Which notes to leave out?

At the risk of turning this into a “real” blog with text, I’ll post a comment I just left on the Banjo Hangout discussion about leaving notes out, and then rant a bit. The question was, basically, “I want to be less notey. Which notes do I take out, and what do I replace them with?”

In case it’s helpful, here’s what I cut:

Trâgnala Rumjana in the Hoosier National Forest

Here’s a Bulgarian song played over the scoop on my Gold Tone OT-800 banjo.

In case you were wondering, that was “Yellow Rose of Texas” in the middle of the tune.

Säkkijärven Polkka: the video

Here’s a video version of a Finnish polka that I posted earlier as an MP3. This time I’m playing it on my Gold Tone OT-800. The banjo is tuned gEGBE.

Lesson: Getting drive with Liza Jane

Here are some ideas for adding drive, which I’ve arbitrarily defined as “lilt” or “danceability.” The video looks at how to:

1. Vary the volume of individual notes using right and left hand techniques
2. Vary the duration of individual notes (anticipating a beat; M-skip)

I use a generic version of Liza Jane in A.

And here are some of the tab snippets that go by too quickly in the video.

Emphasizing beats in the high melody:

Muting notes in the low melody:

Deleting the bum-ditty filler from the end of a phrase:

Adding an M-skip to the slide in the low melody:

Dan Walsh plays Egyptian banjo

Here’s UK clawhammer player Dan Walsh stretching the clawhammer repertoire (and some strings!):

For more creative clawhammering, check out his YouTube channel or Myspace page.

Betsy Likens in 7/8

A traditional old-time tune that I learned from Miles Krassen’s tab, but I play it here in 7/8. This version of 7 is counted 3+2+2 or “slow-and-a quick quick.” Played on my Gold Tone cello banjo.

You can find the original tab in Miles Krassen’s book Clawhammer Banjo.

Moth Hunter

An original tune by Fred Pribac of Tasmania, and one of my favorite tunes to play. Played on my Gold Tone cello banjo in aEADE.

To learn more about Fred and hear him play several of his tunes, stop by his home page on the Banjo Hangout:

http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/home.asp?id=18511

D by ear: Two lessons

Here’s part of my quest to get more people to learn tunes by ear.

Chords will help you find the melody
First, here are the three chords you need for most old-time tunes in D, shown with two positions each. When you know these chords, you can quickly find the melody notes for just about any D tune you’re likely to hear at a jam.

Use the chord shapes to learn a new tune
Once you know the chord positions, use them to learn “Toads in the Woodpile,” an original yet reassuringly formulaic D tune.

Jump at the Sun

At the beginning of this video, you’ll hear a fun, loping jig by melodeon player John Kirkpatrick of Shropshire, England.

Although it sounds like it has a “weird” scale, it plays fine out of double D.

Like this tune? There are lots more at John’s online store.

Rampi Rampi: The complete package

Here’s one of my favorite tunes, the Turkish song Rampi Rampi:

And here’s a lesson explaining the rhythm and right-hand technique: