currentCover Bill Schmidt
 interview by Cathy Fink
 
Bill Schmidt is a versatile and talented musician on guitar, ukulele, fiddle and banjo. 
continued

January Sound Files »




Eddie Adcock Eddie and Martha Adcock's "Many A Mile"
 Review by Bob Peelstrom
 
"Many A Mile" is a must-have for all Eddie Adcock/"classic" Country Gentlemen fans.   continued




banjo in 2011 Callous Thumb, January 2012
 by BNL Editor Donald Nitchie
 
2011 was a very good year for the 5-string banjo.   continued




Janet Beazley Janet Beazley
 Interview by Mitch Finley
 
December 2011: Janet Beazley plays banjo and sings with the California bluegrass band Chris Stuart & Backcountry and in the duo Chris Stuart & Janet Beazley.   continued

December Contents and Soundfiles here



Nov2011Cover Learning to Play Banjo
in the New Millennium
 by Ian Perry
 
For someone starting out on the journey of learning to play the 5-string banjo, the landscape has changed considerably since the early days of bluegrass. During the 1940’s and 50’s, there were virtually no teaching aids whatsoever.   continued

November 2011 MP3s

Dave's Bolero by Dave Russell
Manga el Banjo by Lluis Gomez (with Tony Trischka)
Here's the twin banjos tab: Manga el Banjo Tab (Twin Banjos)

Homespun Music Instant Access
Banjo Newsletter and Homespun have partnered to bring you an easy and fast way to download your banjo lesson DVDs.

Salt Creek—Bill Monroe's mandolin solo (tabbed out by Tony Trischka)
Snowflake Reel as played by Greg Cahill
Trouble on the Mind (clawhammer) Soundfile and video by Hugh Strawn


2011-10-cover Marc Pruett
 interview by Wayne Peeler
 
Marc Pruett is the banjo player and a co-founding member of Balsam Range, the critically-acclaimed band from Western North Carolina which was nominated for Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Emerging Artist at this year’s IBMA. (As Marc wrote on the band’s website, “I can understand ‘song’ and ‘album’…but Shootfirebuddy, I feel like I’ve been emerging now since 1962!!!”) They ended up winning Song of the Year...   continued

October 2011 MP3s

Are You Washed in the Blood? Arranged by Pete Kuykendall (Key of C, capo 5th fret), played by Eddie Collins
Are You Washed in the Blood? Arranged and played by Eddie Collins (Key of C, capo 5th fret)
Dem Tsasdik's Zemerl by Andy Rubin (claw)
Flight of the Bumblebee as played by Mark Raborn
Fredology by Fred Geiger
Georgia Railroad as played by Brooks Masten (claw) Played on one of Brooks's banjos.
Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia, as played by Tom Adams in G and in C
Lonesome John by Hunter Robertson (claw) YouTube. Banjo solo; Banjo and fiddle
Marching Home by Marc Pruett and Balsam Range
Sally Ann, as played by Dan Levenson (claw)
12th of April as played by Robert M. Long; Video: 12th of April
Also:
Neila's Dance Variations by Ian Perry, from the July 2011 BNL Video
Fog Rolling Over the Glen by Ian Perry, from the September 2011 BNL
Video.


2011-09-cover Mike Munford
 interviewed by Ira Gitlin
 
Since 2008, when Mike Munford began touring with rising bluegrass star Frank Solivan and his band Dirty Kitchen, listeners around the country are finding out what fans and pickers in the Washington-Baltimore area have known for years: This is one amazing banjo player. The first thing that hits you when you hear Mike is his confident attack and big flathead tone. continued

September 2011 MP3s

As Time Draws Near by Tommy Jarrell (clawhammer)
Edelweiss as played by Bob Piekiel
Foggy Mountain Rock, as played by Tom Adams
Fog Rolling Over the Glen as played by Ian Perry
Schottische du Stockfish by Anton Emory (clawhammer)
Shoe Cobblers Blues by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer). Soundfile and video
Sweet Sunny South as played by Bob Piekiel
Tarred and Feathered by Mike Munford with Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen (banjo break)
Watch What Happens by Fred Geiger
Waterfall by Todd Taylor. Video
Whiskey Before Breakfast Back-up by Bill Evans


