Folk Song Of The Week – Old Plank Road: Frailing Banjo Lesson

March 1, 2012
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The Folk Song Of The Week is Old Plank Road. It’s a fun, fun song and even though there are only a few verses, if you do it right, you can make it last for 15 minutes with a couple of friends!

It’s a blast on frailing / clawhammer banjo and if nothing else, it will make your foot tap!

Old Plank Road MP3 [Download]

Old Plank Road(PDF)

Old Plank Road

[G]Rather be in Richmond, [C]midst all the hail and [G]rain, Than for to be in Georgia boys, [C]wearing that ball and [G]chain

Chorus:

Won’t get drunk no more, won’t get drunk no [D7]more, [G]Won’t get
drunk no more, way [D7]down on the old plank [G]road

I went down to Mobile for to get on the gravel train, Very next thing heard of me, had on a ball and chain

Dony, oh dear Dony, what makes you treat me so? Caused me to wear the bail and chain, now my ankle’s sore

Knoxville is a pretty place, Memphis is a beauty If you want to see them some pretty girls, hop to Chattanoogie

I’m going to build a scaffold on some mountain high So I can see my Dora girl as she goes riding by

My wife died on Friday night, Saturday was buried Sunday was my courting day, Monday I was married

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Red Is The Rose: Frailing Banjo Lesson

February 27, 2012
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I love this song and I sang it low for my wife Sandy. She loves when I sing the lower octave. I usually don’t do it for the videos and I had fun with it. The Irish Pub Song Of The Day is Red Is The Rose on frailing / clawhammer banjo.

Red Is The Rose MP3 [Download]

Red Is The Rose(PDF)

Red Is The Rose

Come [G]over the [Em]hills, my [Am]bonny Irish [C]lass

Come [G]over the [Em]hills to your [G]dar[D7]ling;

[C]You choose the [G]rose, love, and I’ll [Am]make the [C]vow

And [G]I’ll be your [C]true [G]love for[D7]ev[G]er.

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows,
And fair is the lily of the valley;
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
But my love is fairer than any.

‘Twas down by Killarney’s green woods that we strayed
And the moon and the stars they were shining;
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair
And she swore she’d be my love forever.

It’s not for the parting tht my sister pains
It’s not for the grief of my mother,
“Tis all for the loss of my bonny Irish lass
That my heart is breaking forever.

The Most Frightening Thing That Can Happen!

February 25, 2012
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The most frightening thing that can happen has indeed occurred!!!

 

 

 

Congratulations, Amber you now have a driver’s license.

 

 

 

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Folk Song Of The Week – Frailing Banjo Lesson: Ballad of Jed Clampett and Somewhere Over The Rainbow

February 23, 2012
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I decided to do a two for one on this week’s Folk Song Of The Week. I had a lot of requests for a clawhammer or frailing version of The Ballad of Jed Clampett and more for revisiting Somewhere Over The Rainbow so I combined the two. I hope you enjoy!

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Frailing Banjo Lesson: Dirty Old Town in 3 Keys

February 20, 2012
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I had a lot of requests for this song, so I did it in the keys of G, C and D. So here is Dirty Old Town on frailing / clawhammer banjo.

Folk Song Of The Week – This Land Is Your Land: Frailing Banjo Lesson

February 16, 2012
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This time around the Folk Song Of The Week is This Land Is Your Land. It’s a great song and a lot of fun to sing. This is one of those songs that everyone loves to sing along to. Try it out and don’t be afraid to belt it out.


 

This Land Is Your Land MP3 [Download]

This Land Is Your Land (PDF)

This Land is Your Land

[G]This land is [C]your land, this land is [G]my land,

From Calif[D7]ornia to the New York [G]Island,

From the Redwood F[C]orests to the Gulf Stream wa[G]ters;

[D7]This land was made for you and [G]me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I looked above me, there in the skyway,
I saw below me, the Golden Valley;
This land was made for you and me.

I roamed and rambled, and followed my footsteps
Through the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me this voice kept sounding,
“This land was made for you and me.”

As the Sun was shining, and I was strolling
Through the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
I could feel inside me and see all around me,
This land was made for you and me.

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Flower Of Scotland Frailing Banjo Lesson

February 13, 2012
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I used to sing today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day, Flower Of Scotland with some Scottish friends when I lived in Michigan. We never planned it, but after a few drinks one of us would start off with it and we would all sing it at the top of our lungs. Every time I sing it, I can’t help but think of those good days.

Flower Of Scotland [Download]

Flower Of Scotland(PDF)

 

FLOWER OF SCOTLAND

Oh Flower of [G]Scotland, when will we [D7]see your likes [G]again

That [C]fought and [G]died for your [D7]wee bit hill and [G]glen

And [D7]stood [G]against them, Proud [C]Edward’s [G]army

And [C]sent them [G]homeward to [F]think [G]again

The hills are bare now and autumn leaves lie thick and still
O’er land that is lost now which those so dearly held
That stood against him proud Edward’s army and sent him homeward to think again

Those days are past now and in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now and be the nation again
That stood against him proud Edward’s army and sent him homeward to think again.

Oh Flower of Scotland when will we see your like again
That fought and died for your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward to think again

Frequently Asked Questions – Double Thumb, Drop Thumb and ASPO’s

February 8, 2012
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I had a lot of emails about why I don’t teach double thumb, drop thumb and alternate string pull-offs. At first I was going to reply to everyone with a long-winded email but I decided to just create this video so it can be out there for everyone to see. My goal as a teacher is to help and instruct those that have just started their journey on frailing / clawhammer banjo. If you can do the basic frailing strum and change chords, then I can show you how to find a simple melody so you can sit at home and have fun.

Enough with the long-winded explanation, here’s the video. 🙂

Taking The Week Off – But You Can Get 20% Off at Lulu.com

January 29, 2012
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Unfortunately, I need to take the week off since my work schedule has been changed around and I decided to join Sandy and some friends and do some non-music related stuff. We had fun this weekend and it was great to get out of the house and get together.

I’ll be back next week and until then, if you order Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1 or Folk Songs For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1 from Lulu.com you can get 20% off using the code SHADOWHOG at check out.

I’ll see you all later.

Folk Song Of The Week – I Took My Gal Out Walkin’

January 26, 2012
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The Folk Song Of The Week is I Took My Gal Out Walkin’. It’s a fun song on frailing / clawhammer banjo. I have simplified it down to the bare essentials and it still has a kick to it!

Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to sing it!

 

 

I Took My Gal Out Walkin’ MP3 [Download]

I Took My Gal Out Walkin’ (PDF)

I TOOK MY GAL OUT WALKIN’

I [G]took my gal out walkin ‘twas on a Saturday night

I took my gal out walkin’ and the [A]moon was shinin’ [D]bright

[C]I asked her if she’d [G]kiss me and [C]this is what she [D7]said

[G]She said she would not kiss me so [D7]I kissed her [G]instead

CHORUS:

Oh I ain’t got nobody [D7]I’m as blue as can be

I ain’t got nobody to [G]make a big fuss over me

If I don’t get somebody [D7]I’m goin’ back to the farm’

Milk those cows and chickens and [G]I don’t give a golly gosh darn

I took my gal out walkin ‘twas on a Saturday night
I took my gal out walkin’ and the moon was shinin’ bright
I asked her if she’d marry me and this is what she said
She said she would not marry me if the rest of the world was dead!