Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

Whiskey Before Breakfast

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 1/20/17, this is a favorite Texas waltz my husband, Kit, and I have enjoyed. Don Borchelt does a great job covering its history if you check it out, and has lots of examples, including two superb videos of his own.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 1/20/17, this is a favorite Texas waltz my husband, Kit, and I have enjoyed. Don Borchelt does a great job covering its history if you check it out, and has lots of examples, including two superb videos of his own.

Ric Hollander - My arrangement of Kitchen Girl. Played on the Romero with Nylgut strings. Arrangement: Copyright 2012 Ric Hollander - All Rights Reserved

Ric Hollander - My arrangement of Kitchen Girl. Played on the Romero with Nylgut strings. Arrangement: Copyright 2012 Ric Hollander - All Rights Reserved

Me on a Reiter A Flat with goatskin head and Aquila Super Nylguts playing with my friend, Mitch, on the fiddle

TOTW (OT) for 01/13/2016. An Ozarkian fiddle tune. Key of G. Banjo tuned gDGBD.

TOTW (OT) for 01/13/2016. An Ozarkian fiddle tune. Key of G. Banjo tuned gDGBD.

I'm attempting to record and upload via my iPhone, as my computer is in the shop. I first heard Red Prairie Dawn by Don Huber's enjoyable band who was playing at an outdoor event. Next I heard it on Adam Hurt's lovely new CD "Artifacts." I worked it out in an odd tuning -- aDGBE, tuned down four steps for cello banjo. I'd like to know more about Garry Harrison who recorded the Dear Old Illinois anthology. He wrote a few tunes, like this one, and seems to have played fast and energetically. Please let me know what you think about the recording quality. Thanks for listening G.

I'm attempting to record and upload via my iPhone, as my computer is in the shop. I first heard Red Prairie Dawn by Don Huber's enjoyable band who was playing at an outdoor event. Next I heard it on Adam Hurt's lovely new CD "Artifacts." I worked it out in an odd tuning -- aDGBE, tuned down four steps for cello banjo. I'd like to know more about Garry Harrison who recorded the Dear Old Illinois anthology. He wrote a few tunes, like this one, and seems to have played fast and energetically. Please let me know what you think about the recording quality. Thanks for listening G.

This tune comes from the repertoire of Bluegrass boy Kenny Baker. He learned it from his father, Thaddeus, and said he only heard it played by his family. I used Garage Band to combine my Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback with my Gold Tone cello banjo.

This tune comes from the repertoire of Bluegrass boy Kenny Baker. He learned it from his father, Thaddeus, and said he only heard it played by his family. I used Garage Band to combine my Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback with my Gold Tone cello banjo.

Epic Kentucky bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker played Make a Little Boat with his buddies after learning it from Howdy Forrester. I think of Mr. Baker as a swing-type of fiddler with Bill Monroe, but his family background was as an old-time fiddler. I can just see a little guy growing up in the country sailing his hand-made boat in a little creek....

Inspired by Wade Ward, four examples each two times through. Which do you like best? There is no right answer; it's all subjective. My banjo is tuned up so pitches are g#EG#BE The banjos are my Bacon Professional (11") and my Bruno (10 1/2"), which has no tone ring (top of the pot is thinned to the outer edge). Both banjos have skin heads though the Bacon's head is thinner then the Bruno's. The two configurations are slightly different, with about a 4 inch difference where the hand is striking the strings. In one configuration, my hand was at the edge of the pot and as I played my other fingers would strike the head with a bit of a drumming effect. The other configuration was with my hand just over the end of the neck, near the pot, so no drumming effect. Both banjos have a Tally Tone Enhancer (see picture on my home page; cork between dowel stick and head near the neck end). 1. Bacon with hand over the head 2. Bruno with hand over the neck 3. Bacon with hand over the neck 4. Bruno with hand over the head

Inspired by Wade Ward, four examples each two times through. Which do you like best? There is no right answer; it's all subjective. My banjo is tuned up so pitches are g#EG#BE The banjos are my Bacon Professional (11") and my Bruno (10 1/2"), which has no tone ring (top of the pot is thinned to the outer edge). Both banjos have skin heads though the Bacon's head is thinner then the Bruno's. The two configurations are slightly different, with about a 4 inch difference where the hand is striking the strings. In one configuration, my hand was at the edge of the pot and as I played my other fingers would strike the head with a bit of a drumming effect. The other configuration was with my hand just over the end of the neck, near the pot, so no drumming effect. Both banjos have a Tally Tone Enhancer (see picture on my home page; cork between dowel stick and head near the neck end). 1. Bacon with hand over the head 2. Bruno with hand over the neck 3. Bacon with hand over the neck 4. Bruno with hand over the head