Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

From the playing of Virginia fiddler Dudley Spangler (1885-1981), the association with Angeline the Baker is strong, but who knows which came first...

Key of G and played on a newly crafted 11" walnut open back

From the vocals of Doc Watson

fiddle and Banjo

Fiddle and Banjo

fiddle and banjo

fiddle and banjo

This version of Cold Frosty Morning is from Melvin Wine, WV fiddler, learned from his father. It's different and "happier" than the other two more commonly known tunes with this title.

Melvin Wine learned this tune from his father. Banjo - aEAC#E

From the playing of the late Christian Wig and the collections of old tunes by William Hamblen. Blacksmiths are near and dear to me, as my son is one.

Learned from the playing of a group called Ruglifters. I hadn't heard of them, but John Herrmann was their banjo player and that's good enough for me. The source recording was by the Lomaxes in 1937 by Kentucky fiddler J.W. Day.

The Tune of the Week is presenting a beauty of a WV tune. With a few variations between the family members, the one from Lee Hammons is the focus. This gave me an opportunity to draw something different.

Written and recorded on my ipad playing my Bacon Belmont in open G.

Played on one of my mini banjos.

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

Chinese folk song played on my mini banjo.

Tom Collins? boot camp material ?Dead Reckoning? with a mashup of Cumberland Gap in f#DEAD tuning on the baritone banjo

Played on a circa 1915 Supertone Ragtime King banjo. Key of G

Played on 1927 VegaTubaphone.

A sand riffle is something that happens in a river or stream. It makes a neat design in the sand, but the water flowing over it is disturbed. Apparently this tune was named for one in Franklin County, TN. That's kind of neat, as I have relatives there and have hiked along one of its creeks.

Folk Songs of Anhui Province, China.

The story of how eminent domain destroyed a person's home place. Ernie was about 27 years old when this happened.

From the playing of Illinois fiddler Lynn "Chirps" Smith who learned it from coal miner Noah Beaver of Elkville, IL. I like its ragtime feeling and syncopation in the B part.

From the playing of WV fiddler Israel Welch, this current offering by Noah Cline is played by a relative of his. Welch sure had a keen skill on fiddle and passes on to us unique tunes like Hell on the Potomac. It actually captures the feel of a Civil War tune, which is said to be the older source.

From the fiddling of an obscure Kentucky fiddler, Kelly Gilbert, the town of Crab Orchard once flourished. When the horse racing derby was moved to Louisville and became the Kentucky Derby, the population in Crab Orchard dwindled, as it does today. But the tune is lively and tells of its heyday.

An old folk song as learned from the singing and guitar of Barbara Dane.

From the playing of WV fiddler Melvin Wine. It closely resembles Texas/New Castle. Melvin remembered lyrics, too. It's origins go back to minstrel banjo.

Banjo: aEAC#E Derived from Melvin Wine's fiddling

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

My first attempt at playing clawhammer.

The current Tune of the Week is full of links and versions and history regarding the old song also known as Frankie and Johnnie. I've arranged one from listening to Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham -- one of the many links available to hear in the discussion thread. In playing along with the recording, my cello banjo was surprisingly already tuned to play along.

From the playing of Dick Hutchison. The rest of the title stated, "Take These Shackles Off of Me." Judge Parker was a real judge who sentenced many criminals to be hung.

This is a Canadian tunes. They are often very noted and challenging. My choice of tunings has me baffled, as I just played along with a recording. It's fDFBbD. The key is apparently Bb. It would be interesting to try another tuning because this arrangement feels hard, though not really harder than others pieces I learn. Probably just more time needed here....

Key of D and played on a 10 3/4" banjo. Old pot with a new neck.

Arranged from a combination of two old fiddlers. The oldest one is Kentucky's George Lee Hawkins. Then a newer one from Alan Jabbour helped me to smooth it out. Also listen to Tom Harleman's version on the Tune of the Week and hear an active bumblebee who you might not want to see except safely in his stopped-up jug!

Clawhammer Banjo Version TablEdit audio capture.

This old English carol has undergone many changes. I've attempted to capture the melody as sung by Shirley Collins, an English folk singer of the 1950's.

This clawhammer arrangement is from Charlie Walden's fiddle recording, linked on Tune of the Week for Decatur Reel. It's following him pretty closely, though in a string band you wouldn't need all these notes. Charlie connects the tune to Missouri's fiddler Dwight Lamb.