Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

a multitrack take on this fine old song. Me on banjo, me on uke, me on guitar, and me on pubescent vocal.

Jim surprised me with a song! Learning it lets me see into his magic and genius. He gave me permission to name it, so I did.

Jim surprised me with a song! Learning it lets me see into his magic and genius. He gave me permission to name it, so I did.

Tom Berghan, 5 string banjo, 4 string baritone & soprano banjos, fretless bass banjo, guitar and snare drum. Septmebr 18, 2011

Tom Berghan, 5 string banjo, 4 string baritone & soprano banjos, fretless bass banjo, guitar and snare drum. Septmebr 18, 2011

This is my friend Mark McPherson playing the tune, and I'm doing the backup for him. It's a little long, but it was fun to play.

Basically clawhammer with, maybe, a few of my own ideas -- but there's really nothing new under the sun, is there?

Basically clawhammer with, maybe, a few of my own ideas -- but there's really nothing new under the sun, is there?

Sally Ann

Sally Ann

House Carpenter, played by Bob Lanham. The tuning is open D tuning (aDF#AD), and capo'd up to the key of F at the 3rd fret, in order to fit my low voice. The banjo is a Bart Reiter "Round Peak."

I've slowed my old version of this down some and added lyrics.

This is another tune I recorded with fiddler Matt McConeghy, from Providence, Rhode Island, at the Fiddlin' Bear Old-Time Musicians' Gathering at Lake Genero Park, in Hamlin, Pennsylvania over Labor Day weekend. This is a West Virginia fiddle tune that comes from Wilson Douglas, among others. The banjo is tuned to open D.

Dedicated to BHO member oldwoodchuck whose Rocket Science Banjo videos unveiled the mystery of clawhammer that I failed figure out on my own for at least 20 years off and on trying to. I watched his first vid, started practicing "the stroke" and about 2 days later this tune just fell out. What could I call it better than Old Woodckuck? I've been frailing for about a week as of this post and I'm enjoying it hugely. Much to learn still, but that will be fun. My hat is off to Mr. Spadaro and Rocket Science Banjo!

Dedicated to BHO member oldwoodchuck whose Rocket Science Banjo videos unveiled the mystery of clawhammer that I failed figure out on my own for at least 20 years off and on trying to. I watched his first vid, started practicing "the stroke" and about 2 days later this tune just fell out. What could I call it better than Old Woodckuck? I've been frailing for about a week as of this post and I'm enjoying it hugely. Much to learn still, but that will be fun. My hat is off to Mr. Spadaro and Rocket Science Banjo!