Introducing BanjoBandits.com

September 6, 2011
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I am happy to announce the creation of BanjoBandits.com! BanjoBandits was created by three YouTube friends that wanted to make a place that home musicians could share their YouTube videos. There are thousands of videos on YouTube of people playing banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles and other instruments, but no where for there to all come together to share their videos and discuss topics about playing music.

I’m taking the rest of the week off from here and YouTube to make sure that there aren’t any issues with the new site and then it’s all in the safe hands of Mandy and Tim. Stop by the site and share or learn a new song or collaborate with others.

I’ll be back, but until then: Have fun!!!

Folk Song Of The Week – Frailing Banjo Lesson: Yankee Doodle

September 1, 2011
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I found this request in my spam folder from June from John in California. It’s a bit late, but here it is: Yankee Doodle as a frailing banjo lesson!

Have fun!

Yankee Doodle MP3 [Download]

Yankee Doodle (PDF)

Yankee Doodle

[C]Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a [G]pony

[C]Stuck a feather [F]in his hat and [C]called it [G]maca[C]roni.

[F]Yankee Doodle, keep it up. [C]Yankee Doodle dandy

[F]Mind the music and the step and [C]with the [G]girls be [C]handy.

Father and I went down to camp along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys as thick as hasty pudding.

There was Captain Washington upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men I guess there was a million.

Just Not Enough Time

August 31, 2011
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image

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and next week will be even worse.

I’ve been averaging four hours of sleep a night for the last two weeks and it is starting to take it’s toll on me.

I am taking a break at work right now and if I wasn’t typing, I would be dozing off.

I am hoping to put up a video tonight when I get home, but time will tell.  So as usual,  I will sleep vicariously through my cat, Omega until Sunday night when I know I can sleep in Monday morning.

If you don’t hear from me until then, don’t worry. That just means I’m busy and that’s good thing.

Kelly

Mandy with I’ll Fly Away

August 29, 2011
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I was really, really honored when Mandy made this video and stated that she learned it from me. She and her husband did a fantastic job on this song and I’ve listened to the mp3 over and over.

Here it is and enjoy!

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Frailing Banjo Lesson: Whatever You Say, Say Nothing

August 29, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFrailing BanjoInstructionIrish Pub Song Of The Day
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I did this song two years ago and got asked to do it again so you could see what both hands are doing. I love the song so I have no problem doing it again. I usually perform this song in D out of G tuning, but I didn’t want to throw anyone off this week. Next week…we’ll see!

Enjoy this because Whatever You Say, Say Nothing is the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and it’s a great frailing banjo lesson for those of us under any kind of “Authoritarian.” 🙂

Whatever You Say, Say Nothing mp3 [Download]

Whatever You Say, Say Nothing (PDF)

 

 

WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY NOTHING

[G]Whatever you say, say nothing when you [D7]talk about you know [G]what
For if you know who should hear ya, [A]you know what you’ll [D]get
They’ll [C]take you off to [G]you know where for ya wouldn’t know how [Em]long
So for [G]you know who’s sake don’t let anyone [D7]hear you singing this [G]song

You all know who I’m speakin’ of when I mention you know what
And I feel it’s very dangerous to even mention that
For the other ones are always near, although you may not see
And if anyone asks who told ya that, please don’t mention me (chorus)

You all know who I’m speakin’ of when I mention you know who
For if you know who should hear ya, you know what he’d do
So if you don’t see me again, you’ll know why I’m away
Any if anyone asks you where I’ve gone, here’s what you must say (chorus)

Well that’s enough about so and so, not to mention such and such
Well I’d better end my song, now I’ve already said too much
For the less you say and the less you hear, the less you’ll go astray
And the less you think and the less you do, the more you’ll hear them say.

(chorus) X 2

Folk Song Of The Week – Frailing Banjo Lesson: One More River

August 25, 2011
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Oh, this is a great, great, great song to sing and get everyone involved! One More River is the Folk Song Of The Week and it is a blast to play on frailing / clawhammer banjo!!!

Have fun with it and make up words if you need to, it’s a folk song!

One More River MP3 [Download]

One More River (PDF)

One More River To Cross

Oh [G]there’s one [C]more [G]river, and [D7]that’s the river [G]Jordan,

There’s one [C]more [G]river, there’s [D7]one more river to [G]cross.

The animals cane one by one, there’s [D7]one more river to [G]cross,

The elephant chewing a caraway bun, there’s [D7]one more river to [G]cross.

The animals came two by two, there’s one more river to cross,
The crocodile and the kangaroo, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals came three by three, there’s one more river to cross,
The tall giraffe and the tiny flea, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals cane four by four, there’s one more river to cross,
The hippos, they got stuck in the door, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals cane five by five, there’s one more river to cross,
The honey bees looking to build a hive, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals cane six by six, there’s one more river to cross.
The monkey, he was up to his tricks, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals cane seven by seven, there’s one more river to cross,
Said the bear to the elephant “Who are you shovin’?”, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals came eight by eight, there’s one more river to cross,
Some were early and some were late, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals came nine by nine, there’s one more river to cross,
They all joined up and marched in a line, there’s one more river to cross.

