Old Jake Gillie

I've been having a go at this tune from 'Clawhammer Banjo'. Getting the rhythmic sequence is tricky and for me the key to the tune. I've been practicing the the fingering really slowly but its not till you give it a go at full tilt that it starts to resemble some of the versions I've heard on Youtube. After playing in frailing style with a definite pick-strum-pluck type of action, getting the more intricate drop thumb patterns of clawhammer is good discipline for gaining greater control over my playing action.

Cluck Old Hen

Another old nugget that I've overlooked because its everywhere. Its another modal tune in sawmill tuning gDGCD.

Old Joe Clark

I've had a bit of a hankering for going back and looking at some classic tunes. Old Joe Clark is one of those songs that are in all the tutor books and its usually the one which is used to introduce the F chord. Its also such a simple tune that I'd over looked it. The other night I saw Rebecca Findlay playing fiddle at the local pub and on top of being a fantastic musician she played a version of Old Joe Clark and I thought hang on this is a bloody great tune - I should have another look. It's one of those tunes like Cripple Creek that are apparently simple but once learned leave a lot of room for improvisation or elaboration. Not that I've got that far yet but there is something hypnotic about a tune which is seven and a half bars of one chord, G, and half a bar of a second F. It has a really archaic feel to it, apparently it's a modal tune in the mixolydian mode.

As a song its got about ninety-five verses and lots of them can be found here http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiJOECLARK;ttJOECLARK.html

Lets Go Clawhammer

listen to ‘Lets go Dancing’ on Audioboo

Soldier's Joy in D

I've been playing Harry's banjo in double C tuning and this is a pretty basic version of Soldier's Joy with a capo on the second fret.

Tralee Gaol

This my my version of Tralee Gaol. I've had to pare it down a little as the triplets in the b part of the tune elude me at this moment in time, but I think I'm getting there.

Tralee Gaol

This is a photo of the 'croppy boy' memorial from the town of Tralee in southern Ireland. Tralee was witness to a lot of violence in the struggle for Irish independence, and hence title of the tune.

The Trials and Tribulations of the Spanish Lady...

Or, Thanks, Ken Perlman!!!

David's Clawhammer Banjo Site

David's Clawhammer Banjo Site is a treasure for anyone looking for excellent tabs - it's got just about everything and usually in several variations.

Check out the tabs for Sandy River Belle which I'll be using as soon as I can stretch my technique. There are about 6 versions on the site!
Sandy River Belle
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3