Banjo NewsLetter Home Page

The September issue features an interview with Charlie Cushman, along with an article about Wayne Rogers and Gold Tone, a review of Mark Johnson’s latest release, a review of Chuck Levy’s recent release, and our usual columns.

See the Featured Issue for a complete listing of articles and banjo tab.

Read this month's Callous Thumb by BNL Editor, Donald Nitchie and on the same page, the RockyGrass 2010 Report by Jake Schepps.

BNL News: We have teamed up with Homespun to bring you an easy and fast way to download your banjo lesson DVDs - just click the banner below for Instant Access.

The October issue will feature Tim Carter’s interview with Mike Scott. We’ll also have our Old-Time Way quarterly section, with an interview with Whitt Mead, a review of a new banjo pick-up, and our usual columns.

Bach Up and Push by Tim Jumper (clawhammer). Please note: the sound file begins at the end of measure 3 during the second time through the A part.
Boat's Up the River by Chuck Levy (clawhammer)
Boat's Up the River by Chuck Levy, YouTube video
Bourree No. 2, part 2 (bass voice) by Pete Pardee
It Ain’t Necessarily So by Fred Geiger
Katy Hill by Charlie Cushman
Orange Blossom Special by Tom Adams

Orange Blossom Special column by Hub Nitchie, re-published on the Banjo Hangout. This article originally ran in Banjo Newsletter's January 1976 edition. Here is a link to all the BHO archived articles, including several more from Hub Nitchie.

Pretty Girl Goin’ to Milk a Cow by Charlie Cushman
Pretty Girl Goin’ to Milk a Cow by Charlie Cushman with Johnny Warren, YouTube video.
Sugar in my Coffee-O by Charlie Cushman
You Don’t Notice Me Ignoring You by John Hartford

August 2010

Bluegrass Stomp (Break 1) by Jason Skinner
Bluegrass Stomp (Break 2) by Jason Skinner
Bluegrass Stomp (Break 3) by Jason Skinner
Bourrée No. 2, Part 1 by J.S. Bach by Pete Pardee
Carolina in the Pines The Special Consensus with Greg Cahill on YouTube
Cumberland River Dailey & Vincent with Joe Dean on YouTube
Danny’s Dance (D major section) by The Special Consensus w/Greg Cahill
Danny’s Dance (D minor section) by The Special Consensus w/Greg Cahill
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore as played by Fred Geiger

Eddie Collins soundfiles:
        London Bridges by Eddie Collins
        Alphabet Song, The by Eddie Collins
        Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Eddie Collins

Everything I Own TabRite Midi banjo accompanied by Tom Adams on guitar and bass.
Grey Eagle by Flatt & Scruggs
Jump Jim Crow by Ken Perlman

More Ken Perlman soundfiles:
        Indian Squaw (Dec. 2009) as played by Ken Perlman
        June Apple Variation (May 2010) as played by Ken Perlman
        Robinson County (Mar 2010) as played by Ken Perlman
        Ship in the Clouds (Feb. 2010) as played by Ken Perlman

Old Gray Eagle by Hugh Strawn
Vole in the Gown by Chris Coole and Ivan Rosenberg

We Can’t Be Darlings Anymore
        by J.D. Crowe and the New South on YouTube
        We Can’t Be Darlings Anymore First Verse back-up
        We Can’t Be Darlings Anymore 1st verse banjo track
        We Can’t Be Darlings Anymore Chorus back-up
        We Can’t Be Darlings Anymore chorus banjo track

Whiskey Before Breakfast as played by Ian Perry
Whiskey Before Breakfast Video, as played by Ian Perry

July 2010

Daisy Mae by Flatt & Scruggs
Gospel Plow by Eddie Collins
Greasy Coat as played by Dan Levenson on Jason Burns's banjo #15
J's Tune by J.D. Crowe
J's Tune by J.D. Crowe, 30-second sample on MySpace iLike
Let the Church Roll On by Eddie Collins
Martha Campbell as played by Dan Levenson on Jason Burns's #15
(no tab for the above mp3 of Martha Campbell)
Movin' On by Zack Deming
Movin' On by Zack Deming, entire .wma file, 2:42
My Hometown as played by Tom Adams
Policeman as played by Dan Levenson on Jason Burns's #15
Sweet Sue as played by Fred Geiger
Walking in My Sleep as played by Stephen Parker
We Can't Be Darlings Anymore Lead, by J.D. Crowe
We Can't Be Darlings Anymore Fiddle Back-up, by J.D. Crowe

