Across-the-pond presenter Andy Taylor offers a thorough exploration of a favorite tune. We may have thought this one is an Appalachian tune, but Andy points to older ones with similar melody and with various titles -- not from here, but from Ireland.  Over the Moor to Maggie is one title of the tune he plays for us.  Another version dates back to a publication in 1865 under yet another title.  But wherever it's from, this has been a long-time favorite of many old-time players.  Let's hear your own take of TOTW, 3/31/23, Waynesboro.

Our long-time presenter, all the way from Sweden, offers his lengthy, well-organized presentation of a song most everyone knows a version of.  Jan Olov Sundqvist presents examples within many genres, as well as tabs and notation, to thoroughly study this week's tune.  The depth of material surrounding this song is absolutely astounding, so let's dive into TOTW, 4/7/23, Short'nin Bread.

Hi Janet,
Happy Easter and yes, Jan does excellent thorough work every time. Shortening Bread is another fun song from Jan...Jack

John D has offered a 4-part piece heard as a contra dance tune.  He learned it from a Ken Perlman instructional book, as well as sheet music from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.  Though it is often called a jig in its title, it's actually a reel.  Ken Perlman stated in his book Clawhammer Banjo Style this is "a throwback to the time when the word jig referred to a dance style instead of a 6/8 time fiddle tune." Any four-part tune sounds challenging, but the tune is fun, kind of familiar, and includes a modulation: TOTW, 4/14/23, Chorus Jig.

A head-wagging, dance-friendly Cajun tune is the choice of Mtngoat this week.  We don't get many Cajun tunes here, and this one typifies the good listening experience you can have, especially if you listen to an older Cajun band like the Balfa Brothers.  Their music has been irresistible for a long time.  The background behind the title is also explored, plus more on this genre of music.  TOTW, 4/21/23, Mon Vieux Wagon.

Any time we get a tune once recorded by fiddler Clark Kessinger (1896 - 1975), we're delving into significant musical history, remembering that his recordings influenced musicians for a long while. For example, Art Stamper and Earl Collins are two fiddlers who recorded it decades later.  Mandobanjolibrarian has given many good examples of the tune and it's worth tackling. Its title has a nice ring to those of us who like old-fashioned cooking, TOTW, 4/28/23, Soppin' the Gravy.

If you keep track of the videos posted by presenter Pat Lyons, you'll hear many a tune played as sweetly and clearly as you'd want to hear. This week he presents a tune named for a town in the rich area of old time music that follows the Red River in Kentucky and was once shared by old time fiddle and banjo player, Lella Todd (1891-1976).  One of Pat's links is to an iconic field recorder and fiddler, responsible for collecting and dispersing many tunes we appreciate, John Harrod.  So give a listen and try playing TOTW, 5/5/23/Red Lick. 

It's quite a valuable service from prolific banjo player Stephen Rapp who continues to offer us Marion Thede's' The Fiddle Book tunes.  This new Tune of the Week has a link to a Slippery Hill page dedicated them, which becomes a real source for us dedicated banjo players wanting to know the tunes, but don't necessarily read the notes in the Thede book.  The fiddlers who contributed to the Slippery Hill page are well-known and talented to help us along -- Tom Sauber, Paul Kirk, Jr. and Rayna Gellert.  Another fun tune to learn: TOTW, 5/12/23, Springfield Girl.

Faithful presenter Adam Schweigert is following through from a Tune of the Month on the Facebook page Clawhammer Rules.  The monthly theme (TOTM instead of TOTW) for last February was to present tunes with titles including names of towns, cities, counties and states.  Adam's home state of Ohio wasn't covered, but now it is!  The tune is pretty and sounds challenging on the fiddle, but you can give it a try and see how Adam has made it easier to play on banjo.  His tab and video are on the new TOTW, 5/19/23/ Chillicothe Beauty.

The very talented and artistic banjo player Ric Hollander has graced us with a Tune of the Week medley of two old and familiar songs.  He gives us samples in more than one style and arranged and recorded the pieces in his unique and exquisite way.  Ric is excited to share the beautiful tone he's getting on his banjo since creating a new product he calls Banjo Bolster, deftly sewn by his wife, Deb, and provides a link for us to learn more.  You're sure to enjoy this week's TOTW, 6/2/23, Oh! Susanna and She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain.

Rick (RG) Hocutt has presented to us the playing of one of his favorite old-time banjo players,  Jont Blevins, from the Whitetop area of Virginia.   The tune is widely known and played with many variations from player to player. It's always vigorous and represents the title well.  See if you can keep up with the tune in TOTW, 6/16/23, Rambling Hobo (Jont Blevins).

Esteemed presenter Carl Baron introduces us to a song by a renounced musician and composer from Kentucky, Sue Massek, and her long-time band Reel World String Band.  Carl likens the song to Ernie Carpenter's Elk River Blues  and plays it as a banjo solo with an explanation of his playing technique.  The sad truths that accompany "progress" is expressed in these titles and the mood is felt.  Let's work on the TOTW, 6-23-23, Before the Road.

