"Cackling Hen" Lesson
Added 2020-05-05 20:38:06 +0000 UTCgCGCE relative (f# B F# B D# actual) I learned this archaic traditional dance tune from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky who learned it from his father. My instrument is an 1888 Luscomb banjo with Remo frosted, nylgut strings and homemade maple bridge. Look up Rufus Crisp for more on the "double shuffle" technique from east Kentucky. Tune also known as "Hen Cackle," "Cacklin' Hen," "Old Hen Cackled..."
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Comments
Love it! Amazed how close this is to much of John Brown’s Dream. I learned about that tune in Standard G, but it’s so much easier in No-Finger C! Not for the fiddler I guess.
Jamie Montgomery
2021-03-29 12:43:22 +0000 UTCGreat can't wait!
Daniel Pearce
2021-03-28 19:40:15 +0000 UTCThat's a great song that I used to play often. Will put it on the list.
Clifton Hicks
2021-03-28 19:25:22 +0000 UTCI am trying to learn Dock Boggs' Sugar Baby at the moment from a youtube Colin Bazsali video. It has some up picking which I find really difficult to incorporate into the song accurately and cleanly! Any chance we could have a Sugar Baby lesson Clifton? I'm not sure if I ever heard you play that one and it got me into old time banjo from bluegrass! I think it's sometimes called Red Rockin Chair but I'm not sure.
Daniel Pearce
2021-03-28 19:22:31 +0000 UTCHere's my intro lesson: https://youtu.be/y6p10I_8n3s
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-28 12:45:12 +0000 UTCThe up-pick is flowing pretty well now. Only issue is getting a consistent up-pick strike -- sometimes there's a bit of nail and it is ringy, sometimes string sticks in the meat of my finger and rings even louder. But fun. Starting to notice some opportunities to clean it up / add a bit of variation. Just need a few more months of practice. I second Mr Angell's question above -- can you recommend another song in the same playing style (up pick) you've covered in a lesson or performance for someone new to the up-pick technique (maybe something with 3rd or 4th string in melody).
Rufus Knapp
2020-08-28 07:29:20 +0000 UTCFlicking your lead finger is fine--actually necessary if you want to brush the bass string with the back of your nail, as I do. Ed Teague was an old picker in north Georgia who kept his three fingers planted and did all his melody picking _and_ his brushing with the trigger finger.
Clifton Hicks
2020-07-26 11:59:20 +0000 UTCFirst up picking tune I've learned. That's how you get those rhythmic head hits -- doing that always seemed contrived in claw-hammer, but I almost can't help it with up-picking. Why didn't I try this style before? Technique: my strike finger seems a bit flicky -- maybe do that when using two finger style -- three fingers bridging the head, but keep it more tied to my hand (like claw hammer) when using the strumming up-picking technique?
Rufus Knapp
2020-07-26 07:05:39 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it. I find I enjoy arranging them and it is a good way to visualize the music.
Clifton Hicks
2020-05-24 20:47:06 +0000 UTCthanks Clifton! just joined patreon now that you have added tabs to help me!
josh waller
2020-05-23 18:22:57 +0000 UTCThanks for this lesson Clifton. I've been following you for a couple of years on Youtube but finally joined your Patreon group, although I've never been much of a one for commenting! I think this is the first lesson I've been able to follow successfully, as I have limited playing ability and up-picking seems to come more naturally to me. The only trouble I'm having is with my fingers being short and stubby I find myself muting the first string on those pull offs. It's a fun song to play though.
William John Mills
2020-05-16 17:03:46 +0000 UTCThis is the most addicting tune I've learned how to play. I need to move on to some other tunes but I just can't get away from this one. Pure fun!
Richard Hawkins
2020-05-12 17:52:00 +0000 UTCGreat tune Clif, can you recommend another song in the same playing style for a newbe to learn please!
Steve Angell
2020-05-11 09:06:33 +0000 UTCYes, I'd agree that it's less precise than other styles. I focus on plucking that melody real hard, and everything else is just brushing and coming off the 5th. But you have to really *pluck* that melody.
Clifton Hicks
2020-05-08 22:00:01 +0000 UTCYears ago when I first picked up the banjo I first learned 'up picking' which was called 'the basic strum' by Pete Seeger in his famous book. Now days when I try to play it, it seems 'out of control' and much less precise than clawhammer or 2 finger, thumb lead.
Terry Tombaugh
2020-05-08 21:30:35 +0000 UTC
