Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

Key of D

Key of D

This version of Liberty is also called Liberty Two-Step, which distinguishes it from another tune called Liberty. (Check out the current Tune of the Week for 9/16/16 for more info.) I learned this one from John Burke's Clawhammer Book for Banjo back in the 70's and it was a popular square dance tune then. I think it's a pretty tune.

When I first learned this piece, 3-finger style, I hadn't checked out the composer's original recording. In this recording I play Canadian composer Frankie Rodgers' Ookpik Owl and then add the first version I'd learned. An Ookpik owl is the same as a Snowy Owl and is a main character in stories and legends, as well as being a popular Canadian stuffed animal. There are Inuit stories about Ookpik, which I think would be fun to collect. As my grandson is currently studying owls, this is a good time to re-visit and share Ookpik Waltz. It was a popular fiddle contest tune for a while and my grandson just began violin lessons. Good connections are made with a banjo!

When I first learned this piece, 3-finger style, I hadn't checked out the composer's original recording. In this recording I play Canadian composer Frankie Rodgers' Ookpik Owl and then add the first version I'd learned. An Ookpik owl is the same as a Snowy Owl and is a main character in stories and legends, as well as being a popular Canadian stuffed animal. There are Inuit stories about Ookpik, which I think would be fun to collect. As my grandson is currently studying owls, this is a good time to re-visit and share Ookpik Waltz. It was a popular fiddle contest tune for a while and my grandson just began violin lessons. Good connections are made with a banjo!

The old-time Tune of the Week for 9/9/16 is Green Corn, also heard commonly as Hot Corn, Cold Corn. Lena Hughes, an elderly and beloved 2-finger style picker from Missouri recorded this and I've taken the opportunity to try something for the first time with the 2-finger style. She uses thumb-lead and I also tried index-lead the third time through while "playing the melody."

The old-time Tune of the Week for 9/9/16 is Green Corn, also heard commonly as Hot Corn, Cold Corn. Lena Hughes, an elderly and beloved 2-finger style picker from Missouri recorded this and I've taken the opportunity to try something for the first time with the 2-finger style. She uses thumb-lead and I also tried index-lead the third time through while "playing the melody."

Early Banjo by James Hartel, Sweeney Model Belle Breezing was born in 1860 and was a nationally known Madam in Lexington, Kentucky. Belle's first job began when she was 19 years old, in a brothel house maintained by Jenny Hill, which had the distinction of being the former residence of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Her final and most elaborate "Gentleman's Club" was located at 153 Megowan Street. Belle also wrote poetry. This tune, named after Belle, was first recorded in 1925 by fiddler Emmett Lundy who was born in Grayson County, Virginia on May 9, 1864

Early Banjo by James Hartel, Sweeney Model Belle Breezing was born in 1860 and was a nationally known Madam in Lexington, Kentucky. Belle's first job began when she was 19 years old, in a brothel house maintained by Jenny Hill, which had the distinction of being the former residence of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Her final and most elaborate "Gentleman's Club" was located at 153 Megowan Street. Belle also wrote poetry. This tune, named after Belle, was first recorded in 1925 by fiddler Emmett Lundy who was born in Grayson County, Virginia on May 9, 1864

This is my first effort using Garage Band which comes with the Mac computer. I played an openback banjo in modal tuning and a cello banjo in open C tuning. Meadows of Dan is a beautiful little town in the mountains of Virginia where Alice Gerrard did lots and lots of field work collecting music. I don't really know what I'm doing with Garage Band, but it seems to have turned out okay today. Send any feedback my way so I can continue learning.

This is my first effort using Garage Band which comes with the Mac computer. I played an openback banjo in modal tuning and a cello banjo in open C tuning. Meadows of Dan is a beautiful little town in the mountains of Virginia where Alice Gerrard did lots and lots of field work collecting music. I don't really know what I'm doing with Garage Band, but it seems to have turned out okay today. Send any feedback my way so I can continue learning.

Early Banjo, Tambourine, Donkey Jawbone

Early Banjo, Tambourine, Donkey Jawbone

This old tune was in the well-known fiddle tune book Knauff's Virginia Reels, published in 1839. I've heard good "source recordings" from Burl Hammons and Henry Reed. My arrangement is from listening to Alan Jabbour with Tommy Thompson on banjo on The Hollow Rock String Band CD, recently re-released as a 2-CD set called The Hollow Rock Legacy. The Route is one of those tunes that has a familiar feeling, even the first time you hear it.

This old tune was in the well-known fiddle tune book Knauff's Virginia Reels, published in 1839. I've heard good "source recordings" from Burl Hammons and Henry Reed. My arrangement is from listening to Alan Jabbour with Tommy Thompson on banjo on The Hollow Rock String Band CD, recently re-released as a 2-CD set called The Hollow Rock Legacy. The Route is one of those tunes that has a familiar feeling, even the first time you hear it.