Clifton Hicks

"Rye Whiskey" (Drunken Hiccups, Devil's Waltz)

I learned "Rye Whiskey" from watching North Carolina fiddler, Steve Kruger, and from listening to recordings of Virginia fiddler, Tommy Jarrell. I never saw any banjo picker play "Rye Whiskey," or as Mr. Jarrell called it "Drunken Hiccups," unless I taught him. This is my own original arrangement. In recent years I've discovered that some northern fiddlers as away Canada play the same tune, but...

"Sugar Hill"

I learned "Sugar Hill" from Matt Kinman and Josh Hayes in Watauga County, North Carolina (summer, 2008). Kinman, originally from Arizona, played the fiddle; Hayes, from Wilkes County, played the banjo. They took turns singing all of the verses that they knew.


👇 Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF ...

"Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" (Solo de Jesús la Sangre)

This hymn was composed by Robert Lowry (1826-1899) in 1876. Lowry was a Baptist preacher who lived from 1826 until 1899. The first mention of it being sung was at an outdoor camp meeting in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, from whence it immediately spread across the United States. Lowry is also the composer of the popular hymn "Shall We Gather at the River" (1864) which even nonreligious types will kn...

"Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"

Also known as "O Bury Me Not," "Cowboy's Lament," "Dying Cowboy," and "Bury Me Out on the Lone Prairie," this appears to be quite an old song. The earliest version I've been able to find predates the popular cowboy era, and is titled "The Ocean Buried" (1839). Cowboy versions of the song do not appear in print until the early 1900s.

The first version I heard was recorded by Carl T. Sprag...

Private Banjo Lessons with Clifton Hicks

After many requests, I am again offering individual banjo lessons! My rate is $60 per hour; $30 per half hour. Lessons are both online and in-person. I'll teach or discuss anything--no subject is off limits. To schedule, contact me at clifhicks@gmail.com or send a private message here on Patreon.

"Mother's Advice" (Hold Fast to the Right)

I learned this song from a 1960s recording of Dock Boggs. Dock was tuned up to gDGBD, but I like it down in eBEG#B--both tuning are played the same way on the banjo. That track is titled "Mother's Advice," but most today seem to call it "Hold Fast to the Right." Dock learned the lyrics from his brother-in-law, Lee Hunsucker, who was a Methodist preacher.

2025-01-08 16:55:04 +0000 UTC View Post

New Gift Memberships for Friends & Family!

You can now gift Patreon memberships to friends, family, and anyone else you'd like to invite to Banjo Heritage.

Just go to https://www.patreon.com/cliftonhicks/gift to give a gift.

Thanks for everything you've done to support my family and work over...

"Prodigal Son"

I learned Prodigal Son from a 1960s recording of Dock Boggs. My early 2000s Terry Bell minstrel banjo is tuned to d#BEF#B (A = 432 Hz) which is three frets below f#DGAD. This tablature works for either tuning.

Note: I tried to show my exact two-finger picking movements in the below tab. To play this song overhand, simply down-pick the tab.

2024-12-20 16:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post

"Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down"

"Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" is a traditional hymn most notably recorded by Frank Proffitt of Johnson County, Tennessee. Another great recording under the same title was made by Sister Fleeta Mitchell and Rev. Willie Mae Eberhard.

My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ d A♯ D♯ F A♯ (A = 432 Hz)
2024-11-14 16:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post

"Oil In My Vessel"

I learned "Oil In My Vessel" from a recording of Joe Thompson. See Skip James for another good recording of it. My instrument is an early 2000s Terry Bell minstrel banjo tuned ~ d#BEF#B (A=432 Hz).

Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF file 👇

"Devil Song" Performance & Tab

I learned "The Devil Song" (Old Lady and the Devil, Devil and the Farmer's Wife) from recordings of Bobby McMillon and Bill & Belle Reed. My instrument is an early 2000s Terry Bell minstrel banjo tuned ~ eAEG♯B.

I'm using Aquila "New Nylgut" 1892 strings and a homemade white oak bridge. The tab I've provided is a simplified version played in fBbFBbC (gCGCD). It's very simple to pla...

"Calvary"

I learned "Calvary" from a 1960s recording of Dock Boggs of Wise County, Virginia. Boggs learned it from his brother-in-law, Lee Hunsucker, a Methodist preacher. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ eCFGC.

Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF file 👇🏼

"False Hearted Lovers Blues" Tablature

~ eCFGC (f♯DGAD relative). I learned "False Hearted Lover's Blues" from the original recording by Dock Boggs (banjo) and Emry Arthur (guitar). My understanding is that they recorded this in Chicago around 1927.

Tab contributed by Patreon member ToneWoods86

👇🏼 Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF file. 👇🏼

Original Stanley Hicks Banjo -- with Measurements!

