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 Old minor key banjo player(trying to find the name from a description I heared)
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| Author | Topic: Old minor key banjo player(trying to find the name from a description I heared) |
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hey Member Posts: 242 From: olympia, washington, USA Registered: Oct 2006 |
posted 04-28-2008 22:38
   
A while ago I was just talking music with someone and I remember him motioning of some old hill billy banjo player who picked it in the minor key, and described it as "haunting"... He sounded really interesting, but I cant remember his name. I did a bunch of Google searches and cant find anything, so any ideas on who this could be? Thanks. IP: Logged |
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AJAzure Member Posts: 1199 From: MA Registered: Apr 2004 |
posted 04-28-2008 23:01
doc boggs maybe? IP: Logged |
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stuart Member Posts: 193 From: Shoreline, WA 98133 U.S. Registered: Feb 2006 |
posted 04-28-2008 23:49
And even if it isn't Dock Boggs, you should try to get hold of the Revenant re-issue of his early recordings. http://www.revenantrecords.com/index.php?section=releases&cd_ident=2 IP: Logged |
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andrea bonino Member Posts: 294 From: cork, ireland Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 04-29-2008 00:59
hey hey, have a look at this film searching for the wrong eyed jesus there's some seriously haunting minor key banjo picking in there, and a beautiful movie as well IP: Logged |
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andrea bonino Member Posts: 294 From: cork, ireland Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 04-29-2008 01:18
here's a good live performance of his [This message has been edited by andrea bonino (edited 04-29-2008).] IP: Logged |
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John Barleycorn Member Posts: 39 From: Wiltshire, England Registered: Jan 2005 |
posted 04-29-2008 01:42
Never mind the banjo - was that Harry Crews at 0:44 and 1:20? JB IP: Logged |
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andrea bonino Member Posts: 294 From: cork, ireland Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 04-29-2008 01:55
quote: yep IP: Logged |
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subtoxin Member Posts: 57 From: Tacoma, WA USA Registered: Jan 2007 |
posted 04-29-2008 02:50
Chris Whitley's 'Ball Peen Hammer' is played on banjo, minor key, very haunting. Off the album 'Dirt Floor.' IP: Logged |
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RonE Member Posts: 383 From: CA Registered: Jun 2007 |
posted 04-29-2008 06:36
Im just taking a shot at it, have you heard of Billy Faier? He is mentioned in Ramblin Jacks tune "912 greens". He is an old Banjo wizard along the lines of Pete Seeger.--But he plays more instrumentals and some classical stuff. He can play anything! On another note, George Winston put out this tune, "moon", Which is an fairly easy minor key tuning song that sounds great on banjo...just for ideas.. IP: Logged |
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Brian Alboucq Member Posts: 87 From: Spokane Washington USA Registered: Aug 2004 |
posted 04-29-2008 09:05
I seem to remember that if you flat the b string. You will get the sound you are looking for. Check out Dwight Dillers instructional stuff. IP: Logged |
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Chilbert Member Posts: 124 From: The Okanogan Valley, WA , USA Registered: Apr 2004 |
posted 04-30-2008 20:33
That Chris Whitley tune (Ballpeen Hammer, from the DirtFloor recording) that Subtoxin mentioned can probably be played in several tunings which seem to be variations of the 'mountain minor' or 'sawmill' tuning, but according to all reports, Whitley played it in this tuning: f C F G# C So that's the way I try to play it too. It's an eerie tuning, and a haunting aire indeed. Semi-frailing style, with emphasis on the thumb on the bass strings to give it an Appalachian bluesy sound. The left hand is not too difficult, but the right hand requires some skill in order to get the Whitley feel to it. Joe Bonamassa actually covered this song pretty well on acoustic 12-string guitar, but I prefer CW's totally raw sound on the banjo from Dirt Floor. BTW, if you do not already have that Whitley recording, you should get it. I can approximately play exactly 5 songs on the banjo, and Ballpeen Hammer is my alltime favorite. Chilly IP: Logged |
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subtoxin Member Posts: 57 From: Tacoma, WA USA Registered: Jan 2007 |
posted 05-01-2008 01:06
Before I heard that track I didn't care much for banjo music in general. It was an eye opener for me. I did enjoy that Jim White track, would like to see that movie. Been curious enough about banjos to consider picking one up. Since I'm a guitar player should I buy a 6 string (Banjitar) or would you recommend learning on the traditional 5 string model? IP: Logged |
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Patrick_Costello Member Posts: 118 From: Crisfield, MD USA Registered: Sep 2005 |
posted 05-01-2008 02:38
Just referencing a minor key tuning won't help much in identifying a banjo player. For a quick lesson in frailing banjo in Gm tuning, check out The Daily Frail archives from February '08. The Daily Frail 2/4/08
The Daily Frail 2/6/08 The Daily Frail 2/7/08 The Daily Frail 2/8/08 -Patrick [This message has been edited by Patrick_Costello (edited 05-01-2008).] IP: Logged |
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Patrick_Costello Member Posts: 118 From: Crisfield, MD USA Registered: Sep 2005 |
posted 05-01-2008 04:11
quote: I'd go with the five-string. If you already play guitar the transition to five-string banjo should be pretty easy. The only trick is to approach the five-string on its own terms rather than treating it like a handicapped guitar. I would also suggest giving the technique of frailing a serious look. Frailing in a bluegrass context: Frailing in a county blues - and bottleneck - context: -Patrick IP: Logged |
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