West Virginia Gals - Clawhammer Banjo

[jmkm1078]

Nice! That drop thumb gives me hell... I need to figure that out one day :)

[SirCoughsalot]

Sounds like it might be the same tune as Arkansas Sheik . Do you know the words to it? West Virginia Gals, I mean. I've never heard anybody do it with words. Anyhow, fantastic playing. Greetings from WV.

[73scamp]

great job............

[AAL]

Wonderful

[georgiaswamper]

are you in standard A or is that a modal tuning?

[wellhill99]

Great playing, it seems to have an Irish music influence to it.

[billiardjay]

Sounds great!

[locustvalleystring]

@billiardjay .....Thanks for the comment. I was caught up in those instructional boxing videos you have......very well done......I don't box, but they are instructive and fasinating to watch. Larry

[mickhutchinson]

Great !!

[ThePurple59]

great playing,and a great tune ,who,s version is it ,would love to learn it myself, thanks, Mike

[locustvalleystring]

@ThePurple59: I got this tune from the same Miles Krassen book from which you got Pretty Little Dog in your Youtube video. Nice job playing that, by the way. Thanks. Larry

[PeluMaad]

@locustvalleystring ...it's also available in one of R D Lunceford's books from Elderley....

[RobbieRotten97]

This is super!!!! Very good!!!!

[ArkRed1]

I think that's a Kyser capo you're using rather than a Shubb. At least in the video.

[colindominy]

Played in the good old way !! Grand sound !!

[1stInLine1979]

Lets go Mountaineers! Damn good song.

[uslittletrucker]

im in southern WV!!!

[dandaman19620]

your my fucking hero. i live in west virginia :)

[Robin18us]

Nice sound and great job

[xXxLovexOrxDiexXx]

great job..i loved it

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks. I checked out your mando/guitar work. Keep on keepin on. You do great. Thanks. Larry

[ruggedpoet]

WOW! that was great love the old time sound TY and God bless

[smellyoldfatguy]

good job

[nationalo]

Really got that right hand down - sweet!

[chrometanned]

Great stuff... Had to check it out since I'm a WV boy...

[DaveyRhodes]

This tunes just awesome!

[thebetterhalf37]

do you have the 5th string capoed up to the 2nd fret or tuned down to E? ( i dont have my banjo handy ) and if so what kinda capo are you using

[locustvalleystring]

I use a Shubb banjo capo on the second fret and an HO railroad spike on the 7th fret for the 5th string. The tuning is A modal for this tune, so the 5th string is tuned up to an A. Larry

[surfandsand2]

dang that was awesome!

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks. With bass, guitar and fiddle, it is at home. Larry

[savesprinkles5678]

I'm trying to get my husband to learn the banjo. He's an excellent acoustic guitar player. Anyone have an idea about how hard it is to learn if you have a strong guitar background?

[locustvalleystring]

The biggest variable is drive. Once the basic clawhammer motions are learned (the toughest part), the guitar experience will be there for him. I guess the biggest question is....does he WANT to learn banjo? If so, he is way ahead with the guitar background. Good luck. Larry

[savesprinkles5678]

Thanks for the info. He actually mentioned wanting to learn to play after watching your videos. It looks fun and sounds great! Having been born and raised in WV, I love this sound. I'm a big music lover and have really varied taste in music. Thanks for sharing your videos!

[rmstudio]

Wow really like this tune I never heard it before.. Were did you find it and who did it first? I like the pace and beat of this tune.. Kinda of a proud full song with a bit of Civil War ring to it.. Very nice.

[locustvalleystring]

...from the book by Miles Krassen. It is very southern tune which started as a fiddle tune by Henry Reed, as I understanding it. The tuning is A modal. The book is called "Clawhammer Banjo", which has lots of old time southern tunes. Thanks. Larry

[wolfieboyer]

I have had the same book for awhile now. The tab is a little out in left field if you ask me, not to mention that its based off some pretty wild fiddling. Though if you can manage to figure the tunes in this book a lot of them sound great. i.e. West Virginia Girls.

[wolfieboyer]

i watched this video and had to learn this tune, ive been playing it non stop, nicely played by the way

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks. I had just leanred it... a little sloppy, I think. It does have a nice drive and it grows on you. Larry

[autumdiver]

well played! and great tone from your banjer.

[rpeek]

That's really an awesome performance of this particular song. I've been trying to learn it for a couple of days, not just learn it, but really get it right, as close to the way you play it as possible. Trying to get away from my own banjo habits, and maybe learn some new ones. Anyway, thanks for putting it up. Thank goodness for youtube, what a great place to learn banjo tunes..

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks, rpeek. Just keep on pluggin away. I also have learned some great tunes here. One of my new favorites is Falls of Richmond (as done by user FrostyMorn). Keep on hammerin. Larry

[PureCountry07]

That is great! My grandpa played clawhammer.

[kleiboff]

great ffrailing

[fabricari]

Man, this is great. I was workin' on my drop-thumb technique today - this is a great example of how it really makes for a nice melody effect.

[terpins]

That is freakin awesome!

[Kerlerot]

C'est très dansant !

Superbe !

I love country !

Me, fom Brittany (french Far West lol )

[locustvalleystring]

Merci beaucoup. :)

[pit032]

I love this one too monctonacadian! I could never get sick of this one..I dont think larry realizes how good he is lol

[monctonacadian]

I listen to this over and over !! I think its awsome !! but I think I'll wait a few years before attempting to learn this one, I've only been playing 3 months, but I can't wait to be playing like you !

thanks

[locustvalleystring]

Thank you for that comment. I have some vids I go to repeatedly also. It is nice to have this resource. I sometimes wonder how we got along without You Tube. Larry

[pit032]

Your crazy if you thought that was sloppy! That was one of the sweetest sounding songs Ive heard played clawhammer..

[slithyj]

Really nice tone. Good pickin' man.

[sparkyfiddle]

Nicely played and the instrument sounds great. I like this version - is it based on Miles Krassen's arrangement?

[locustvalleystring]

Yes, it is from Krassen's book. I called used the word "gals", but he uses "girls". That was my first recording of myself using a cam....one take....a little sloppy, but I was eager to post something. I will try to make a cleaner version soon. I posted "new River Train" recently. Check it out. Thanks for your comment. Larry

[UncleMacJug]

How do you reduce the resale value on a $25 banjo? I've got a great old skinhead beater from the 20s that I string with nylgut and keep in the office. I wouldn't sell it for three times what I paid. Anyway, you sound great - post a few more tunes to keep me busy!

[UncleMacJug]

Very nice - I love the sound of that banjo, too. What is it?

[locustvalleystring]

It is a 1927 Weymann, made in Philadelphia. They made relatively few 5 string banjos, I am told. I got the banjo not knowing how to play or what I had in my hands. I think I payed 25 bucks.

[locustvalleystring]

added later: The skinhead was split and it was missing a tailpiece and bridge. I needed to replace 4 frets. I am up to 5 banjos now, but that Weymann is my favorite banjo. I may have reduced its resale value by drilling and mounting the armrest that came with it in a box of parts. Thanks for asking.

[RustyRooooo]

Very nice tune!

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks....It felt a bit sloppy to me, but it was my first video of myself, so I let it slide.

[banjoden]

Good job....nice sound....