We recently had the opportunity to take some snapshots of an original Stanley Hicks mountain banjo currently in a private collection. This example is thought to have been made by Hicks at his home in western North Carolina around 1965. I've often received requests for a set of measurements for building mountain banjos, hence the ruler in several of the shots.

"Little Grey Mule" 3 Versions

I learned "Little Grey Mule" (Little Gray Mule) from a 1950s recording of Roscoe Halcomb. In the recording, Halcomb mentions that an older person in his community knew this tune as "The Wild Boar."

My first instrument is a 1910 Weymann "Keystone State" banjo tuned ~ fB♭FB♭C; second instrument: 5-string mountain banjo handmade by myself (same tuning); third instrument: 4-string mounta...

"Tom Dooley"

I learned "Tom Dooley" from Josh Hayes of Watauga County, North Carolina. My instrument is an early 2000s minstrel banjo reproduction by Terry Bell, tuned eBEG♯B ~ gDGBD.

Hang your head Tom Dooley hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laura Foster poor boy you're bound to die,
You took...

Traditional Banjo Setup

I've taught banjo setup for over twenty years; during that time my understanding of musical instrument organology has developed considerably. In this discussion I delve more deeply into the subject than I have in previous videos, examining in detail the use and maintenance of friction pegs, tying gut strings, different types of bridges and tailpieces--their histories, strengths, and weaknesses-...

"Sundown"

Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF 👇

"Spring of 65" Performance & Tab

I learned "Spring of 65" from a field recording of J.D. Cornett of Kentucky. My instrument is an 1840s-style minstrel banjo by Terry Bell, with Aquila "New Nylgut" strings tuned cGCFG (A=432 Hz).

Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature PDF 👇🏾

"Boots and Leggings" Tab

👇🏾 Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature PDF 👇🏾

"Going Across the Mountain" Tab

I learned "Going Across the Mountain" from a recording of Frank Proffitt. At the time, I was living in an old house on Beaver Dam Road, about two miles from from Proffitt's home community of Reese, North Carolina.

The lyrics to this song contain an important historical record. During the American Civil War, men in Confederate-controlled Watauga County, North Carolina, who wished to join...

"Little Birdie" Tab

eCGAD relative (~ eB♭FGC actual tuning). I learned to play and sing "Little Birdie" from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky.

Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF 👇🏿

"Black Jack Davy" (Gypsy Davy) Tab

I learned "Black Jack Davy" (Gypsy Davy) from Matt Kinman of Arizona. The over hand version is very simple. 

Note: You can pick down (with the back of your fingernail) or up (using the ball of your finger) following the overhand tab below.

Download...

"South Australia" Performance & Tablature

“Blimey, I think I’m slipping my cable. Strike up South Australia, lads, and let me go happy.”

I learned "South Australia" (Roud 325) from an anonymous drunk in St. Augustine, Florida. As far as I know, the song first appeared in print during the 1880s.   

My instrument is an early 2000s fretless minstrel ...

"Cluck Old Hen" Tabs: Advanced & Beginner

After many requests, I've finnaly gotten around to transcribing "Cluck, Old Hen."

Relative tunings: gDGCD ... fCFB♭C ... eBEAB ...

Advanced tablature (as I play it) 👇

Beginner tablature in two-finger and overhand (clawhammer) 👇
2023-10-13 13:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post

"Sally Ann" Lesson

Relative ~ gCGCD
Actual tuning ~ e♭G♯E♭G♯B♭

Download 8.5" x 11" tablature PDF file 👇🏿

"Sally Ann" (Sail Away Ladies) Performance

I learned "Sally Ann" from Josh Hayes of Watauga County, North Carolina. Josh always used a straight hoedown picking style to play this one. 

My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned e♭ G♯ E♭ G♯ B♭

"Hard Luck Blues" (Brother Jim Got Shot) Lesson

I learned "Hard Luck Blues" (Brother Jim Got Shot) from two recordings of Dock Boggs, one made in the 1920s, the other in the 1960s. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned eBEG♯B (relative gCGBD).

Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature PDF 👇

"Hard Luck Blues" (Brother Jim Got Shot) Performance

I learned "Hard Luck Blues" from a 1920s recording of Dock Boggs. Later in life, Boggs recorded the song a second time during the 1960s under the title "Brother Jim Got Shot." I am certain that he's using gut strings in the original recording.  

My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned eAEG♯B (relative gCGBD), with Aquila "New Nylgut" strings and a tr...

"Shortening Bread" Lesson

"Shortening Bread" was first published in 1900 as a poem by James Riley, who seemed to suggest that it was derived from a pre-existing black folk song. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned eBEG♯B ~ fCFAC ~ gDGBD.

Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature 👇