Reuben’s Train; Cluck Old Hen; Anything wth slides.

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Originally posted by pghmatt

Sure I can play all the songs that I know. But what are your favorites to play fretless? This is also my first venture into nylon strings as well. Fairly certain I am going to get Brad Leftwich’s book from Mel Bay. So far Falls of Richmond, Colored Aristocracy and Kitchen Girl have been pretty fun.

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You won't go wrong with BL's book on Round Peak Banjo.

Introduction to Fretless Banjo - YouTube

1)  Get yourself an electronic tuner if you don't already have one.  If things sound out of tune you'll know it's your intonation and not the banjo.

2)  Don't overdo the slides.

I like Fred Cockerham's Pretty Little Girl: https://youtu.be/N3QrHr-pcoA . He does not make many slides, but the long slide in the second part sounds thrilling.

Did you check the archive? I think I have seen the same question posted before.

I like anything that isn't too fast,

but that's also partly because of my age.

It also helps to turn off the lights sometimes—just closing your eyes works, too.

Here are a few of my current favorites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwgPIeGX4hE&list=RDcwgPIeGX4hE&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgCEW_f27F8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrTp0gLpFAI&list=RDFrTp0gLpFAI&start_radio=1
I'd also recommend not overdoing it with the sliding.

I also think all the pieces are playable, though some are definitely much harder.

Have fun!

Sullivan's Hollow

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Originally posted by lucas73b

Did you check the archive? I think I have seen the same question posted before.

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There sure are and I sure did. Lots of modal tunes for sure.
 

Brad Leftwich's book came up many times. And RD's now out of print Cotton Blossom. Specific tunes mentioned (links provided where provided previously):

Old Blue, When You and I Were Young Maggie, The Pateroller Song, Sullivan’s Hollow, Patty on the Turnpike, Candy Gal, mole in the ground, soldier's joy, groundhog, june apple, greasy coat, pretty polly, sourwood mountain, john browns dream, cindy, down the road, sandy boys, Sugar Hill, cold frosty morning, shaking down the acorns, greasy coat and ruebens train.

I reckon who contributes here changes, who has started playing fretless changes, and tastes change. Favorite is pretty subjective and that's a good thing. What's your favorite tune to play fretless?

Boll Weevil blues (Jack Beuthin arrangement)
Frankie and Albert (cobbled together myself)
Rye Whisky (mix of clifton hicks and Jack Beuthin)

Ducks on the Mill Pond and Johnny Don't Get Drunk

The Tom Collins video posted above is great. The best thing I got from him was the to use the fingernail to slide. I would never have worked that out myself. And his advice to ''gesture' towards the note rather than do a massive slide (I'm not putting that very well, watch the video)

Anything Fred Cockerham ever played...

Another vote here for Johnny Don't Get Drunk.

Plopping this here for posterity- really nice version of Johnny Don’t Get Drunk