August 2011 MP3s

Blue-Eyed Boston Boy (kick-off) as played by Don Parmley, tab by Tom Adams
Daddy Played the Banjo as played by Earl Scruggs with Steve Martin.
Darcy Farrow (kick-off) as played by Don Parmley, tab by Tom Adams
Dill Pickle Rag as played by Jason Skinner;   Lick 1;   Lick 2.
Gold Rush as played by Eddie Collins. Novice, Intermediate, and Part B, Advanced.
No Capo For Andy by Ryan Cavanaugh
No Capo For Andy by Ryan Cavanaugh - YouTube Video
Pickin' Cotton Down South as played by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer). Mp3 and video
Ed Haley's Rebel Raid as played by Josh Turknett (clawhammer).
Roll On Muddy River (kick-off) as played by Don Parmley, tab by Tom Adams
Soldier's Joy (in D) by Bill Evans.

July 2011 MP3s

Battle Cry of Freedom as played by Tom Adams
Blue Ridge Cabin Home soundfiles, by Janet Davis (as played by J.D. Crowe) BRCH Fill-in Licks; Back-up for third Verse; Back-up for third Chorus; Banjo Lead #2 with fill-in licks; Back-up for fourth Chorus
Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine by Jim Pankey (clawhammer)
Boodles by Tony Ellis. Tony performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on June 22. Watch the performance here:
www.kennedy-center.org
J.S. Bach's Bourree as played by Fred Geiger
Davy Davy, played on Huss & Dalton Singletree by Dan Levenson (clawhammer). See descriptions of the various recordings in July 2011 issue.
Davy Davy Example 1
Davy Davy Example 2
Davy Davy Example 3
Davy Davy Example 4
Davy Davy Example 6
Gone Beserk as played by Dan Menzone (YouTube)
Nelia's Dance variations as played by Ian Perry
Polly Put the Kettle On (Example 5) played on Huss & Dalton Singletree by Dan Levenson (clawhammer, no tab)
Rambling Hobo by Joe Newberry (clawhammer); JPEG Image of the Tab
Roustabout by Joe Newberry (clawhammer)
Shady Grove played on Huss & Dalton Singletree by Dan Levenson (YouTube)
Some of These Days You're Going To Be Sad (banjo break)
by Larry Perkins;
Some of These Days You're Going To Be Sad (vocal verse)
by Larry Perkins
Train 45 (for 3 banjos) by Eddie Collins (three banjos!)

June 2011 MP3s

Blue Ridge Cabin Home soundfiles, by Janet Davis (as played by J.D. Crowe) BRCH Back-up Licks up-the-neck; Back-up for second Verse; Back-up for second Chorus; Back-up for Guitar
The Clean Plate Club by Alison Brown; YouTube
Cluck Old Hen (clawhammer) as played by Bob Carlin
Cluck Old Hen (clawhammer) as played by Dan Levenson
Coast to Coast by Bill Emerson
Jesse by Eddie Collins
Lonesome Pine Special by Tom Adams
Love of the Mountains (kick-off) as played by Tom Boyd with Larry Sparks
Nelia's Dance as played by Ian Perry on this Bryan Sutton composition; YouTube - Nelia's Dance performed by Bryan Sutton
Quail is a Pretty Bird by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer) Video and soundfile
Ways of the World by Jayme Stone (banjo begins at 0:53); YouTube

May 2011 MP3s

Becky Ann's Bluegrass Rag Break 1; Break 2; Tab for break 2 by Bob Altschuler:
Bill Evans May examples of back-up: Blue Ridge Cabin Home and Your Love is Like a Flower
Blue Ridge Cabin Home by the Bluegrass Album Band with JD Crowe
Blue Ridge Cabin Home soundfiles, by Janet Davis (as played by J.D. Crowe) BRCH Back-up Licks; Back-up for first Verse; Back-up for first Chorus; Back-up for Fiddle
Chinquapin Hunting as played by Ian Perry
Clinch Mountain Backstep Basic; Embellished as played by Eddie Collins
Hillbilly Twist by Jürgen Biller (Adams County Banjo column)
In A Groove by Terry Baucom
Terry Baucom talks about style with Greg Cahill (from May 2011 interview)
Take Five as played by Michael J. Miles (clawhammer)
Correction: tuning is actually Double C: gCGCD for "Take Five."
Sleepers Awake by J.S. Bach, as played by Michael J. Miles (clawhammer)
Sally Ann (version 2) as played by Bob Carlin (clawhammer)

