"Hiram Hubbard" Lesson
Added 2020-08-15 12:02:00 +0000 UTCgDGBD relative (eBEG#B actual) I learned the early folk ballad "Hiram Hubbard" from Jake Book of Gallatin County, Kentucky. Jake learned it from a recording of Jean Ritchie & Doc Watson (Folkways Records, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Library of Congress).
Come all you friends and neighbors a story I will tell (x2)
Concerning Hiram Hubbard and how it was he fell.
While traveling through this country in sorrow and distress (x2)
The rebels overcame him in chains they bound him fast.
They took him up the hollow they took him up the hill (x2)
To the place of execution where he begged to make his will.
They wound their chords around him they bound him to the tree (x2)
When the balls passed through his body it was a sight to see!
Hiram Hubbard was not guilty I've heard great many say (x2)
For he was not in this country but ninety miles away.
Comments
Love this tune and ballad. I’m going to try the two finger picking. Thanks again for sharing this lesson!
Jesus-David Jerez-Gomez
2023-08-30 15:32:44 +0000 UTCWow, I missed this one. I found you in a search for more great music after buying Jake's live from the homeland CD at the folk school coffee parlor in Ludlow, KY. Can't wait to go pick this one out tonight.
BRIAN STEPHENS
2021-04-22 22:10:01 +0000 UTCDean, I started down-tuning to match my voice. My throat sings much better in E or F than it does in G, and I think the average male vocal range falls in that same neighborhood. Now, after 20+ years of down-tuning, I also prefer the lower tone and, more importantly, the slightly looser feel of the strings.
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-18 05:01:34 +0000 UTCIm going to throw this question in here too. You tune down seems like most of the time is that because your voice is low and you are looking to match or because you just like that tone better
Dean Schober
2020-08-18 03:14:35 +0000 UTCNice, thanks for posting this great song, I remember the Doc Watson recording, he has such a voice. I’ll look up Jake Book and find his recording.
Dean Schober
2020-08-18 02:55:14 +0000 UTCthanks
josh waller
2020-08-16 16:56:32 +0000 UTCOK! Shortening Bread's been on the list for quite some time, as has Jay Gould's Daughter, so I'd better get busy!
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-15 19:56:56 +0000 UTCThanks, Nomad. I've been called a "thumb lead" banjo picker, which I guess is fairly accurate. I, too, love the sound of that E minor in a gDGBD song!
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-15 19:56:22 +0000 UTCDaniel, most traditional banjoists used open tunings and few, if any, chord shapes. I was raised to use over a dozen different tunings, but I was only ever taught a small handful of chords.
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-15 19:55:09 +0000 UTCGreat stuff and as you say pretty simple but certainly none the worse for it. Do most old time songs involve playing the melody over the singing as opposed to a chord accompaniment? I noticed how Dock Boggs plays that way way where his singing AND the banjo take care of the tune. Perhaps that's what makes them sound so great?
Daniel Pearce
2020-08-15 19:33:28 +0000 UTCI'd love to see a lesson on Jay Gould's Daughter and Shortnin bread
Nad N
2020-08-15 18:40:47 +0000 UTCThat was great Cliff. I particularly like songs that use the E minor chord. I’m always impressed at how much pasture your thumb grazes as you play.
Nomad Boatbuilding - Mark Reuten
2020-08-15 15:17:02 +0000 UTCJohn, there's no "wrong" way to play the thing. There was a great 2-finger picker near me in North Georgia who used his trigger finger to play _all_ of the strings except the thumb string. His name was Ed Teague and he was wonderful. I think if you're comfortable with how you play then stick with it. Now, I _do_ think that the way I've split up string duties between my thumb and trigger is the most economical way to play two-finger, but that's really just one man's opinion.
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-15 14:32:54 +0000 UTCThanks Clif, great lesson. Quick Question! 😄 When I two-finger pick I only use my trigger finger to play the top string while my thumb takes care of the rest. I notice that you often use your trigger finger to play the top two strings, leaving your thumb to play the remaining three. Is my method "wrong" and are there any significant benefits to your style that'll make it worth my while trying to get comfortable with your 2-finger style? Cheers 👍
John Gilby
2020-08-15 13:18:02 +0000 UTCThanks Clif, I have been looking forward to this one. Going to have some fun later when I sit down with this tune, a cider and my banjo.
Dirty Bacon
2020-08-15 13:05:50 +0000 UTC
