I originally learned this from Wade Ward's version on County 701 "Clawhammer Banjo," incorrectly by pulling off notes on the 2nd string. Eventually I learned how to play it like Wade, but I returned to playing it the way I first played it, because the pull-offs seemed to fit well with my two-finger style

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/10/16 this is a combination of Ralph Stanley and Rufus Crisp. Ralph says it was the first tune his mother ever taught him. Rufus turns out to be the first person to ever teach Pete Seeger frailing (see page 10 of How to Play the 5-String Banjo by Pete Seeger).

Ric Hollander - My arrangement of Cumberland Gap, played on the Rettberg and Lang with Nylgut strings. Recorded in 2013. Arrangement and performance copyright 2016 Ric Hollander - All Rights Reserved

From the 1930's recording of the Mississippi Possum Hunters for the old-time Tune of the Week. I'm partial to possum tunes, and anything Bigfoot plays....

This cheerful tune comes from West Virginian Wilson Douglas, though I learned it from Bobby Taylor. I found it examining the very first old-time Tune of the Week dated 7/26/08 and suggested by Erich (vrteach) who never guessed that the TOTW list has way over four hundred tunes now. Fair Morning Hornpipe was offered as a related tune to the original topic, Nancy, and even favored by Erich. It's cheerful and fits the morning today!

This cheerful tune comes from West Virginian Wilson Douglas, though I learned it from Bobby Taylor. I found it examining the very first old-time Tune of the Week dated 7/26/08 and suggested by Erich (vrteach) who never guessed that the TOTW list has way over four hundred tunes now. Fair Morning Hornpipe was offered as a related tune to the original topic, Nancy, and even favored by Erich. It's cheerful and fits the morning today!

As played by Rhys Jones, this tune is sourced to Kentucky fiddler George Lee Hawkins. Rhys is able to play intricate melodies on fiddle. Playing them on clawhammer banjo is a good challenge!

I'm working with Mark and Sharon on a project, and one of the tunes is Hell Among the Yearlings. It's a great twisty tune, but I can't do some of the syncopation that she does on fiddle.

I'm playing the Tradesman capoed up to D.

A quick run through to test a new banjo I built for my son Russ. This time in G modal. The banjo is a cherry slothead which started life as a Rickard neck blank, 25 1/2" scale, 1/4" brass tone ring on pins, John Balch skin head, etc.

Banjo tuned aDADE. Tab available on my Tabs page, or go to TOTW (OT) 22 April 2016.