Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

A-B Cherokee Shuffle in G with guitar backup

Cherokee Shuffle in G (forgot capo:)

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.

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

Goschenhoppen Fiddlers playing on stage in 2011

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

An original tune

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

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

Ode Magician 13 7nch

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.

An original tune

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

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

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 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

Slower finger picked version

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

An original tune

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

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

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.

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

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

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

key of G in 2 finger style, Bare finger