It’s amazing how much sound a banjo can put out with clawhammer, the drone note tapping the head and melody almost sounds like 3 different instruments.
Hi, I love your lessons. They have helped me a lot. I would like to learn how to play clawhammer e sing at the same time. I have tried the chicka bum, but it did not work. I guess I am doing something wrong. I have tried it on some American Gospel, such as I will fly Away, or Keep it on the Sunny Side, Nothing but the Blood, etc. I am not evangelic (nothing against), but I love Gospel music. I am christian. Thank you very much. I watched Amazing Grace and it gave an outstanding understand of the rhythm. If you can, place make a video about, say, I will Fly Away or something similar. Be safe, be careful"
Howdy Amanda, I don't have them recorded anywhere but I'll write them out for you here. These are just the lyrics I've been carrying around in my head and singing for years. Not sure their source, although I think that maybe I got most of them from Woody Guthrie's version that he sang (maybe) on the Library of Congress Recordings? Anyhow, here goes: [verse] I went down to Old Joe's house he lived in the town Every tooth in old joe's head smilin' a quarter round Wish I had a nickel wish I had a dime Wish I had a pretty girl I'd kiss her all the time [chorus] Round round Old Joe Clark round and round I say Round round Old Joe Clark I'm gonna leave today [verse] Hardest work I ever done is plowin' a field of rye Easiest work I ever done is eatin' chicken pie Build me a house out in the woods bout fifteen stories high Every story in that house packed with chicken pie [chorus -variant] Round round Old Joe Clark goodby Besty Brown Round round Old Joe Clark I'm gonna leave this town I think that's about it for my version. I'm sure you can find endless other versions out there in the world but hope you enjoy this 'un!
This is great! I'm just getting into clawhammer after starting out with Scruggs style. Is all clawhammer banjo played with your right hand practically at the base of the neck or is this specific to this old time Appalachian-style clawhammer (if you'd call it that)?
Most fiddlers play this tune in the Key of A. I play it (and teach it) in G. To play along with a fiddler who's playing in A, just place a capo on the second fret and tune your 5th string up from a 'g' to an 'a'. Play the tune as you normally would but now it should sound in the key of A...voila.
I don't use a compensated bridge anymore. In this video, I'm using a 'Moon Bridge' . I believe the brand is 'Stockwell'. It is a compensated bridge, of sorts but , these days, I use non-compensated bridges made by Dave Cunningham. Hope that info is helpful to ya.
My grandfather playing in the dining room. My grandmother singing in the living room. She clapped and patted her knees.
Yes yes greetings from Manchester Kentucky 😀
Pleasure to meetchya. (Greetings from Saint Lou!)
It’s amazing how much sound a banjo can put out with clawhammer, the drone note tapping the head and melody almost sounds like 3 different instruments.
My dear old dad used to play it just like this - wonderful to hear again
Beautiful
That was some awesome clawin
Impossible not to love soooo good
Fantastic! Nothing better than clawhammer on open back. I'm just now learning, thanks!
thanks, mg! i agree...nothing better...
Well done Ryan, great version.
Thank you, kindly...
very nice, got a good bluegrass voice, i love that type of style,
Thanks, Mick!
Great singing voice and amazing banjo!
thanks, Emily!
Excellent, that was a nice lick!!
Thx, Gary!
You did an amazing job👍 i love it
Thank ya kindly, Michaela!
Great, fun version!
Hi, I love your lessons. They have helped me a lot. I would like to learn how to play clawhammer e sing at the same time. I have tried the chicka bum, but it did not work. I guess I am doing something wrong. I have tried it on some American Gospel, such as I will fly Away, or Keep it on the Sunny Side, Nothing but the Blood, etc. I am not evangelic (nothing against), but I love Gospel music. I am christian. Thank you very much. I watched Amazing Grace and it gave an outstanding understand of the rhythm. If you can, place make a video about, say, I will Fly Away or something similar. Be safe, be careful"
Ha, excellent as always Ryan....Jack
Thanks, Jack!
Very nice
nice!
Thanks for listening, Tim!
One of my favourite versions, I just can't catch the lyrics on the last line of the first verse?
scroll down through the comments, my friend. I posted my lyrics in on of the recent conversations....!
Hi Ryan, I loved this version, could I have the lyrics please as I can't find them in your version anywhere.
Thankyou.
Howdy Amanda, I don't have them recorded anywhere but I'll write them out for you here. These are just the lyrics I've been carrying around in my head and singing for years. Not sure their source, although I think that maybe I got most of them from Woody Guthrie's version that he sang (maybe) on the Library of Congress Recordings?
Anyhow, here goes:
[verse]
I went down to Old Joe's house he lived in the town
Every tooth in old joe's head smilin' a quarter round
Wish I had a nickel wish I had a dime
Wish I had a pretty girl I'd kiss her all the time
[chorus]
Round round Old Joe Clark round and round I say
Round round Old Joe Clark I'm gonna leave today
[verse]
Hardest work I ever done is plowin' a field of rye
Easiest work I ever done is eatin' chicken pie
Build me a house out in the woods bout fifteen stories high
Every story in that house packed with chicken pie
[chorus -variant]
Round round Old Joe Clark goodby Besty Brown
Round round Old Joe Clark I'm gonna leave this town
I think that's about it for my version. I'm sure you can find endless other versions out there in the world but hope you enjoy this 'un!
nice one!
+Grimmor92 Thanks!!
This is great! I'm just getting into clawhammer after starting out with Scruggs style. Is all clawhammer banjo played with your right hand practically at the base of the neck or is this specific to this old time Appalachian-style clawhammer (if you'd call it that)?
Love your playing and singing. What is the banjo you’re playing here. Love the sound of it.
Thanks, Briana! My banjo is a Brooks Banjo, made by Brooks Masten in Portland, OR. You can check out his banjos at: BrooksBanjos.com
Great lesson. Trying to play with a violin player. Is the key the same?
Most fiddlers play this tune in the Key of A. I play it (and teach it) in G.
To play along with a fiddler who's playing in A, just place a capo on the second fret and tune your 5th string up from a 'g' to an 'a'. Play the tune as you normally would but now it should sound in the key of A...voila.
Do you use a compensated bridge on your banjo?
I don't use a compensated bridge anymore. In this video, I'm using a 'Moon Bridge' . I believe the brand is 'Stockwell'. It is a compensated bridge, of sorts but , these days, I use non-compensated bridges made by Dave Cunningham. Hope that info is helpful to ya.
is that a tradesman banjo?
I don't know for sure, but it looks like a Brooks Masten to me.