Banjo Hangout Top 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

Gourd banjo built by Peter Fagan, Urbana, Illinois.

This tune comes originally from North Carolina fiddler Martin Marcus (1881-1974), who recorded it for the Library of Congress in the early 40s. The rather obtuse title makes sense once you know that a pig's foot is a blacksmithing tool. Another recording from one of our campsite jams on Geezer Hill. Don Couchie is doing the fiddling, I am three finger picking in open G tuning on my semi-fretless Tubaphone.

This song was written and originally performed by Pete Huttlinger on the Appalachian Picking Society album. Pete's an incredible fingerstyle guitarist and writes some incredible melodies.

This is my arrangement including piano, guitar, and banjo.

Check out the Appalachian Picking Society Album if you never have. It's been one of my favorites for a long time.

As I listened to this original song the first time the melody happily drove along just like the title suggests. But Jim's 3-finger picked melodic song is so incredibly intricate and skillful, I had to simplify it with this clawhammer version so I could enjoy playing it, too.

A friend played it long ago, a lot of BHO members post it, and it's on the Henry Reed collection. I'm finally learning it, but wonder about the major/minor parts.

Twin Sisters, played by the "Streak of Lean" string band (Susan Staton - fiddle, Kerry Blech - guitar, Bob Lanham - banjo).

Estill Bingham (1899 - 1990) learned this from his father, Noah, in southeastern Kentucky. I had learned another one of his songs for last week's Tune of the Week and it was recommended I also listen to this nice crooked tune.

Estill Bingham (1899 - 1990) learned this from his father, Noah, in southeastern Kentucky. I had learned another one of his songs for last week's Tune of the Week and it was recommended I also listen to this nice crooked tune.

Got this tune from BHO member Bill Reese. I really like the sound of this Sea Shanty!

This is my attempt at this scrambled-sounded tune, from the CD of the same name by Christian Whig with Mark Ward. You can hear his version here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00693NAYK/ref=dm_dp_trk11?ie=UTF8&qid=1340001648&sr=301-1

Mr. Wig almost certainly got it from Tom Whit, which version is in the Milliner-Koken Collection (I didn't try that one though) and a sample of Mr. Whit's playing is here: http://slippery-hill.com/M-K/

The first part is a straight-forwarding Highlander bit, but it gets weird after that! There is a 5 beat bridge, then the second part is missing the *first*, front, beat the first time through.

I hope I approximated it close enough! - it was easy to wander adrift especially in the second part, and I ended the tune because of it (which is fine - I tend to play too long anyway!)