Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

Original song from 1880s. My err.. "Arrangement" played on my walking stick banjo.

Dwight Dillers version, or at least, my take on it....some ways to go.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12-25-15, luckily Old Christmas refers to the continuation of the Christmas celebration until January 6, the day of Epiphany, so I'm not late in posting this. :) I found out more speaking with my sister living in Spain. January 6th celebrates the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus. It took them 12 days to walk there after His birth, therefore the January date. Those 12 days in Spain mean much to the people and the tourists who enjoy the many festivities. In the recent past most presents for Christmas weren't delivered until Jan. 6th, though that's changing these days to make room for Santa Claus and school vacation schedules. This arrangement comes from Bruce Greene, who recorded Kentucky fiddler Manon Campbell and also listened to the Lomax LOC 1937 recording of another Kentucky fiddler, Uncle George Custer Nicholson (1854 - 1941).

Learned from Jim Collier

From my CD "Two Hands."

From my solo CD, "Two Hands."

Breaking Up Christmas, from my solo CD, "Two Hands"

I first heard Peggy-O played by Josh Goforth using a two-finger style accompanied by David Holt on Holt's "State of Music" show on PBS. Originally a Scottish folk song titled "The Bonnie Lass 'o Fyvie," Peggy-O goes by several names and versions. I've attempted here a clawhammer arrangement in Sandy River Belle tuning of Josh's beautiful two-finger rendition.

Recorded at a Tucson jam. Dave Firestine on mandolin, Dan Levonson on fiddle. Probably George Flink on banjo. Me on guitar. And others.

Another sad leaving home tune brought to life by April Verch's wonderful fiddle.

This of the Week for 12/18/15 is a modern song written by banjo player Dave Carter with a striking Native American influence on the lyrics. When he accompanied this with banjo, it played a harmony to the sung melody, which makes a lovely sound that grew on me the more I listened. However, I only used Dave's singing as a guide to this arrangement, except for the very end, which was an instrumental tag. Ironically, Dave died young in 2002, perhaps in synchrony with his own lyrics about "When I Go." "Bear me my brother under your wings, I will strike fell like lightning when I go...Stand in the mist where my fire used to burn, I will camp on the night breeze when I go...Do not worry for my comfort, do not sorrow for me so, All your diamond tears will rise up and adorn the sky beside me when I go."

an old (for me) tune when I was first loosening up with clawhammer. Just pure fun.

Originally called Susan's Waltz, I changed the name to her daughter's who survives her and carries on the tradition.

Sounds of the season in Sandy River Belle tuning.

From an excellent jam in Tucson. Dan Levenson on fiddle, Dave Firestine on mandolin, Jerry Weinert on bass, George Flink on banjo uke, Greg Smith and Jennifer Levenson on banjo, Pete Bowers and me on guitar.