Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12/15/17, Wes Muir learned this during the Civil War era. Missouri fiddler Nile Wilson (1912 - 2008) passed the tune on. He learned at a young age to play fiddle from his grandfathers and father. He plays at a fast dance tempo and I can imagine this tune as a polka, though it's said Mr. Wilson's favorite tunes were for square dances.

Great fiddle tune from Jason Carter (fiddler for the Del McCoury band) off his 1997 CD "On the Move". Adapted for clawhammer banjo

From Nile Wilson. Played on a 1903 Fairbanks Whyte Laydie #2 tuned to gCGCD (Key of C).

CH take on Trad waltz. Learned from the playing of Sharon .Shannon. Vega 2. G tuning, but low.

Tried to mimic the sound of the middle East while playing Fast clawhammer.

Level Best

From The Sea

Another song. This one based on a Mary Z Cox tab. Just me having fun

I've decided that I would record more of my progress on this website. For one, it allows me to get some feedback. 2. I can come back in the future and compare. Thanks for listening

Well, my clawhammer journey continues, this time taking an unconventional song and giving it a banjo twist. Please excuse the lame vocals, I really should have practiced it a lot more before I decided to record it. But.... I did it anyway 'cause I love the banjo sound so much!!!

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12-8-17, a 1924 fiddle recording of Dr. D.D. Hollis produced 12 recordings. I find Whistlebee an odd name and it has odd timing, too. The tune has been recorded with little resemblance to the source fiddler and it's hard to say why. It's fun to play and has a busyness to it that might resemble a bee.

Traditional. I heard this on Pete Seeger's "Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes Little & Big." I stole a lick from him, and my verses are largely the same. Otherwise, it is my arrangement.

Wedding Dress

Yesterday our daughter-in-law gave birth to our fourth grandchild, Camille. Our other daughter-in-law had a boy in February, so that is two for us this year! The first three each has his/her own banjo tune composed by Grandpa so with this one Camille joins them. Heading down to Philadelphia in a few minutes to see the little one and the proud parents. In Double C.

This archaic tune has more than one related version, but this week's old-time Tune of the Week for 12/1/17 focuses on West Virginian fiddler French Carpenter (1905 -1965). I now know why January 6 is also celebrated as Christmas, or "Old Christmas," as the English calendar was changed in 1752 and 12 days were left out, bringing December 25th to January 6th. Learn something new every day....