I learned "Shortnin Bread" from a 1970s field recording of Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston of Henry County, Virginia. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ fCFAC (relative gDGBD).
Put on the skillet throw away the lid Momma's gonna bake that shortening bread,
That ain't all she gonna do she gonna give a little honey too!
Two little babi...
2023-07-21 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "No More the Moon Shines on Lorena" from Jerron Paxton. The song was originally published by Louis Staab in 1889, and was recorded by the Carter Family in 1930. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned d♯G♯D♯G♯A♯ (gCGCD dropped four frets). I tend to leave out the final verse as I find the song more poignant without it.
2023-07-14 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Louis Staab composed "No More the Moon Shines on Lorena" in 1889 (and is sometimes confused with Henry Webster's wildly popular "Lorena" published in 1856). The Smyth County Ramblers recorded it in 1928 under the title, "Way Down in Alabama," and the Carter Family released it in 1930 using the original title. In recent years, Jerron Paxton of New York has re-introduced the song among traditiona...
2023-07-07 13:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Mary Phagan, a teenage factory worker from Marietta, Georgia, was found brutally murdered in 1913. Leo Frank, the factory manager, was eventually accused of the crime and sentenced to life in prison. Shortly after his sentencing, rioters broke into the prison and lynched him.
Fiddlin' John Carson wrote "Little Mary Phagan" in 1914. The song was first printed in 1918 and first record...
2023-06-23 13:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
I first heard "Little Mary Phagan" from a 1980s film clip of Mabel Cawthorn of Carnesville, Georgia. My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned eAEG♯B ~ gCGBD.
Little Mary Phagan went to work one day
Down in the pencil factory to draw her little pay,
She left her home at eleven she kissed her mother goodbye
Not one time did Mary think that she w...
I learned "Raleigh & Spencer" from musicians around Watauga County, North Carolina, such as Josh Hayes, Matt Kinman, and Steve Kruger. My version is also derived from a fiddle recording of Tommy Jarrell, whose brother-in-law got the song from a local black guitarist.
It's been said that "Raleigh and Spencer are burning down..." is a reference to the Civil War destruction ...
2023-05-26 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "Raleigh & Spencer" from musicians around Watauga County, North Carolina, such as Josh Hayes, Matt Kinman, and Steve Kruger. My version is also derived from a fiddle recording of Tommy Jarrell, whose brother-in-law got the song from a local black guitarist.
It's often said that "Raleigh and Spencer are burning down..." is a reference to the Civil War destruction of Ral...
2023-05-19 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Most of my lyrics for "Stagolee" (Stagger Lee, Stack O'Lee, Stack-a-Lee) come from a recording of Mississippi John Hurt. My banjo arrangement is from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky, who also uses this melody for "Black Bottom Blues."
Shelton "Stag" Lee was a notorious pimp who, on Christmas Eve 1895, shot and killed Billy Lyons in a St. Louis saloon. A stolen Stetson hat allegedl...
2023-05-12 13:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Most of my lyrics for "Stagolee" (aka Stagger Lee, Stack O'Lee, Stack-a-Lee) come from a recording of Mississippi John Hurt. My banjo arrangement is from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky, who also uses this melody for "Black Bottom Blues."
Shelton "Stag" Lee was a notorious pimp who shot and killed a man named Billy Lyons inside a St. Louis saloon on Christmas Eve, 1895. As describ...
2023-05-01 13:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post
This mountain banjo was hand carved out of American Chestnut (wormy chestnut) and Black Walnut. I suspect that whoever made it did so between 1970 and 1990, and that they closely followed Stanley Hicks in Watauga County, North Carolina.
Opening song is "Beaver Dam Road" by Frank Proffitt; closer is "Long Steel Rail" (500 Miles, Old Reuben, Train 45).
2023-04-21 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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SIZE AND DESCRIPTION. Nine-inch German silver nickel-plated rim, wire edges, best thick-turned edge N. P. hoop, 16-inch neck with ebony face an„ raised frets, position marks, etc. 20 nickel-plated brackets with "dress protector " nuts, ebony pegs, white tail-piece, &c.
2023-04-14 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Instrument maker A.C. Fairbanks partnered with professional banjoist W.A. Cole in 1880. Fairbanks was responsible for most of their technical innovations, while the Cole handled brand promotion. Their partnership ended when the two formed separate companies around 1890.
2023-04-07 13:00:01 +0000 UTC
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I learned "Rooster Crow" (Sally Goodin) from Aaron Stephens of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and from recordings of Hiram Stamper and Uncle Dave Macon. My instrument is a Terry Bell minstrel banjo reproduction tuned ~ eAEAC♯ (relative gCGCE). Eddie Haggard called this tuning "No Finger C."
I learned "Sally Goodin" years ago from a recording of Hiram Stamper (1893-1992) of Knott County, Kentucky. I played it in standard tuning (gDGBD) but eventually lost interest, as I often did with fiddle tunes.
A year ago I saw Aaron Stephens perform it on the banjo as "Rooster Crow,"...
