Banjo Hangout Top 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

For the old-time Tune of the Week, Sweet Nell is the title name of a CD by a Washington-based group who wrote the tunes. The tune is named for Nell, the daughter of Paul Newman, partners in a charity-based organic snack company. It's a sweet tune.

Played thumb-lead two-finger style on a 1960s Paramount reso-tone. Key of G, tuned to gDGCD (sawmill tuning). TOTW for 27 July 2018

Played thumb-lead two-finger style on a 1960s Paramount reso-tone. Key of G, tuned to gDGCD (sawmill tuning). TOTW for 27 July 2018

Wildwood Flower in G. First crack at overdubbing. Open Back banjo with nylon strings, bari uke, shaker, and then some. Enjoy.

This week's TOTW has two versions to choose from -- Wade Ward, who I've heard of, and Dent Wimmer, who I haven't. So I found a Dent Wimmer version of Half Shaved in f#DEAD tuning. What a neat sound it has, though I wonder if the title is related to Shaving a Dead Man....

Me on fretless banjo and Rory Robertie on fiddle. Even though we squared it up a bit from the original, it's still a very crooked tune.

Frosty Morn is the old-time Tune of the Week, 8/24/18. Related to Cold Frosty Morning in some of its melody and chordal movement, here's a medley of the two. The first was learned from the guitar flat-picking of Doc Watson, who I idolize. The second was learned from Miles Krassen's Clawhammer Banjo book. He used Henry Reed's version which he had published previously in his Appalachia Fiddle book. Sawmill tuning, playing on my Doc's Banjo.

This is the Luther Davis version of Sail Away Ladies, or at least my interpretation of it. Presented for Tune Of The Week for August 2nd, 2018. In any case a fine tune!

Tunaday #14 - In Double C tuning (gCGCD).

The O'Reilly's of 17th century Ireland were amongst Turlough O'Carolan's supportive patrons as the blind harpist traveled far and wide. When O'Carolan wrote a tune in their honor it was given the label "planxty." Unable to play for several weeks due to my broken shoulder, I offer something recorded previously on my clawhammer banjo.