Chris Coole made this one as an exercise on "rolls".By Chris Coole

In this episode of Deering Live we'd like to welcome back Deering Banjo artist Tray Wellington! Join us as Tray dives deep into the world of incorporating non-traditional tunes into your 5-string banjo playing. Tray is a master at pushing the boundaries of the banjo, and you won't want to miss his insights! Tray will also be discussing his latest a…

Tune of the Week explores Lost Girl. I've focussed on the Kentucky fiddler John Salyer version, but didn't include the Walter McNew version in the thread yet. In this mp3 you first hear McNew's version, then Salyer's as learned from Adam Hurt's piano playing.By JanetB

Played according to the tab in John Burke's Book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo.On YouTube the fiddlers play it on a much faster pace than I do.By Kyle Creed

An Irish "traditional slide", meaning it's kind of like a jig, but it's not. I'm always learning something on the Tune of the Week. :)By JanetB

Quick recording with my Zoom H2n handy recorder. I'm at home with a bad flu, so I'm a little congested. Recorded with my Gold Tone WL-250 in Sawmill tuning (gDGCD).By stanley_

Quick recording with my Zoom H2n handy recorder. I'm at home with a bad flu, so I'm a little congested. Recorded with my Gold Tone WL-250 in Sawmill tuning (gDGCD).By stanley_

This arrangement was very heavily inspired by Simon Robinson's version of this song. Recorded with my Zoom H2n field mic at my workplace courtyard (so I had to be relatively quiet) next to a fountain. Tuned down from G-Standard (relative) on my Recording King RKO-3S customized with nylon strings, fiberskyn head, and stuffed with two cotton shirts.…

Using my modified Recording King RKO-3S (with fiberskyn head and nylon strings) tuned relative to G-standard, probably about 3 half-steps down.By stanley_

We're excited to feature longtime Deering Banjo Artist, Tony Trischka back on Deering Live. In this episode we are going to go deep into the creation of his new album, "Earl Jam: A Tribute To Earl Scruggs". Listen to Tony play some tunes from the record and talk about the story of how it came to be. Learn more about Tony's signature Deering Golden …

As played by Kentucky fiddler John Salyer, it's good to have yet another one of his unique tunes. The A part is rather plain, but the B part has character. If Sallie Cooper was that kind of person, I think I would have liked her.By JanetB

The lyrics are based on Doc Watson's recording. Recorded on my Gold Tone AC-12a tuned a whole step up from Sawmill (aEADE). Recorded in one take with one microphone. This arrangement is not based heavily on any existing tab.By stanley_

Saturday, October 21,2023Last Sunday, as I was preparing to sing with the youth at Gwynedd Friends Meeting, I asked the teacher what the lesson was for today. He told me that they were going to learn about Indigenous People's Day. I looked through the list of songs that I'd been singing with them, for the past 30 years or so and thought, that of al…

Described as a fife and drum march during the Revolutionary War and given other similar titles, Murillo's Lesson has evolved over the years. This clawhammer arrangement uses the musical annotation posted on the Traditional Tue Archive.By JanetB

This is Lynchburg Town, loosely based on an arrangement in Wayne Erbsen's "Clawhammer Ignoramus" book. Recorded with a Gold Tone AC-12a tuned to aDADE.By stanley_

By stanley_

An Ohio tune to enjoyBy JanetB

By stanley_

From the fiddling of Alabama fiddler James Bryan in 1983, he learned from Mack Blalock, a Georgia fiddler, and the tune is older yet. I tuned to an open C tuning, something only done occasionally, so it changed the fingering from the better-known ways.By JanetB

A tune I wrote and decided should be named after my wife, as a reward for putting up with my banjo playing!By gentrixuk

Arranged from the O'Neill's Music of Ireland source. My son is a farrier and does blacksmithing ALL the time. Sometimes he's merry!By JanetB

Lucy Farr (1911-2003) was Irish, but lived in England. She played the tune in the key of D, but here in jam sessions it's being played in the key of G. Lucy recorded an album at the age of 80!By JanetB

By stanley_

Reference recording for the tab posted--view my tabs here.By dbrooks

Thanks to Brendan Doyle for uploading the source recording for this week's Tune of the Week, Grey-Haired Dancin' Gal. I gave the tune another try. This version has a more Cajun swing flavor than the one I learned from, and Brendan shared with us the composer's background, so I thought it was worth another try. It's played slowly here and wants to b…

