Banjo Hangout Top 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

These two pieces go together, both in chordal flavor and lyrical themes.

I like Doc Watson's version. Mine's clawhammered.

Dedicated to Paul Roberts and his creation, the Goldtone Soundbird tenor banjo. I composed this using clawhammer, but no 5th string to simulate a tenor banjo.

For the Tune of the Week, 3/8/13. West Virginian fiddler Ernie Carpenter's grandfather liked this. He learned it from his father since his grandfather had passed away.

For the Tune of the Week, 3/8/13. West Virginian fiddler Ernie Carpenter's grandfather liked this. He learned it from his father since his grandfather had passed away.

Coal Creek, Virginia fiddler Roscoe Parish (1897 - 1984) was visited and recorded in the 80's by Andy Cahan and Alice Gerrard. I found this tune in the Milliner-Koken American Fiddle Tunes Book and an MP3 of Alice performing it. Its melody is like a music box! As I'm researching Roscoe Parish right now; it's given me more insight into his music. This tune is related to Flying Indian and O Lassie, Art Thou Sleeping Yet?, indicating it has deep roots.

a quick recording I made to demonstrate some of the techniques I use to create variations of a tune. A tab and lesson are available on my website, dropthumb.com

played in open D tuning (f#DF#AD) on my Fielding Catamount banjo (12" rolled brass ring up on risers)

Here's my take on this classic from the fiddling of Henry Reed. I'm playing it in the key of G (G modal tuning) on my Lee Tubaphone, and accompanying myself with a guitar.

I'm also using this recording to help me launch my new website dropthumb.com. I'd love it if you stopped by the site sometime for a visit.

Old English ballad... but here i'm playing behind Hobart's high-octane fiddle... lot's o' fun!

Playin' a Romero in G modal tuning... and thanks for listening.

Learned from Luther Strong in the Library of Congress. This tune was claimed to have earned him $500 in fiddle contest wins. Reading about him in Stephen Wade's book The Beautiful Music Around Us reveals much about Mr. Strong's life and music.