Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

Tuned open C

Recorded at an old time jam in Tucson.

For the Tune of the Week, 4-11-14. I listened to Erynn Marshall's fiddling for this version. As I was learning this old-time tune my pretty little cat, Louie--black with a white tuxedo, was amusing me with his hunting antics.

Scott Klamm making my banjo sound good.

'Boys them buzzards are flying' is an old time style tune, but a modern composition by Gary Harrison. i tried to learn this tune, but something just wouldn't fall into place. the piece has strange timing and it doesn't really resolve, but keeps you up in the air...sort of like buzzards circling. it's a great tune but didn't make sense to me and i wound up borrowing the hook or tag line and changing it to this...

Listening to Ed Haley, it's hard to clearly hear his fiddling. This was Tune of the Week for 3/28/14 and has 3 parts instead of 2 in the other examples of historic recordings for this tune. After looking at a map we found there are actually three forks of the Big Sandy River, so it makes sense to have three parts. I wonder if Ed Haley performed on that river and wish the John Hartford book about his life would be published, even if unfinished.

For the Tune of the Week, 4/4/14. Jay Ungar has an art for writing modern beautiful old-time tunes. I like the title of this tune because I'm from California and the early history of this state is interesting. I'd recommend reading William Henry Dana, Jr.'s book "Two Years the Mast" for a literary picture of going "round the horn."

Played on new walnut openback made by me

This comes from Kentucky fiddler (originally from West Virginia) Ed Haley's historic recordings. As I recorded it I tried to imagine what it would be like for a real lost Indian and figured the title is also an allegory for any problem when you don't yet have the solution.

For the Tune of the Week, 3/21/14 from the fiddling of George Mert Reeves. This recording may be found on the Slippery Hill website on a section I looked at less often. I perceive another treasure chest has been discovered!

aDADE tuning

For Tune of the Week, 3/14/14, from the fiddling of Lotus Dickey, played on a Gold Tone cello banjo tuned dADF#A. The tune was apparently first played on a fife and later by fiddlers. The history of an Oyster River Massacre in present-day Durham, New Hampshire goes back to the 1690's.

St. Anne's Reel

From Adam Hurt's piano version, inspired by Kentucky fiddler John Salyer whose many tunes are always worth learning. I've also enjoyed playing my Gold Tone cello banjo with all nylon strings. Hope you enjoy, too.

For the Tune of the Week, 3/7/14. I like all the possum tunes! Played with new nylgut strings on my oldest little banjo.