Our banjo-picking friend from Alabama, Porter Branch, has introduced a neat tune once again from Alabama fiddler Ralph Whited, the first one being "Sam Hill."  Porter shows us how he plays four parts and gives us a good historical background of Ralph.  He'd like to hear others play the tune, so let's join him and give Alabama a shout-out with our own versions!  TOTW, 8/8/25, Turkey Foot. 

Mtngoat remains active in jams and continually provide TOTW tunes most of us aren't yet familiar with.  This week's choice comes from an inaugural group of the 1926 Grand Old Opry and its title includes the name of the two founding brothers.  There is good internet presence of the tune and one banjo tab is already available. Sometimes it's shared as a version of Sally Ann. Come join us and have a listen to TOTW, 8/15/25, Crook Brothers Breakdown.

My Tune of the Week turn to be a presenter has allowed me to learn what Adam Hurt calls "one of the most beautiful pieces of music we've ever heard."  It also encouraged me to reach out to the composer, Canadian-born Erynn Marshall, who transplanted herself to the Appalachians out of love for its music.  I have long admired her fiddle playing and downloaded all her CDs from Bandcamp.  Finally getting to speak with her via a phone call interview was a thrill.  This week's tune is an original composition by Erynn and so the subject of writing tunes is also addressed.  Let's learn and post the TOTW, 8/22/25, Bass Cove Waltz and give it more internet presence.

RG, rich in old-time music and history, dug deep into WV music and chose a Hammons family tune, well known by many and by various names, but played uniquely by Sherman Hammons. Most of us know this tune, but haven't ever played it quite like this version. It would be awesome to hear the lyrics sung to RG's banjo, and he does provide them. TOTW, 8/29/25, Red Rocking Chair (Sherman Hammons)

Andy Taylor likes to mine the rich fields of old-time music, seeking sources both in his native British Isles and after they were transported to new homes in America.  Today's tune is one he picked up via a Ken Perlman recording and tablature, as well as from Irish sources to assist him with a clawhammer arrangement.  The tune goes back at least to an 1800's collection and is intriguing with its minor A part and major B part.  Listen in and dare to try TOTW, 9/5/25, The Fermoy Lasses.

Jim G chose a Dear Old Illinois tune with a funny name. One of the other sources is the Volo Bogtrotters, another funny name, but with a great string band sound. You can hear the tune and imagine dancing to its nice rhythm and catchy melody. TOTW, 9/12/25, Walk Old Shoe, Heel Come A Draggin’.

John D has given us an old Irish march, probably named for a long military campaign and its leader from centuries before.  It's a 3-part tune and one of the shared links is played by the illustrious Irish group The Chieftains.  John's may be the only clawhammered rendition so far, but it plays out well in double D, so come enjoy and play this TOTW, 9-19-25, O'Neill's March.

Mtngoat shares a Kentucky tune this week learned by a 7 year-old fiddler in 1897 who lived until age 93 and didn't die of old age, but died in a house fire.  (Have you ever noted the longevity of many fiddlers we study?)  The tune is light-hearted and doesn't appear hard to learn, and the samples are fun to listen to, so give it a try!  TOTW, 9/26/25, Bound to Have a Little Fun.

A delightful and descriptive little tune is the choice of the talented Mark Gentry. From the fiddling of George Mert Reeves of Oklahoma, the A part of the tune has an octave jump. This should be fun to try -- TOTW, 10/3/25, Rare Up (aka R’ar Up).

Noah Cline enjoys sharing tunes from his old time roots.   Instead of sharing a known tune this week, he found a tune to learn and plays it here upon a new mountain banjo he just finished.  A nameless waltz for a while, it now has a name associated with the fiddler who once most requested it.  You can learn it from the source, Virginian fiddler Henry Reed, and hear other greats like Alan Jabbour, Ken Perlman and Don Borchelt. TOTW, 10/10/25, Grover Jones' Waltz. 

Presenter Jan Olov Sundqvist takes us on a journey to the 1920's when Eck Robertson recorded a well-known tune.  With its 14 variations in his recording, Jan has been challenged since buying the record in the 1970's to figure them all out.  He gives us a thorough background on this old version, including a story of the tune itself and why Eck chose the number fourteen.  It may be a challenge, but let's figure out how to play some of our new TOTW, 10/16/25, Sallie Gooden (Eck Robertson).

Carl Baron is sharing an old tune he learned from the playing of West Virginian fiddler Melvin Wine.  It goes by many titles, some associated with a children's folksong. Carl provides a variety of links and his own personal research history.  This week's TOTW is a valuable resource for a tune you've probably heard: TOTW, 10/24/25, Tippy or Johnny or Gippy Get Your Hair Cut/Hey or Pretty Betty Martin.

