Soldier's Joy - Clawhammer Banjo

[nonomu1988]

whoa

[NooGods]

This ain't nothin' but mighty-fine frailin'... top shelf n' tasty. Agree with Tom Smith, my fav' version of this tune in clawhammer, fer sure. If Hunter's playin' doesn't motivate ya... better check yer pulse!

[CTomSmithJr]

I think this is my favorite version of this tune to date. I heard Lynn Morris play this tune in a similar fashion on Reno's Old Time Music program, and she also included that "Galax" lick. I thought it was a wonderful ornament at the time, but did not know it had a name. Thanks for the edification and entertainment!

[HunterRobertson]

@CTomSmithJr I don't know that that name goes further back than the '70s but it seems to be pretty widespread now. It's a little more accurate than "roll" which can cover about 2000 different moves.

Thanks for listening!

Hunter

[Malc666the1]

Fantastic

[oakpianist]

Excellent.

[HunterRobertson]

@oakpianist Thanks.

[mynameisnobodyz]

beautiful sound and rhythm-love it

[bolinjo]

That was pretty incredible.

[MyBadplayer]

nice,very well played

[georgiaswamper]

you are one of the best clawhammer players i have found online. youre right hand techniques are amazing, how long have you been playing? how do you do the "rake" technique where you hit all or most of the strings?! it looks to me like you are using the back side of ur finger nails like with the basic frail, but ive seen ppl do it with the thumb and the finger nails, any advice?

[HunterRobertson]

@georgiaswamper Thanks! That rake thing is what's often called the Galax lick, of course it was used a lot wider than just in Galax. Basically you rake your normal frailing finger (downwards) over a few strings and then hit the 5th string one or more times. If you search on youtube for "Galax lick" you'll find various demonstrations.

I've been playing about 20 years. Thanks for watching!

[georgiaswamper]

@HunterRobertson thank ya kindly, i will check out the galax lick. keep up the good playing, i enjoy all your videos.

[HunterRobertson]

@georgiaswamper No problem. Thanks again!

[complexrhythm]

I challenge you sir to tell me someone else who is better at clawhammer. Seriously though I'm about to buy your DVD. Thanks for being so great!

[stigandr5]

I feel like this video gives me insights into Hobart Smith's playing that I never would've gotten off of recordings alone. Thanks for that!

[HunterRobertson]

@stigandr5 Thanks Nathan, glad it helps though I think Hobart had a bunch more stuff going on... I'm convinced that someone must have filmed him but damned if I can find any besides the snippet in the Williamsburg film.

[IndianaStone1]

Amazing!!!

[writerrad]

Hunter is one of my favorites, sorry will be emailing you promised stuff love ya

[HunterRobertson]

Hey Tony, thanks a lot! If you're coming back over this way anytime, give me a shout.

[FancyGapClawhammer]

And I forgot to mention, the speed of that Galax lick in the B section of the song amazes me!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks for the comments, glad you enjoyed it!

[FancyGapClawhammer]

It's like every style of old time banjo put together...the clawhammer, with all the thumb movements, the frail, with all the ringing of the high string, and round peak, with all the constant notes with the hammering on and pulling off. Simple amazing! Great job sir!

[xSNOWYJOEx]

YOU sir are my fucking hero

[aeroweenie]

Best clawhammer Soldier's Joy I've ever heard, or at least tied with the Hobart Smith version! I play many variations of this song but can't find the notes you & Hobart get without losing the g drone string. Well done!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks. I just love Hobart Smith. One of the things he did to get so many notes is an awful lot of hammering-on and pulling-off.

[1339LARS]

Great stuff!!!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks again!

[classicbanjoRM]

You kill me, Hunter! Just when I'm beginning to get to grips with clawhammer...

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Rob! That one you had up was sounding good. I'll just avoid the classic stuff while you're around...

[mromsennis]

Bravo!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks!

[johnnybooy5]

What tuning ar e you in? Sounds great

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks. It's gCGCD, though it might be tuned a little high or low.

[stclaiam]

so im catching the drop-thumbing...what's going on with your index finger??? very stanley-esque but still unique....hmm.

[HunterRobertson]

It's just keeping out of the middle finger's way. I use both fingers so you'll see it flopping around more at some times than others.

