Old Time Religion

Still working on the bluegrass method here's another version of Old Time Religion.

Excuse the big hand...

Rolling Those Fingers

Been practicing a few tunes in the bluegrass fingerpicking style and there's a couple of picking patterns, or rolls, that I've had to learn. They are the 'alternating thumb roll' and the 'forward roll'.

Here's what they sound like and the tab for them.









Alternating Thumb Roll


Forward Roll

Old Time Religion

I've been working on my rolls and old time religion is starting to emerge. Its getting the picking pattern down so that it starts to come automatically thats takes time, but keep practicing.

Old Time Religion

Bluegrass Exercises

Been working on fingerpicking the banjo. I've carried on with Tom Dooley and also picked up Goodnight Ladies and Old Time Religion. Both tunes carry on the alternating thumb roll pattern but progressively add in slides. They're still a bit slow and dodgy at the moment...

Tom Dooley



Goodnight Ladies



Old Time Religion

Playlist for Monday's Jam - and a couple of tunes

MC Clawhammer's sent in a couple of songs Wildwood Flower and Foggy Mountain Breakdown. The kids obviously love it!


Banks of the Ohio in A

This is the first thing I've recorded using a capo to tune the banjo up into A. I also tuned up the fifth string to A as well, not sure if this what you are supposed to do but it sounded bad without... not that it's that great with.

Playlist for Monday night's jam.

• Jesse James
• Wildwood Flower
• Cripple Creek
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Suggestions

• Whiskey in the Jar
• Worried Man Blues
• Camptown Races
• Wabash Cannonball (in C - I'll copy the tab)
• Shortnin Bread
• Dirty Old Town
• Wreck of the Old '97
• Irish Washerwoman
  

Duelling Banjos and Foggy Mountain Breakdown

MC Clawhammer is working on his bluegrass rolls and considering he's only been playing banjo since December is making real progress.

Duelling Banjos


Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Jesse James and Cripple Creek bluegrass stylee

Two more from MC Clawhammer.

Cripple Creek


Jesse James

MC Clawhammer returns

Sent a tune by MC Clawhammer

Collins CB5 Bluegrass Banjo

After waxing lyrical about the Windsor Popular that I had on loan from Stan Gee, I thought I should give some time to my trusty workhorse the Collins CB5. It feels a bit wooly and unresponsive after playing the Windsor but as a starter instrument it hard to beat. I picked mine up on-line from the I-Muso website http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=AG00019 (see links) and at the time (Jan 08) it was £89.00. I think they are even cheaper now and the deal includes a padded gig bag as well.

I know that everyone says you should always play any instrument before you buy it, but I hadn't played anything before and music shops can be a bit intimidating if you haven't got a clue what you are doing. Anyway the price fit my budget £100 which meant I could afford a tuner as well, so I bought it unseen.I've taken the resonator off as I've been focusing on frailing techniques and it's easy to slip it back on again if I want that harsher bluegrass sound.

It's served me well over the last twelve months and it's a great instrument to learn on, also the price means that if you don't take it up you haven't broke the bank!

Froggy Went a Courtin'

MC Clawhammer sent in a version of Froggy Went a Courtin and a clip of Steve Martin and Earl Scruggs to carry on the comedian/banjo player thread we picked up earlier.

Froggy Went a Courtin

more from the creek

MC Clawhammer sent in a version of Cripple Creek, tryin out a few bluegrass rolls..

Cripple Creek


I know a few people drop in and have a look at the blog, so if anyone has any audio they'd like to send in I'd really appreciate it. I realise we're no great shakes in the banjo stakes, but it's about sharing and learning.

NBB