Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

This tune comes originally from Hazard, Kentucky fiddler Luther Strong (1892-1963), when he was recorded in 1937 for the Library of Congress by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax. This recording is from the Geezer Hill jam session that Don Couchie and I had with Tim Rowell (clawhammertim). Don is playing the fiddle, Tim is playing clawhammer style, I think in double C, capoed on 2, and I am three finger picking in open D tuning, on my semi-fretless Tubaphone.

A cheerful tune in A with a Bm sound in the B part. My mother still says at 91 years old that good songs always a minor.

Banjo 066, paddle-head made by Buckbee, stamped "Tremont" . G tune from the Sweet Brothers.

A classic waltz from the movie/play "The King and I". Here presented by itself, I normally play it as part of an extended medely in 3/4 time. ~Pete

The iconic song from "Showboat", originally sung by Paul Robeson in the Broadway play and then covered by everyone from Djanjo Reinhardt to Frank Sinatra. (Frank Sinatra???) My version is an homage to both John Jorgenson -who first really turned me on to Jazz- and his then partner in crime Doug Mattocks -who showed me that you could play *anything* on the banjo if you only wanted to badly enough... And this is one of those wonderful tunes where you don't have to play things at high speed or with a lot of bells and whistles to make it sound good: just play the melody and let the music speak for itself. ~Pete

Original song about love and memories

Girl I Left Behind Me/Turkey in the Straw

goin across the sea/fortune/forked deer

another version, this time with guitars...

Key of G and played on new custom banjo with 12" pot