This week Joel Simpson joins me for Wreck Of The Old 97 for the accompaniment for frailing banjo. Once again, check out the slight differences in how I play frailing banjo along with Joel and how I performed it on my own.

Wreck Of The Old 97 – Accompaniment MP3

Wreck Of The Old 97 (PDF)

WRECK OF THE OLD 97

They [G]gave him his orders down at [C]Monroe, Virginia,

Saying, [G]“Steve, you’re way behind [D7]time;

This is [G]not 38, but it’s [C]Old 97,

You must [G]set her into [D7]Spencer on [G]time.”

He turned around, saying to his black, greasy fireman,
“Just heave in a little more coal,
And when we reach that White Oak Mountain,
You just watch Old 97 roll.”

It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And Lima’s on a three-mile grade;
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
You can see what a jump he made.

He was going down grade, doing ninety miles an hour,
When his whistle began to scream;
They found him in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle.
He was scalded to death by the steam.

A message arrived at Washington Station,
And this is what it read:
Those two brave men who pulled Old 97
Are lying in Danville, dead.”

Oh, ladies, you must take warning,
From this time on and learn:
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave you and never return.

Change is coming soon for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week.

I am implementing some changes based on your recommendations and I think they will make this a better place.

Stay tuned!

Banjo Stu is back with not one, but two videos. This is great stuff and I wish I could have been there jamming along!

It’s another week and Joel Simpson is back! When you are playing along to Old Black Rum, remember to check out the differences in how I play frailing banjo when I am being accompanied by Joel on guitar and how I played it when I was alone. There are some differences and also, here’s a little secret….you can do it the same or do it differently, it doesn’t matter!

Old Black Rum Accompaniment MP3

Old Black Rum (PDF)

OLD BLACK RUM

I drank [G]16 doubles for the [D7]price of [G]one

Tryin to find the [C]courage to [A]talk to [D7]one

I asked her [C]for [D7]a [G]dance, not a [C]sec[D7]ond [G]glance

my night had just [D7]begun

Well I’d [G]drink to the father or the [D7]holy [G]ghost

I’m [C]kneeling at the [G]alter of my [A7]nightly [D7]post

And I’ll [C]raise [D7]a [G]glass, not the [C]first [D7]or [G]last

come join me [D7]in this [G]toast

‘Cause the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me

like a [G]dog wrapped [C]’round my [D7]leg

And the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me.

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day..[C]hey?

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day?

The queen of George Street just went walkin’ on by

walkin’ on by with some guy who don’t care

That she stood in line since half past nine

And spent three hours on her hair

Her friend is lookin’ at me with an evil grin

I think a bloody racket might soon begin

I must have said something to the George Street queen

Now the boys are joining in.

So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain

Every day is different, but the nights are all the same

You never see the sun on the old black rum

And I know I’m gonna do it again.

If you would like a personalized copy of Irish Pub Song For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1, just purchase your copy from the Buy It Now Button from PayPal. You will find an option where you can put in your request for the message or type of message you would like inside your copy.

Copies

1 $19.95 2 $39.90 3 $59.85

Customized Message

If you wish to order a PDF copy or buy straight from the printer, use the Lulu Storefront link below:

I’ve been asked to do this so many times, that I finally gave in. Starting this week, i will give you the tablature for simple frailing banjo licks. These are the most common licks that I use and you will find them in the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week videos and audios.

This week it is the very, very common D7 turn around lick.

I hope you like it.

D7 MP3

D7 (PDF)

I was really happy today when I received a couple of pictures of Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo Volume 1 in a music store!

Speaking of the book, Volume 2 will be out in time for St. Patrick’s Day and Folk Songs For The 5-String Banjo Volume 1 will be ready for Christmas.

This week’s Simple Melody on Frailing Banjo is for Old Black Rum and Wreck Of The Old 97. I really hope that everyone can catch the melody lines and where they are located. Starting later this week, there will be additional posts since I’ve been asked to do a little more. In other words, my life just got busier!