June 2010

Big Bend by Chris Pandolfi
Blue Mountain by Scott Vestal
Blue Mountain YouTube, with the Sam Bush Band, Merlefest, 4-30-10
Calgary as played by Scott Vestal
Cousin Sally Brown as played by Doc Watson and David Holt, see Tim Jumper's column
Goin’ To the Dance by Scott Vestal
Hammer and Nail by Dan Walsh
Hammer and Nail by Dan Walsh, YouTube
I’m Going Over the Mountain by Bob Carlin
Jacob’s Ladder by Eddie Collins
Jesus Loves Me by Eddie Collins
Lease of Life by Dan Walsh
Loch Lomond by Ian Perry
Loch Lomond Video by Ian Perry, at IanPerry.ca
Lullaby by Brahms as played by Pete Pardee
South Nampa Blues by Bruce Alkire
Suwanee River Kruger arrangement played by David Jakubiak
Virginia Darling as played by Tom Adams
Wired by Scott Vestal (lead, and then back-up)

May 2010

Bob Carlin's Dream by Bob Carlin (clawhammer)
Cluck Ol' Hen by Howard and Lyle Caine (clawhammer)
Dinah as played by Fred Geiger
Flop-Eared Mule by Howard and Lyle Caine (clawhammer)
Hogan's Heroes March (Hogan's Heroes TV Theme) played by Ian Perry
Lickity Split - 1st Break by Chris Warner
Lickity Split - 2nd Break by Chris Warner
Ol' Joe Clark by Howard and Lyle Caine (clawhammer)
Pretty Flowers by Steve Martin
Pretty Flowers on YouTube, audio only
Saga of the Old West by Steve Martin (A Part only)
Saga of the Old West on YouTube, Steve Martin live with w/SCR, 2009
Wabash Foxtrot by Hugh Strawn (clawhammer)
Wabash Foxtrot played by Howe Teague, track 6 at Amazon.com

April 2010

Cold Frosty Morning as played by Ian Perry
Drinkin' Dark Whiskey by Richard Bailey and the SteelDrivers
Drinkin' Dark Whiskey on YouTube - SteelDrivers live version, 2008
Eadle Alley by Jason Romero (clawhammer)
Eadle Alley on YouTube - live version, 2010
Float Downstream by Evie Ladin (clawhammer); Stream
Heaven Sent by Richard Bailey and the SteelDrivers
Heaven Sent on YouTube - SteelDrivers live version, 2008
I'm Walking The Dog by Tom Adams
Little Rock Getaway Reno-style, as played by Jason Skinner
Little Rock Getaway Single-string variation, as played by Jason Skinner
Long Journey Home - Basic by Eddie Collins; Intermediate; Advanced.
Midnight Train to Memphis by Richard Bailey and the SteelDrivers
Midnight Train to Memphis on YouTube - SteelDrivers live version, 2008
Mountain Dew by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
Mountain Dew on YouTube, audio only from the Carnegie Hall album
Soldier's Joy by Peter Seigel and Eli Smith (clawhammer)

March 2010

Andy Griffith Show Theme, The by Tom Adams
Dunluce Castle by Dick Brown
Handsome Molly by Dick Brown (actual tuning: Double C (gCGCD)
Last Old Shovel, The by Richard Underwood
Let's Hunt the Horses by Craig Johnson (clawhammer)
Liberty by Eddie Collins. Intermediate. Advanced
Little Annie by Dick Brown (actual tuning: gDGCD)
Mason's Apron by Colin O'Brien
O'Rourke's Reel by Tim Jumper (clawhammer, from Nov. 2009)
Old Liza Jane by Richard Underwood
Pennies from Heaven as played by Fred Geiger
There's A Table Sittin' in Heaven by Tim Jumper (clawhammer)

February 2010

Adam Hurt tabs (clawhammer): Flowers to Edinburgh, The Golden West, Molly, Put the Kettle On
Before I Met You as played by Earl Scruggs
Daniel by Wes Corbett
Five ‘n' Chimes as played by Cia Cherryhomes
Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You as played by Fred Geiger
Jason Burleson tabs (by Blue highway with Jason Burleson): Lonesome Pine, Marbletown Intro, The North Cove Intro, Three-Finger Jack, Through the Window of a Train
John Hardy by Bela Fleck
Lady of the Lake (clawhammer) by Hugh Strawn
Little Sadie by Jim Reed
Salt Creek by Eddie Collins
Somewhere Over the Rainbow (variations) as played by Ian Perry; Video
Tallahassee as played by Tom Adams

January 2010

Bending the Strings by Allen Shelton. Video; Video of Charlie Cushman playing Bending the Strings; and check out Fred Robbins' webpage of live bluegrass recordings, which includes some classic Allen Shelton
Bill Arkansas Cheatham by Eddie Collins
Carphunters by Bruce Alkire (clawhammer)
The Old-Fashioned Preacher by Earl Scruggs
Pretty Little Girl by Dan Levenson (clawhammer)
The Road to Spencer, as played by Jim Mills. Video Banjo starts at 2:15 in the video
Shenandoah Breakdown as played by Tom Adams
Softly As In a Morning Sunrise as played by Fred Geiger
Spotted Pony (basic), Kitchen Sink version by Dan Levenson (clawhammer)

We are delighted to announce that the Banjo Newsletter received IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award, at the Special Awards Luncheon October 2, 2008, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The award recognizes individuals, groups, and businesses for ground-breaking work and for fostering the music's image and accessibility.