"Pretty Polly" Lesson 1
Added 2018-02-22 03:01:27 +0000 UTCIntroduction to playing "Pretty Polly" in gDGCD. In this video I'll break down how to play the basic bones of this great early banjo song.
PS having a copy of Gibson's album "Last Possum Up the Tree" will help: https://juneappalrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/last-possum-up-the-tree
Comments
Seems more like 'mixed lead' than thumb lead when both thumb and index are hitting melody notes. I think I will have to write T's and I's under the notes to keep the different patterns straight. "It's so simple it plumb evades me!"
Gary Jackson
2021-02-09 21:26:25 +0000 UTCYes, those odd measures with extra pluck in them are examples of the "double-shuffle" (what I used to call the Knott County lick).
Clifton Hicks
2021-02-08 23:44:57 +0000 UTCA valuable lesson for me in sorting out the "Knott County lick". The Pretty Polly example seems very close to George Gibson's (overhand?) In his video of The Cuckoo (on the fretless). Thanks Clifton, learning the banjo from you has preserved my sanity during this plague thing.
William Mahon
2021-02-08 23:34:40 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it!
Clifton Hicks
2021-02-08 17:40:49 +0000 UTCThanks Clifton! I actually joined the Patreon for this tab (but I'll be supporting you anyway!) and since it was not here, I actually learned the tune by ear from your playing. And learning this way was worth every second of the process. It wasn't easy since it was my first 2 finger arrangement, but after few evening sessions, I got it. So the tab is now just a confirmation for me and I nailed almost note for note. And this is how I'll be learning from now on. Thank you for all this great stuff and greetings from Czech republic!
František Štainer
2021-02-08 16:17:58 +0000 UTCSo am I supposed to do an up pull as I hammer onto the second fret-second string, followed by drop thumb to the noted second string, then thumb the fifth string, then up pull the second string again while it's still noted? Or is it just hammer onto the second fret-second string, followed by drop thumb to the noted second string, then thumb the fifth string, then repeat?
William Maderas
2020-06-02 17:15:19 +0000 UTCI just watched the up close pretty polly video and notice you are using thumb on second and index on first. I guess I missed that.
Alex Nemet
2018-04-09 17:39:12 +0000 UTCHey Clifton, joining in a bit late here. I was away travelling in Central America when you launched your patreon acct so I couldnt' join until now. I'm really excited you are doing this and I have a few questions. I've never dropped my thumb to the same string repeatedly as my index finger, I'm curious why you choose to do this (in this case) over using the thumb on the second string and the index on the first, as they are the same note. It does give a bit of a different tone since the first string doesn't ring out, so maybe that's why? Or is it something to do with technique of the right hand? My other question/request was that I would remember the tunings of the songs a bit better if you had the names for them. For instance this one is in Sawmill (one of the only tuning names I know), so if you know the names of the other tunings you are using could you please share, and it might help some of us remember them. Thanks! Also, I really hope you teach Darlin Cora (or Cory) someday, I've been trying to figure out your right hand there for a while. Keep up the good work.
Alex Nemet
2018-04-09 17:34:56 +0000 UTCGiteau, in the Ytube video player you can click the little watch cog symbol in the bottom right corner, then click "Speed" and then slow the video down as much as you want. I will also try to slow things down myself on these!
Clifton Hicks
2018-03-07 17:13:49 +0000 UTCHi Clifton, would it be possible, when you show a new lick, to play it one time really really slow ? Because it's sometimes difficult to catch. It would be very helpful. Thanks a lot !
Giteau Charlotte
2018-03-07 15:42:22 +0000 UTCSuper lesson, Clifton! Nicely explained and demonstrated! Thanks for that.
Brian Montague
2018-03-01 22:09:48 +0000 UTCDude. This is so good. Not because I can approximate your playing (which I consider, and tell others, is in the realm of national treasure) but, because I have some hope that I might somehow spread the word and keep these tunes alive. Stoked.
Martin Philip
2018-02-25 01:07:20 +0000 UTCFor those wanting to call the appalshop and request George’s CD the number is 606-633-0108
Patrick Campbell
2018-02-24 14:32:05 +0000 UTCCool hat!!!
Micheál Mac Labhrás
2018-02-22 23:01:13 +0000 UTC