2023-03-17 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
This banjo mute, based on 19th-century designs, can fit on just about any banjo. Note only for muting, it can also function like a violin sound post (thanks to Blaine Chappell for making that connection in my brain). According to it's maker, Joel Hooks, when placed directly under the legs of the bridge it can help increase finger/hand strength.
Mr. Hooks hasn't decided to release this pr...
I learned "Boots and Leggings" (Old Man From Over The Sea, Old Man from Lee) from a 1960s field recording of Aunt Molly Jackson of Clay County, Kentucky. My instrument is an original 1840s minstrel banjo by William E. Boucher Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland, tuned ~ eBEG♯B
"The old man's courtship is an ancient joke of which country folk never seemed to tire... the song appeared in ... 2023-02-24 14:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" banjos were made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1880s-1910s. Sam Stewart, the company's owner, died in 1898, and banjos with serial numbers higher than ~ 50000 are likely to have been made after his death. Note that the quality of Stewart banjos noticeably declines during this period. This fine example of his "Universal Favorite" is a No. 3 model bearing serial...
2023-02-17 15:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Orgis "Gran" Hudson (1911-2005) of Knott County, Kentucky, plays "Reuben's Train" and "Wexford Girl" on the five-string banjo.
"Reuben's Train" is also known as Old Reuben, Train 45, Long Steel Rail, 900 Miles, etc. "Wexford Girl" appears to be a local version borrowing heavily from other early English ballads such as Knoxville Girl, Rose Conley, Willow Garden, etc.
Th...
2023-02-10 14:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
"Black Velvet Band" was sung in England as early as the 1780s. I learned it from a 1960s recording of Luke Kelly of Dublin, Ireland. My instrument is an early 2000s Terry Bell minstrel banjo tuned.
My exact tuning = d#G#D#GBb
Historical equivalent = eAEG#B
Modern equivalent = gCGBD
2023-01-27 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Black Velvet Band" was sung in England as early as the 1780s. I learned it from a 1960s recording of Luke Kelly of Dublin, Ireland. My instrument is an early 2000s Terry Bell minstrel banjo tuned.
My exact tuning = d#G#D#GBb
Historical equivalent = eAEG#B
Modern equivalent = gCGBD
2023-01-20 16:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "Old Blue" (Old Dog Blue) from a field recording of James "Dink" Roberts of Alamance County, North Carolina. My instrument is a 1880s Fairbanks & Cole short scale banjo tuned fCFAC ~ gDGBD.
Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature 👇
2023-01-13 16:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "Old Tar River" from Aaron Stevens of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. See Clarke Buehling and Mark Weems for other great versions of this song. My instrument is an all-original, custom 1867 Henry C. Dobson banjo tuned dGDF♯A ~ gCGBD.
Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature 👇
2022-12-30 16:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
"Old Tar River" (Old Tare River) is attributed to Joel Walker Sweeney, who's thought to have composed it by 1840. Frank Brower and Dan Emmett played it on stage in Lynchburg, Virginia, on July 4, 1841. Sweeney himself is documented performing it in New York City the following year. It first appears in print in THE COMPLETE BANJO PRECEPTOR by Elias Howe (1851).
2022-12-23 16:00:02 +0000 UTC
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HENRY C. DOBSON'S GREAT PATENT PARLOR AND STAGE BANJO
Patented July 16th 1867
DIRECTIONS - Keep the head perfectly tight so that the bridge will not dent the head ... 2022-12-16 15:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "Muddy Road" from a 1960s recording of Claude Wolfenbarger of Grainger County, Tennessee. This song is known by various titles, including "County Jail," "Fall On My Knees," and "Lonesome Road." My instrument is an 1880s Fairbanks & Cole banjo tuned fCFAC ~ gDGBD.
Download 8.5" x 11...
2022-12-09 16:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Michael R. shared this with me recently, and what a wonderful resource it is! See below details from the banjo building section (two types of banjos are outlined).
Violins and Other Stringed Instruments: How to Build Them
by Paul N. Hasluck (Philadelphia, 1907)
I learned "Old Blue" from a 1990s field recording of Dink Roberts of Little Texas, North Carolina. My instrument is a circa 1845 Boucher banjo tuned several steps below gDGBD.
2022-11-25 16:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post
I learned "Boatman" (De Boatmen Dance) from a recording of Melvin Wine playing it on fiddle. My instrument is a custom 1867 Dobson banjo tuned ~ gDGBD.
Download 8.5" x 11" tablature 👇
William E. Boucher, a drum maker in Baltimore, Maryland, built this early fretless banjo around 1845. Among other achievements, Boucher seems to have been the original developer of the metal screw tension system still in use today.
The neck is made from two poplar boards glued together and...
2022-11-11 16:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
learned "Boatman Dance" from a recording of fiddler Melvin Wine (1909-2003) of Braxton County, West Virginia. My lyrics are based on Dan Emmett's "De Boatmen's Dance" published in 1843.
My instrument is a 2021 Jeff Menzies gourd banjo tuned c♯G♯C♯FG♯ ~ gDGBD
Lesson & tab coming SOON!
2022-11-04 15:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post