April 2011 MP3s

American Idle Hornpipe by Ben Freed
Been to the East, Been to the West by Frank Lee and the Freight Hoppers
Bill Evans April examples of Back-up by Bill Evans
Blue Ridge Cabin Home soundfiles, by Janet Davis (as played by J.D. Crowe) Lead 1; Lead 2; Lead 3
Douce Ambiance by Fred Geiger
Hound Chase by Frank Lee and the Freight Hoppers, Fiddle and banjo
Hound Chase by Frank Lee and the Freight Hoppers, Solo banjo, YouTube
I'll Fly Away (in D position) by Tom Adams
J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte by Mark Raborn
North Carolina Breakdown, Part 1 by Earl Scruggs
Seneca Square Dance as played by Wayne Shrubsall (otherwise known as "Georgia Boys" and "Waiting for the Federals")
Walkin' West to Memphis by Eric Gibson and the Gibson Brothers

March 2011 MP3s

Ali Baba Breakdown, Part 2 by Ian Perry (Part C starts at 1 minute 41 seconds into the mp3) Part 1 is in the Feb 2011 issue.
Breton Tune by Anton Emery (clawhammer)
The Craic was Ninety in the Isle of Man by Tim Jumper (clawhammer)
The Craic was Ninety in the Isle of Man - Vocals by Tim Jumper (clawhammer)

Eddie Collins tabs:
          House of the Rising Sun by Eddie Collins
          Irish Washerwoman by Eddie Collins
          Malaguena by Eddie Collins

Crossroad Turnaround by Jens Koch and G2
Crossroad Turnaround - banjo only version as played by David Russell

Farewell Blues - Here are three examples:
Farewell Blues by Flatt & Scruggs, YouTube.
Farewell Blues by Pat Cloud, Tony Furtado and Yoshihiro Arita (1992), YouTube.
Farewell Blues by Bill Keith on the Amazon.com site.

Farewell Blues by Janet Davis.
Greensleeves by Roger Sprung and Doc Watson
Last Train Home by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer)
Little Maggie by Flatt & Scruggs
Slowly - Kickoff as played by Jessie Baker with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Slowly - 1st Break as played by Jessie Baker with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Slowly - 2nd Break as played by Jessie Baker with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

February 2011 MP3s

Ali Baba Breakdown by Ian Perry (All 5 parts: A, B, C, D and E)
Ali Baba Breakdown video at www.ianperry.ca
Better Off Red by Alex Caton (clawhammer)
Black Eyed Suzie as played by Keith Little with the Vern Williams Band
Blue Ridge Cabin Home back-up, 2 Measure Patterns as played by Bill Evans

Farewell Blues - Here are three examples:
Farewell Blues by Flatt & Scruggs, YouTube.
Farewell Blues by Pat Cloud, Tony Furtado and Yoshihiro Arita (1992), YouTube.
Farewell Blues by Bill Keith on the Amazon.com site.

Farewell Blues by Janet Davis, with Earl Scruggs's chords.
Farewell Blues by Janet Davis, with original chords—Dm and Ab7.
Get Your Dogs and Let’s Go Hunting by Alex Caton and Richie Stearns
In The Pines by Eddie Collins
Mar West as played by Mark Raborn
Newhouse by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer)
Ode To Joy by Eddie Collins
Pike County Breakdown by Bob Piekiel
Sail Away Ladies by Jimmy Arnold
Some Day as played by Tom Adams
Someday We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart - first break as played by Jason Skinner (Reno-style)
Someday We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart - second half of last break as played by Jason Skinner (Reno-style)
There Will Never Be Another You as played by Fred Geiger
Triplet Boogie by Eddie Collins
Turn the Other Cheek by Keith Little

January 2011 MP3s

Bill Evans' Forward Roll Back-up examples by Bill Evans
Brushy Fork of John’s Creek by Adam Hurt (clawhammer), YouTube
Home Sweet Home as played by Tom Adams
John Riley the Shepherd by Adam Hurt (clawhammer), YouTube
On The Sunny Side of the Street as played by Fred Geiger
Rendezvous by Big Country Bluegrass with Lynwood Lunsford
Rock the Cradle Joe as played by Dan Levenson (clawhammer)
Top Hat Ramble by Big Country Bluegrass with Lynwood Lunsford, YouTube
Top Hat Ramble by Big Country Bluegrass with Lynwood Lunsford
Wichita Lineman by Hot Rize with Pete Wernick (Video: Grey Fox 2008)
Wichita Lineman by Hot Rize with Pete Wernick


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