queer liked "tinkering" with his father's fiddle at a young age and grew to be a capable fiddler. The A part of this tune sounds unique and the B part reminds us of Little Billy Wilson's part A. The cello banjo's lower tuning allowed me to arrange this tune in equivalent to a double C tuning. Because the original tune is in A, open G tuning would work, too. Here it goes from the low fourth string up to the 10th fret on the first string. I had to memorize my tab's part B to accurately get up there. (Normally for Tune of the Week, I arrange and tab a tune after slowing the fiddle down to hear what is played and don't make an effort to memorize it.) I like imitating the fiddle on banjo and often have said my banjo thinks it's a fiddle. :) I get the melody best from a fiddle, and for me it's melody that makes the tune, with the clawhammer rhythmic style giving it body.

Tralee Gaol (CB)

JanetB — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:17:00 CST

An Irish polka with a long history and various titles. I'm curious how the cello banjo would sound with regular banjo chordal accompaniment. Perhaps I can try that later for this Tune of the Week.

Good King Wenceslas

Dave Hicks — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 11:00:00 CST

Tralee Gaol

carolynf — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 07:55:00 CST

Celtic polka that fits well in an old time playlist.

Christmas Time's A-Comin'

Tex Logan — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:08:00 CST

Bill Monroe's 1951 recording is the inspiration here. Such a cheerful song!

Hog Eyed Man

Mtngoat — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:55:00 CST

Goodbye Liza Jane

hudie — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 17:36:00 CST

Key of G and played on a newly constructed open back

Going Up to Hamburg

JanetB — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 16:07:00 CST

From the Mississippi collection called Great Big Yam Potatoes. Lots of fun tunes to explore!

Fingering with Your Fingers (TOTW)

JanetB — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:17:00 CST

In 1935 the Mississippi Sheiks recorded this jazzy piece and 90 years later I'm playing it on clawhammer banjo. It's the Tune of the Week, so go to the thread if you want to learn more about its history.

Douce Dame Jolie

Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377) — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:18:00 CST

Cavalry - Banjo Backup

dbrooks — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:50:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Cavalry Intro - Mandolin Orange

dbrooks — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:49:00 CST

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Briarpicker Brown

Don Borchelt — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 12:45:00 CST

This tune comes from fiddler Buddy Thomas (1934-1974) of Lewis County, Kentucky, who learned it from Ohio fiddler Morris Allen. Jeff Titon notes the A part's close similarity with the English dance tune The Rose Tree.

Foggy Mountain Top (TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 11:17:00 CST

The Carter Family first presented this iconic song to the world of country music. These lyrics came from Carlene Carter, daughter of June and Johnny Cash. The 3/4 timing for the verses was my idea.

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut (w/chordal accompaniment)

JanetB — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:50:00 CST

Using cello banjo, this recording adds chordal accompaniment to the previous solo banjo posted for Tune of the Week.

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut (Melvin Wine)

JanetB — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:13:00 CST

A fun little tune where I keep singing the more common B part in my head, "Johnny, get your hair cut, hair cut, hair cut..."

Tippy Get Your Hair Cut

Jilly Grace (maybe passed down from someone else) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:12:00 CST

Tippy Get You Hair Cut (Melvin Wine, fiddle GDAD and Carl Baron, banjo gDGDE) was recorded from an over the air public radio broadcast of the 1977 Chicago Folk Festival.

Martha Campbell

Fortune — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:04:00 CST

Hoppin' John

Fortune — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:21:00 CST

Going Across the Sea

Fortune — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:00 CST

Sallie Gooden (Eck Robertson)(TOTW)

JanetB — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 12:23:00 CST

Eck Robertson, Arkansas fiddler with a phenomenal recording history, played multiple versions of the commonly known old-time tune Sally Goodin. Check out the Tune of the Week link for an interesting story. I play just a few of his variations, plus add my own at the very end.

Red Rover

E Field — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:18:00 CST

An original tune

Waiting for Nancy

Fortune — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:36:00 CST

Rare Up (TOTW)

JanetB — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 15:48:00 CST

An upbeat tune, sounds to me like a horse that rears up in great spirit and power. This arrangement is first arranged from the source recording, Oklahoman fiddler George Mert Reeves, and then from Kerry Blech (1947-2023), wonderful collector, scholar and player of fiddle tunes.

Old Jimmy Sutton

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 13:20:00 CST

Double C; key of D, After Bob Siggins. "Hell if you can't play that you can't play nothing"

Candy Girl

Fortune — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 13:00:00 CST

G tuning key of A