Busy musician Mark T hunted out a Clyde Davenport tune not yet covered.  If the town it's named for is that nice, visiting in Kentucky would be a treat.  Tractor Tom, stalwart BHO member, passed on the fiddler's nickname Clyde the Glide, picturesquely describing the smoothness of his fiddle playing.  Let's see who gives this tune a try! Time for TOTW, 6/30/23, Flatwoods.

With apologies for leaving out a Tune of the Week last May, new presenter Porter Branch covered a Clyde Davenport tune. The associated recordings go back to the 1920's from two other older sources. It was a good tune to learn, so if you missed it, here's the link: TOTW, 5/25/23, Flowers from the Fields of Alabama.

With apologies to myself, I left out another TOTW here -- my own.  This J.P. Fraley tune has become special to me.  First of all, just learning it on banjo was gratifying.  It has a very big range of notes and uses frets up the neck.  Then, re-learning it to submit it to an On-Line Old Time Banjo contest last February was another challenge.  Let's see if anyone else will give it a try: TOTW, 6/19/23, Winds of Shiloh.

An old dear friend of a tune takes on a slightly different flavor this week with Adam Schweighert's recently learned rendition of Cumberland Gap.  Certain classic tunes get revised over and over.  Each time there is something new combined with the recognizable tune.  Let's give a try and work on a favorite:  TOTW, 7/14/23, Old Cumberland (Pat Conte).

Long-time presenter, Jan Olov Sundqvist, has prepared a thorough research of a tune going back to a 1927 solo banjo recording.  He offers history, examples, tabs and photos.  Jan compares the tune to some standard tunes, showing resemblance to Coal Creek March, Spanish Fandango and Marching Jaybird.  Please set aside some time to benefit from our latest TOTW, 7/21/23, Baptist Shout.

Once again, across-the-pond presenter Andy Taylor has chosen a tune with a long history and much interest.  As a song, it had different names and unusual lyrics with European roots.  Someone recommended it as as a scary song for around the campfire! As an appealing tune to play on banjo, it is on the modal side and has been recorded by many.  Join Tune of the Week with TOTW, 7/28/23, Wld Hog in the Woods.

We thank Mark Gentry for uncovering another Kentucky tune of Clyde Davenport.   A very similar tune is one not yet on the TOTW list -- Shoot the Turkey Buzzard.  Last time we studied a Davenport tune we learned of his nickname, Clyde the Glide.  His fiddling is smooth and there's no exception here.  There are some silly lyrics to hear as well, so go enjoy TOTW, 8/4/23/ Davy Dugger.

My turn to present led me to research several versions of a floating title.  There isn't much melody similarity between them, though the majority can be interpreted as having somewhat of a Native American flavor.  There was the possible issue of sensitivity to the use of the word "Indian," as "American Indian," "indigenous people", and "Native Americans" are the more recent terms used to express respect and sensitivity.  The presentation is intended to study the music itself, not the historical context of the title wording.  Hope you enjoy and learn from this TOTW, 8/11/23, Indian War Whoop / Indian Whoop.

Mtngoat has given us a fiddle tune from Buddy Thomas, that incredibly talented Kentucky fiddler whose tunes we've often studied.  There are examples from familiar musicians we admire and the tune itself already feels familiar and offers as well the challenge of modulating keys.  If you read tab, there are three tabs in more than one style of playing.  The title bespeaks of rural life and good care for one who is an essential part of that lifestyle, so go enjoy TOTW, 8/18/23, Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay.

Fresh from a week-long old-time festival jam session called Centralia Campout, our prolific presenter Pat Lyons has offered the number one tune on his learning list.  If you like and have played rags before, you'll enjoy this one.  Pat listened to the amazing fiddler Earl White to learn his version, plus there's a source fiddler on Slippery Hill playing the tune under a different title.  Let's  tune in and hear for ourselves the TOTW, 8/25/23, Margaret's Favorite.

This Tune of the Week is a good addition to our growing list of tunes, especially from my favorite source of Appalachian old-time music.  If you follow field recorder collectors and fiddlers such as Bruce Greene and Peter Hoover, you'll appreciate it even more.  The tune's melody and phrasing match the title nicely for those of us who love the mountains and their waterways.  Enjoy TOTW, 9/1/23, Jack's Creek Ridge.

A new presenter, Zach W, has graciously offered to help build our TOTW tune coverings.  Being from Ohio, he consciously looked for a native tune from that state and has been on a quest to find more.  Someone remarked that phrases were reminiscent of Whiskey Before Breakfast, but the tune has its unique charms and sounds fun to learn.  Let's give Zach a welcome and contribute a comment to TOTW, 9/8/23, Spring in the Valley.

New presenter Bill H has offered us a very old Scottish reel with some examples and a melodic banjo video to get us started.  Written by  James Oswald, who was born in 1710 and was part of a secret society of composers as well as a chamber composer for a king, this reel has some interesting history.  The title is humorous, but the melody is lovely and uplifting.  Tune in to the TOTW, 9/16/23, The Bottom of the Punch Bowl.