Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

My father with Gibson Tenor, and I. Excuse the quality. About 1995. My father was 80, and me 55. Now I am 84 and dad is in glory.

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.

For the current Tune of the Week, I thought I'd give yet another tuning a try, and this one seems to be able to hit the notes without jumping around octaves and doing finger gymnastics (it's at least doable, anyway, not necessarily easy).

I recording this song playing along with my own backing track that I made, which I've uploaded to the forum in various speeds for you. I used my Deering Calico banjo to record this tune. Enjoy!

I really like this song on the 5-string banjo, called "Green Gates." Dave Hum recorded it along with "Silver Spears" and even a burst of "The Traveller" in the middle (cool), but I just wanted a backing track for "Green Gates." It's an old popular Irish reel. Of the 115 backing tracks which Dave Hum's family has gratefully made available for purchase, Green Gates/Silver Spears is unfortunately not one of them. I am very thankful for the 115 backing tracks that I have. What a blessing! If you haven't purchased Dave's backing tracks and tabs yet, you're missing out. There's nothing available online that I would consider even close in quality. Dave's tracks aren't cluttered, like most of the other junk I've found online. I enjoyed making this backing track. Certain songs on the 5-string banjo have an addictive pattern of notes to play, and this is one of them. I can really get into this song. Other tunes (to mention but a few) that have addictive 5-string banjo patterns are "Chicken Reel," "Cumberland Gap" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." Dave recorded the song in the key of G, standard tuning. I like playing it in the key of A, so I have provided backing tracks for both keys. I hope you like it. Dave Hum's family has tabs for sale for "Green Gates" on their website.