Clifton Hicks

Q&A: Old Chattanooga, Ola Belle Reed, Down-Tuning & Matt Kinman?

Added 2019-02-07 10:10:01 +0000 UTC

(Intro music is "Shortening Bread" gDGBD from Lewis 'Big Sweet' Hairston.)

"Clifton, I’ve been trying to figure out the picking pattern for Old Chattanooga, especially the B section of the tune, by watching your hands but for the life of me I can’t get it. Would you mind posting a little tutorial on the song when you get the chance. I really love the song. My sister learned it on fiddle from Joe Decosimo in Chattanooga and I learned a version of it on banjo to play alongside but I really love the two-finger version you play." - Richard "Next video you make concerning banjo building could you go over how you make your black walnut dye? I would like to start using it." - Patrick "is it possible to 'extract' a tune melody from an existing Clawhammer or Round Peak tab? I have been looking for sheet music or tab for a thumb lead version of the Ola Belle Reed song "Undone in Sorrow" but without luck. I tried removing the strum and repeated hammers and pull offs from a tab posted on BanjoHangout but it didn't leave enough to hang a melody on. I am not anywhere near being able to pick up tunes by ear yet and would like to look beyond the limited number of thumb lead tabs that are around." - Rob "I love the sound of your low-tuned banjos on your videos. Is there a loss in volume or tone “in person” when you tune down, just because there’s less pressure pushing the bridge down onto the head? Do you need to have an adjustable tailpiece to increase the break angle to compensate for the lower string tension? Or use heavier strings?" - Michael "I was wondering if you have any thoughts or tips on playing fast but singing slow. I've watched the video of Matt Kinman playing Brother Green at your place a whole bunch of times, and while I understand what he is playing, I can't figure out how to play it that way while maintaining the beauty and sadness of the song. Not that I'm trying to copy Mr. Kinman. I just want to learn some of his technique. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!" - Joe