Banjo Hangout Top 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

For the Tune of the Week, 8/23/13. This crooked tune is a pretty one, learned from a video of Carl Jones, based on the playing of fiddlers Harvey Sampson, Lester McCumber, and Ward Jarvis. It reminds me of another TOTW, Little Rose is Gone.

After hearing Paul's Leap Frog I found that I could easily play along with it. I tried composing some counterpoint melody to it, but forgot to re-set the slow-downer back up to the key of D. This came out in C with my banjo tuned to double C and I'm playing clawhammer. Paul is playing a mandocello tuned in 5ths and uses a flatpick.

It was suggested that I try this tuning, called Cumberland Gap or Sandy River Belle tuning, to arrange Big Sciota. I'm happy with the relative ease of playing it out of this tuning, though it comes out in the key of F and would need a capo if played with a fiddle.

I wrote this song, calling it Journey's End, but then realized it was a perfect song for a friend who had passed on, Leon Uris. The rhythm is a mystery to me, but Leon had this unique rhythm and he was always an audience favorite.

Learned from Adam Hurt's Earth Tones CD. This tune kept going through my head on July 8th as I wondered how close the Smartsville grass fire would come. It ended up burning 73 acres. This version appears to originally come from North Carolina fiddler Marcus Martin.

Dock Boggs version. Banjo is tuned gDGBD, maybe a little low. One of my favorites.

For the Tune of the Week, July 19, 2013. Owen Snake Chapman learned this from his father. The title refers to an angry hunter after his dog ate the prepared meat.

Two versions alternate. The first one comes from Tommy Jarrell's Round Peak style, as taught to me by Adam Hurt. The second is my clawhammered rendition of the classic Scrugg's style first lesson taught in 3-finger style. The bluesy notes of Tommy Jarrell's compares with the major tones of the Scrugg's style, though both have slides.

Nice little tune taught

by Don Pedi. Thanks Don!!