Learned from the fiddling of Mark Tamsula, a fiddler I respect a lot. Grey Haired Dancing Girl, however, is not one Mark learned from the collections of Pennsylvania's Samuel Bayard. The original source of the tune is still a mystery, but a 1990's jam in Maryland was Mark's source.By JanetB

We're delighted to welcome back the renowned melodic clawhammer banjoist Ken Perlman to Deering Live. He'll be sharing insights and demonstrations on playing the vibrant fiddle tunes from Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island in the clawhammer style. Additionally, we'll delve into Ken's latest book covering this fascinating subject. http://kenperlma…

The source recording is from a 1930 recording of Seven Foot Dilly and His Dill Pickles. I learned from a modern recording of the Old Yeller Dog Band because I liked how the fiddle filled in the held notes.By JanetB

Banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive dancer, choreographer, and square-dance caller, Oakland, CA-based Evie Ladin returns to Deering Live to share tips and techniques for jams that may or may not be specific to old-time string band music. https://evieladin.comBy Deering Banjo Company

Here's a Henry Reed version of Red Fox, recorded in the enormous collection of this West Virginia fiddler by the great Alan Jabbour. I went to gCGCE tuning for ease of playing down the neck.By JanetB

My friend Doug's versiongDGbdBy passed via Henry Reed

By mmuussiiccaall

This version of Portsmouth Airs is based on Buddy Thomas' fiddling. He'd visit Jimmy Wheeler, leaving Kentucky to go to the neighboring town of Portsmouth in Ohio.By Jimmy Wheeler

A Tune of the Week written in the late 1800's, considered a ragtime or tin pan alley tune. It's a tough one to play, especially having just learned it today, but it was also an unusual tune to figure out.By Kerry Mills

Dobro legend and ProPik player Jerry Douglas may not be known for playing banjo, but he is probably more qualified than most to talk about it. With an extensive resume to his name, Jerry has played with some of the greatest players to ever live. In this episode, we get to pick the mind of a man who has seen and played with the creme de la creme.…

What I worked out in gEADE tuning for playing clawhammer with piano at a contra dance. (it's for a dancing, so it's fairly long)From a couple of years ago, first dance from long break of Covid. Was a bit rough.By banjoak

Playing around with gDGDE tuning.Also experimenting using BandLab app and some of built in fx and processing for mastering... to demo what it does (it is a bit much)By banjoak

This was an experiment using iPhone and BandLab app for quick multitrack in kitchen.By banjoak

Old Kentucky crooked fiddle tunes are intriguing and Hiram Stamper is an authentic learning resource in my book. Bruce Greene recorded this one and it was tricky to arrange. I got some help listening to George Jackson, the New Zealander old-time player that's a pleasure to hear.By JanetB

Self-proclaimed Irish Bluegrass quartet JigJam is back on Deering Live to talk about their new album. 'Across the Pond', the songwriting process, and the unique Irish/Bluegrass crossover. The band has also relocated to the US since their last appearance on the show, so we will find out all about it!By Deering Banjo Company

By jef

From the playing of an Alabama fiddler, Paisley Hagood. Mostly he plays ABAB, which is kind of a treat after always playing AABBAABB. The high note in the A part gives it an ancient tone feeling for me.By JanetB

We are beyond excited to feature Bela Fleck on our next episode of Deering Live. Bela has taken the 5-string banjo to more musical landscapes than anyone else and always at the highest of levels. He has been nominated in more musical categories than anyone in Grammy history. His latest project, released this past February, expands and explores Geor…

It's rare to work on a jig with clawhammer. This is a sweet tune with a real Irish (to my ears) melody. Its minor tones make it a bit bittersweet.By JanetB

Based on the playing of the Leslie Riddle and the Carter Family, the melody resembles White House Blues, an earlier song, and is included in a Tune of the Week featuring the latter. This recording was made when my husband, Kit, and I were performing locally at events focusing on local history. We liked choosing old-time tunes and songs and have a i…

We are happy to welcome back Bennett Sullivan to Deering Live. Bennett is a fantastic bluegrass banjoist as well as great teacher. He is the founder of the online bluegrass banjo teaching side Daily Banjo Licks which delivers a new bluegrass banjo lick right to your inbox every day, with it broken down slowly and with tab in a video. On today’s epi…

Played on newly constructed parts banjo. Key of GBy hudie

This old standard is played clawhammer style on a banjo I built which features internal-to-the-rim head tensioning, an internal resonator, and a Helix-style laid up rim made from carob wood.By Traditional, based on arrangement by Ralph Stanley