Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Songs

Played on new maple open back with whyte laydie tone ring

I recorded this as my version of Congress Reel for TOTM Oct 2018 in the Irish Trad Music & Related Styles section.

I have had this banjo for a few weeks now and am finding that it is very different from playing a tone ring banjo. When played alone, without other instruments, I actually hear many more tones (the notes are not quite as stable, and there are more subtleties). In that regard, I think it is less forgiving than a tone ring banjo in some circumstances. But when mixed with other instruments, the subtleties are absorbed and there is a linear quality. This seems to provide some leeway when playing with others, but may make detailed work more difficult. It really is very interesting to switch to a tone hoop banjo. I like the banjo quite a bit. It is light, but has a very solid feel. It is also very lively and vibrates from one end to the other.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 10/26/18, comes from Kentucky fiddler John Salyer (1982-1952). Vance No More is based on a sad ballad about a murder and a hanging. It's a crooked tune that you get used to.

I am playing banjo, guitar and bass guitar.

I "wrote" this tune in 1977. This recording is from 2009 and is performed by the group Mama Tried, with Mel Paskell on guitar, Scott Heth on keyboard, Dave Mallison on electric bass and me on banjo. I'm calling it bluegrass, but there's some pretty jazzy stuff going on, too.

Check out the tab in my tabs section.

Tunaday #27 - In Sawmill tuning - (gDGCD). A rare, for me, foray into TFTL playing.

(aDADE)