Fresh from the Compost Heap

I've let them lie for a while but couldn't resist seeing what a bit of composting had done to two of my current practice tunes.

Napoleon etc..


Tralee etc...


I think I'm going to start on a new tune, soon.

Two for the Road

This photo could have been taken at the last practice as Johnathan launched into another verse of Dirty Old Town....

I think I've nearly got the A and B parts of this tune.
Napoleon Crossing the Rhine


This is a practice version of the Ewan McColl tune we didi at the last jam.
It's Ewan, Peggy Seeger et al in the photo.
Dirty Old Town

Napoleon Crossing the Rhine

I've been working on the A part of Napoleon and its starting to sink in. Learning new songs and patterns on the banjo is a bit like composting. I have to chuck loads of rubbish at it for ages and then leave it for a while and magically its as if your fingers start to learning by themselves. I find that if I'm getting frustrated with a tune having a rest from it is as important as plugging away until blood and tears stop you.

Napoleon Crossing the Rhine

This is Ken Perlman's version.

Napoleon Crossing the Rhine

Started having a look at new clawhammer tune Napoleon Crossing the Rhine.
Here's the guy from Zepp Music doing a great version of it, which is also known as Sherman's March to the Sea from the American Civil War.