Old-time music veteran Lew Hendrix has graced us with a Carter Family song to explore this week and performs it nicely, too.  Other recordings to hear are Ola Belle Reed and Josh Turknett.  There are examples of both clawhammer and picking styles. Enjoy TOTW, 10/31/25, Foggy Mountain Top.

A lively contra dance tune has been chosen by David Brook of Louisville, Kentucky, with several good examples to hear, plus his own playing for a local dance.  Buddy Thomas, Kentucky fiddler, popularized the tune, which is in his one CD "Kitty Puss." David also writes excellent tabs and offers a couple of his own.  It was recently shared at a jam by Adam Hurt, who learned it from Cathy Fink.  One might wonder at the title, which sounds like a farmer's nickname. This week's tune sounds like a must learn -- TOTW, 11/7/25, Briarpicker Brown

I have posted a crooked and rolicking tune that would probably be a jam buster. But the music of Doc Watson and Buddy Thomas has continually fascinated me -- their fluidity, skill and the contagious joy they convey. Have a listen to this TOTW, 11/14/25, Tucker’s Barn.

Mark Gentry is offering a modern, beautiful tune this week composed by Carl Jones and recorded by him and Beverly Smith  in a 2010 CD. It's a crooked tune, played as a fiddle and guitar duet.  Mark does a nice job with a clawhammer arrangement and tab in double D.  Join us in listening and playing the TOTW, 11/22/25, Ebb and Flow.

Lyle Konigsberg treats us to a rarer TOTW presentation with a 1930's popular African American string band tune, the Mississippi Sheiks.  One of his sample links goes right to a jazzy New Orleans street performance.  Played in the key of Bb, with a bit of old-time ingenuity, it makes a good fiddle/banjo tune in another key. So give a listen and study the detailed research Lyle has done on this week's TOTW, 11/28/25, Fingering with Your Fingers.

Mtngoat has chosen a tune named for a town in Tennessee which wasn't far from the source fiddler, John Hatcher of Mississippi. He is one of several source fiddlers included in the Great Big Yam Potatoes compilation and learned from his grandfather, a Civil War veteran who played many dance tunes. Whether the tune was a dance tune or not remains to be determined, as the tune is brisk, but the bridge slows way down.  Take a look at our TOTW, 12/5/25, Going Up to Hamburg.

After ten years or more it's good to re-visit favorite tunes as a Tune of the Week. Andy Taylor is offering an appealing one covered back in 2009.  It's in D minor and he gives examples to watch and discusses its background, as well as the lyrics. TOTW, 12/12/25, Sally in the Garden.

A merry Christmas song is the Tune of the Week, presented by Bill Rogers.  Though often associated with bluegrass, the tune does well on banjo and Bill tells us that it's Ricky Skaggs playing clawhammer banjo in one of the links you'll hear. Bill Monroe popularized the song, but Tex Logan wrote it.  It's an upbeat song to put us in the spirit --  TOTW, 12/19/25, Christmas Time's A-Comin.

It's truly a treat when Carolyn Faubel posts a tune. This week she offers an old Irish polka that goes by several titles. Her discover of it reminds us all of how many treasures are still undiscovered in our own CD collections. This one sounds fun to play: TOTW, 12/26/25, Tralee Gaol.

Another unique presentation by Adam Schweigert taps into the Samuel Bayard collection from Pennsylvania.  Adam says that the A part is original and the B part is distinctly reminiscent of Little Billy Wilson.  He gives us the link to the source recording, so let's give it a listen while enjoying Adam's own arrangement, especially his A part where he cascades delicately down the neck. TOTW, 1/3/26, Tink Queer's Special.

Mtngoat keeps up with the current tunes played in jams and for dancers in his neck of the woods.  This tune has its roots in the French Canadian repertoire and features the low A part and high B part that is characterized by its title. Let's take up the challenge of learning TOTW, 1/9/26, Growling Old Man and Cackling Old Woman.

I chose to present a Kentucky fiddle tune by Clyde Davenport and investigate an interpretation of its accompaniment that invites discussion.  It's a pretty little melody and doesn't follow the typical AABB pattern, but is more like 3 mini A parts and 2 mini B parts.  Curious?  Read and listen to the TOTW, 1/16/26, Roses in the Morning.

Don Borchelt offers us a complete presentation and analysis of an old tune recorded in the 1920's and some bio info on the source fiddler.  He begins delightfully with a photo of an insect who landed on his banjo and whose name is the title. Don goes through various recordings and styles and offers both videos, mp3s and tabs. He also personally encourages you to learn this week's TOTW, 1/23/26, Katy Did.