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I'm getting my Keith Tuners repaired and it made me think are they really worthwhile since they're are so few tunes in which to use them? I can only think of two tunes that include using Scruggs or Keith Tuners and they are "Flint Hill Special" and "Earl's Breakdown". Are there other tunes using these?
Man they are tons of others! You can even incorporate them into other songs in certain sections as well….
A few other tunes utilizing them…
Randy Lynn Rag
Foggy Mtn. Chimes
Bending the Strings
Home Sweet Home (in d tuning)
Riding the Waves
Five O’clock in the Morning
East Virgina Blues:
youtu.be/7ezXtg43STg?si=B0cWLXbNaZhEOEhY
Grandfathers Clock:
youtu.be/d4h0Z7h0IAQ?si=3x6f0N8jJM9tWLfr
You Are My Sunshine:
youtu.be/GnocVCGS2uo?si=t0x-OnIHlYf-M8ha
These are just a few!
Listen to Bill Keith's "Auld Lang Syne", he played it using nothing but his Keith Tuners.
Check out Tom Isaac's playing "East Virginia Blues" using D-tuners.
I've seen "Reuben" and "Home Sweet Home" played with Keith tuners also.
Just start noodling around with them...there's a lot of tunes that are conducive to using D-tuners, even if you just throw a couple licks in using them for "effect"
Edited by - RioStat on 01/17/2025 17:13:22
quote:
Originally posted by techmanI'm getting my Keith Tuners repaired and it made me think are they really worthwhile since they're are so few tunes in which to use them? I can only think of two tunes that include using Scruggs or Keith Tuners and they are "Flint Hill Special" and "Earl's Breakdown". Are there other tunes using these?
Bill produced a TAB Book full of tunes that employed tuners. Not sure if it's still in print. Check Ebay Amazon
Apart from all those tunes mentioned above, surely they have another value, which is rapidly switching from say an open G to an open D tuning between songs (eg at a gig). I can’t say I need to do that very often though, and that can make fine tuning a little bit more cumbersome, because you then have to release the thumb screws of course.
Don't forget Flatt & Scruggs' "'Til The End Of The World Rolls 'Round", with Earl's B-string dips on the 5 chord in his breaks: youtube.com/watch?v=aq9tODcPi6...lIHdvcmxk .
And here's one of mine, "Bradford" (though the low-D tuner was slipping toward the end, and they cut off the last chord, which was godawful out of tune): youtu.be/2wfhmS8PMFM?t=165 .
One of my favorites is "Bear Tracks". I think it's by JD Crowe but Jim Mills has an awesome version:
youtube.com/watch?v=W2L7TjO86rc
Below is a link to a recording of J.D. Crowe's version of Stoney Mountain Twist. It's an instrumental that was composed by Walter Hensley, and recorded by him with Earl Taylor, Jim McCall And The Stoney Mountain Boy. The song also goes by the title: "Walt's Breakdown". Chubby Checker had a number one hit with "The Twist" about the same time; I suspect that may have influenced Walt's title choice.
Edited by - RB3 on 01/18/2025 08:14:54
Ira,
It is now in the Tab archives... Jack
Til The End Of The World...Scruggs
Originally posted by Ira GitlinDon't forget Flatt & Scruggs' "'Til The End Of The World Rolls 'Round", with Earl's B-string dips on the 5 chord in his breaks: youtube.com/watch?v=aq9tODcPi6...lIHdvcmxk .
And here's one of mine, "Bradford" (though the low-D tuner was slipping toward the end, and they cut off the last chord, which was godawful out of tune): youtu.be/2wfhmS8PMFM?t=165 .
"Tuner Techniques - The Keith Banjo Tuner Songbook" by David Guptill is available on the Beacon Banjo Company website:
https://www.beaconbanjo.com/product/tuner-techniques-book-cd/
I bought a copy a year or so ago from there. The site has not been updated in a while, but the company still seems to be active.
Ha Eric,
Yes the notes altered will be the same but if you do not hear the acoustics involved in each method of altering the sound then that's how you hear it. So, "No Rip"....H/A
Originally posted by Eric AOk, I'm going to expose myself to my own ignorance and ridicule, but doesn't a backward slide do as well as a Scruggs tuner?
Go for it. Rip me a new one.
Edited by - Jack Baker on 01/19/2025 07:16:03
Great post Wayne!! Wonderful J. D. tuners...Jack
Originally posted by RB3Below is a link to a recording of J.D. Crowe's version of Stoney Mountain Twist. It's an instrumental that was composed by Walter Hensley, and recorded by him with Earl Taylor, Jim McCall And The Stoney Mountain Boy. The song also goes by the title: "Walt's Breakdown". Chubby Checker had a number one hit with "The Twist" about the same time; I suspect that may have influenced Walt's title choice.
Edited by - Jack Baker on 01/19/2025 07:18:20
Louie,
Check the Tab Archives. I've got all three version and breaks of J. D's "Beartracks" in there...Jack"
Originally posted by LouieCheeOne of my favorites is "Bear Tracks". I think it's by JD Crowe but Jim Mills has an awesome version:
youtube.com/watch?v=W2L7TjO86rc
quote:
Originally posted by Jack BakerHa Eric,Yes the notes altered will be the same but if you do not hear the acoustics involved in each method of altering the sound then that's how you hear it. So, "No Rip"....H/A
Originally posted by Eric AOk, I'm going to expose myself to my own ignorance and ridicule, but doesn't a backward slide do as well as a Scruggs tuner?
Go for it. Rip me a new one.
Hey, Jack, Love your tabs!