[guywolff]

Glad for the great nod to Hobart .. This is so spirited .. Wonderful . All the best , guy

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks again Guy. Yeah, Hobart was the king of spirited.

[feelgoodbynumbrs]

This is great!

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks!

[1339LARS]

Gol dang, clawhammer rules!

[Doctg100]

Dang, man! That's fine pickin'!

[ellisharperemily]

Hi Hunter,

I have Sings Songs for the Masses and just love it (particularly this song!) Any chance youll play a show in North Carolina anytime soon?

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks a lot Emily. Hm, wish I were going to be over that way, but nothing planned for now.

By the way, if you like that album, check out the new one (on my website), might be up your alley.

Yours,

Hunter

[tschebelin]

Hi Hunter,

nice to find you in you tube. We met us in sping in voorthuisen and you gave me a little advise in clawhammer. See what after it on tschebelin.

[greekflatpicker]

That was really great!

I'm new to this style,and just bought me a banjo.This is the first tune i' m learning to play.Hope i make it.

[QRS666]

You skill on the banjo is outstanding! Love this tune! 5 stars. Just a tad too fast for me but your skill makes up for that! :)

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks a lot! For your speed problem, I would prescribe more coffee and lots of Hobart Smith ;-)

[FlatfootJohnny]

Awsome!

Im trying to learn this at the moment, but my double thumbing is very slow...

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks.

Just keep practicing and you'll get it. Feel free to write if you have any questions.

[stu2611]

That was absolutely superb, I fave'd that within 5 seconds, up there with Mac & Annie for old time musical virtuosity.

Thanks hugely for sharing

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks a lot. I see you're in the UK, if you happen to be around London, I'll be playing there on the 27th of this month, in Walthamstow.

[Stevebaker]

Brought tears to my eyes !!! superb absolutely beautiful thankyou , been learning for a year now myself and getting to appreciate the skill and love the flow in that , thankyou .

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Steve!

[EliteElven]

As i am going to take up banjo playing any tips for the beginner please ?

excellent playing btw

[412Flatpicker]

What fingers on your right hand are doing that scrape thing?

Great Job btw.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks. I usually do it with the middle finger, but the index works fine too.

[NightingaleHMP]

Its called 'frailing' just as difficult as picking. This is well played very good indeed. Thank you for sharing.

[guywolff]

Hunter very nice .. Lots of fun here .. Best sounding plastic banjo Ive heard . It just shows living with any instrument gives you the touch to make it sound great .. All the best , guy

[hicktownwoman]

Too cool!

[blueswater4]

thanks my friend..any other interesting banjo tunings would be appreciated :)

[HunterRobertson]

There's a huge list out there if you search for "banjo tunings" (somehow I can't post links here), put together by Anita Kermode.

Otherwise, of the videos I have up, John Brown's Dream is in gDGBD, Lonesome John, Pretty Polly and Sugar Baby in gDGCD and Old Molly Hare in gCGBD (relatively speaking, some are tuned up a tone or so, others are tuned down).

[blueswater4]

can you give me the tuning for that

[HunterRobertson]

gCGCD.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Julie. Been a while since you've put any videos up, hope to see some more soon.

[Knockdownbanjo]

great

[boogpatton]

Well done Hunter!!! ... that's what I'm talkin' about!

Cheers,

Boog

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Boog!

[deathrattles]

Bravo! Wonderful.

[gadaya]

Great rendition

[haikumathieu]

Excellent music!

I've always been a fan of your Soldier's Joy since I first heard it on the BHO jukebox - glad to finally see it!

i remeber seeing bits of videos of Hobart Smith, really pushing the tunes - good energic drive!

[smdtmtl]

Really nice. I can't help but wish you were playing it a little slower. What a great right hand you've got. Looks effortless. Wish I could do that.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Steve.

The speed is a personal thing I guess, I like it fast. I do find that there's a tendancy these days to slow tunes down - guys like Hobart Smith and John Salyer would really rip through a tune. A while back a friend was playing The Red Haired Boy at breakneck speed and another musician commented that he was playing it too fast, but a couple of cloggers there thought it was just right.

All the best!

[jumpoffmountaineers]

i'm with you hunter i think it sounds brilliant. this makes me want to put steel strings back on mine... i guss i just need two resotones!

[HunterRobertson]

Yup, two is a good idea! I've got a second one I'm setting up as a fretless at the moment, I think it's going to sound great.