Tomorrow I’ll be back with the accompaniment for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day

Old Black Rum & Wreck Of The Old 97 MP3

Old Black Rum (PDF)

Wreck Of The Old 97 (PDF)

This week’s Folk Song Of The Week is The Wreck Of The Old 97. I love this song and it’s fun to play. I’ve gone further up the neck than the first two frets, but I think you can get it.

Wreck Of The Old 97 MP3

Wreck Of The Old 97 (PDF)

WRECK OF THE OLD 97

They [G]gave him his orders down at [C]Monroe, Virginia,

Saying, [G]“Steve, you’re way behind [D7]time;

This is [G]not 38, but it’s [C]Old 97,

You must [G]set her into [D7]Spencer on [G]time.”

He turned around, saying to his black, greasy fireman,
“Just heave in a little more coal,
And when we reach that White Oak Mountain,
You just watch Old 97 roll.”

It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And Lima’s on a three-mile grade;
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
You can see what a jump he made.

He was going down grade, doing ninety miles an hour,
When his whistle began to scream;
They found him in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle.
He was scalded to death by the steam.

A message arrived at Washington Station,
And this is what it read:
Those two brave men who pulled Old 97
Are lying in Danville, dead.”

Oh, ladies, you must take warning,
From this time on and learn:
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave you and never return.

This week’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is a personal favorite ever since I was turned on to it by Bill Hannigan of Three Men In Kilts. It’s a great song and the best part is that all of the melody notes are inside the chords for frailing banjo players.

Old Black Rum MP3

Old Black Rum (PDF)

OLD BLACK RUM

I drank [G]16 doubles for the [D7]price of [G]one

Tryin to find the [C]courage to [A]talk to [D7]one

I asked her [C]for [D7]a [G]dance, not a [C]sec[D7]ond [G]glance

my night had just [D7]begun

Well I’d [G]drink to the father or the [D7]holy [G]ghost

I’m [C]kneeling at the [G]alter of my [A7]nightly [D7]post

And I’ll [C]raise [D7]a [G]glass, not the [C]first [D7]or [G]last

come join me [D7]in this [G]toast

‘Cause the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me

like a [G]dog wrapped [C]’round my [D7]leg

And the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me.

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day..[C]hey?

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day?

The queen of George Street just went walkin’ on by

walkin’ on by with some guy who don’t care

That she stood in line since half past nine

And spent three hours on her hair

Her friend is lookin’ at me with an evil grin

I think a bloody racket might soon begin

I must have said something to the George Street queen

Now the boys are joining in.

So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain

Every day is different, but the nights are all the same

You never see the sun on the old black rum

And I know I’m gonna do it again.

If you would like a personalized copy of Irish Pub Song For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1, just purchase your copy from the Buy It Now Button from PayPal. You will find an option where you can put in your request for the message or type of message you would like inside your copy.

Copies

1 $19.95 2 $39.90 3 $59.85

Customized Message

If you wish to order a PDF copy or buy straight from the printer, use the Lulu Storefront link below:

Joel Simpson joins me once again! This time for the Folk Song of The Week, Spider-Man. If you haven’t already noticed and since I didn’t mention it in the videos. Check out the differences in how I play frailing banjo when I am by myself and when I play with someone. This isn’t something you can really teach and everyone does it differently, but there is a change in when you play frailing banjo unaccompanied and how you play frailing banjo when you are accompanied.

Try it and have fun!

Spider-Man Accompaniment MP3

Spider-Man (PDF)

Spider-Man

[D]Spider-man, Spider-man does whatever a spider can

[G]Spins a web, any size, [D]catches thieves, just like flies

[A]Look out! Here comes the [D]Spider-man!

[D]Is he strong? Listen, Bud! He’s got radioactive blood.

[G]Can he swing from a thread? [D]Take a look overhead.

Hey [A]there, there goes the [D]Spider-man!

In the [E]chill of night, at the [B7]scene of the crime

Like a [G]streak of light, he arrives just in [A]time

Spider-man, Spider-man, friendly neighborhood Spider-man

Wealth and fame, he’s ignored, action is his reward

To him, life is a great big bang-up, wherever there’s a hang-up

You’ll find the Spider-man!