Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

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.

Key of G and played on an 11"open back parts banjo. Vintage pot and refurbished neck.