The animals came ten by ten, there’s one more river to cross,
If you want any more then I’ll sing it again, there’s one more river to cross.

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Frailing Banjo Lesson: Winds of Morning

August 22, 2011
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The Irish Pub Song Of The Day this time around is Winds of Morning. It’s a great song by Tommy Makem. It’s a great song for a frailing banjo lesson. Every melody note is right out of the chords.

Have fun with it and enjoy!

Winds of Morning [Download]

Winds of Morning(PDF)

WINDS OF MORNING

I’ve walked the [G]hills when rain was [C]falling rested [D7]by a wide oak [G]tree

Heard a lark sing high at [C]evening caught a [D7]moonbeam on the [G]sea

Chorus:

Softly blow ye winds of [C]morning. Sing ye [D7]winds your mournful [G]sound

Blow ye from the earth’s four [C]corners. Guide this [D7]traveler where he’s [G]bound

I’ve helped a ploughman tend his horses
Heard a rippling river sing
Talked to stars when night was falling
Seen a primrose welcome spring

Chorus

By foreign shores, my feet have wandered
Heard a stranger call me friend
Every time my mind was troubled
Found a smile around the bend

Chorus

There’s a ship stands in the harbor
All prepared to cross the foam
Far off hills were fair and friendly

St. Patrick likes us…he really, really likes us!

August 19, 2011
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I am really happy to announce that Another Pint will be back at Paddyfest in St. Charles, IL. The St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles is having their Paddyfest and Another Pint will be performing on Sunday August 28th at 2 pm until 4 pm.

It’s a great festival and has a warm family atmosphere! We’ve had a blast there in the past as you can see from the pictures and this time we might just have a surprise with us! It’s great to have a performance where kids and families are welcome and we aim to take advantage of it.

The Crane Street church is located at 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles, IL 60175! I hope to see you there!

You can find more about St. Patrick’s Parish and Paddyfest at their website.

See you then!


Folk Song Of The Week – Frailing Banjo Lesson: I’ll Fly Away

August 19, 2011
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Once again I was asked to go back in time a little bit. I don’t mind at all since so far, they have all been great songs. Now you will see why I had that little C chord trick on Monday, since it fits in so well with this song.

The Folk Song Of The Week is I’ll Fly Away. I love this song on frailing banjo or clawhammer banjo, whichever you choose to call it. It’s not only a fun song, it’s one that since Oh, Brother, just about everyone knows.

Have fun with it!

I’ll Fly Away MP3 [Download]

I’ll Fly Away(PDF)

I’LL FLY AWAY

[G]SOME GLAD MORNIN’ WHEN THIS LIFE IS O’R

[C]I’LL FLY [G]AWAY

TO MY HOME ON GOD’S CELESTIAL SHORE

[D7]I’LL FLY [G]AWAY

I’LL FLY AWAY, OH GLORY

[C]I’LL FLY [G]AWAY IN THE MORNING

WHEN I DIE, HALLELUJAH BY AND BY

[D7]I’LL FLY [G]AWAY

 

WHEN THE SHADOWS OF THIS LIFE HAVE GONE

I’LL FLY AWAY

LIKE A BIRD FROM PRISON BARS HAS FLOWN

I’LL FLY AWAY

 

OH, HOW GLAD AND HAPPY WHEN WE MEET

I’LL FLY AWAY

NO MOR COLD IRON SHACKLES ON MY FEET

I’LL FLY AWAY

My Wife Is Full Of Surprises

August 17, 2011
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Sandy really surprised me twice in one phone call today. She usually calls me on her way home while I’m still at work and gives me the run down of what she and Amber and going to be doing before I get home late at night.

Today when she called me she was stuck in traffic and she was laughing. I asked her what was so funny about traffic and she said that while she was waiting on construction she was on Twitter. I couldn’t believe she was on Twitter since she doesn’t even keep up on Facebook or emails. She said that doesn’t post, she just reads what she’s following. When I asked her who she was following she said “JR”.

I was in total shock and said “JR? You mean Jim Ross? WWE Jim Ross?” She said yeah, she was reading some of his old tweets. I couldn’t really believe it because she hasn’t watched wrestling in over 10 years. She said that she doesn’t like wrestling but she loves Jim Ross.

If that wasn’t enough to spin my head, she said that she was going to a shooting range for a couple of hours. Now, I’ve known Sandy for 16 years and she has never fired a gun in her life. Back when I was enlisted, I took every chance I could to go the firing range, but I couldn’t imagine her doing it.

She went with her girlfriend and sent me the above picture. She also brought home the targets she used and man, she is a great shot!

I thought all of my surprises where over, but she had the video of me with The Shamrock Shore that I wrote about earlier.

Here is all 5 seconds of it and it’s great to see the legendary Rick McMurray joining me on guitar! I really have to play a little more up-picking after re-living that. I also just remembered that Rick has that banjo now. It’s a long neck Kay banjo!! I’ll have to take a trip up there to see it again!