Earl Scruggs Banjo -- The Only Video Documentary

[theternalcity]

oh my God.. so very smooth.

[acousticguitarfinger]

It makes a big difference if your tunin is perfect in all parts of the neck.

[phdgraffiti]

I think overall Scruggs style banjo seems easy to learn as far as the left hand fingering goes. A lot of people could play cripple creek the same speed as earl plays it in this clip. When your practicing and you play it slow its sounds like crap even when Earl plays it. The problem is getting Earl's perfect tone, timing and drive when you speed it up. He just belts those notes out effortlessly and perfectly clean when he speeds it up and very few players can match it. Way harder than it appears.

[bigmrclean]

David....How much of THIS...is on your video? And by this I mean How much of Just Earl and his banjo....Kinda of picking/teaching into the camera? More than a few seconds I hope..if so I am buying it from you...like right now

[unionfiddler]

Earl was to banjo what Eddie Van Halen was to rock guitar. The main difference was that people really (on commercial releases, at least) only copied Eddie for about 20 years, and people have copied Mr. Scruggs since he was born!! God bless them both, my hat is off to each of them!! The music world needs more innovators, and less imitators!!

[bushwacker2008]

damn Earl you make this look so eazy.

[daleallen45251]

i love watching earl play . what a talented man and great person. this is what america is missing.

[bigmrclean]

SON listen to that granada talk!! I'd give anything to put it back exactly like that and play the ever livin crap out of it right infront of Mr. Scruggs and be like this....All this is for you!

[Lizard5571]

He was More than a Legend!!,..he was More than Just an Insperation,...He the Banjo Master!!,..Hes Ninja Fast,..Ninja Quick,and WoooWeee,..he could flat out slap that ol banjo in to shape !!,...He could make Hide on a banana Peel its self,...He make Ya wish Ya hadent used Possim fat for hare grease,...thats fo sho,...Love Yer Guts Earl,..

[Brynnium]

I'm glad that this film exists.

[BGBTaylor]

Watching this short clip was a nice reminder of the days I played some banjo, too - inspired by none other than Earl Scruggs himself!

[PPCLOCK]

The banjo amazes me. it is such a fast instrument , loud and very crummy sounding, but when played fast by an intuitive banjo picker it actually sounds good.

You have to tune in to that signal to even notice what the heck is going on. it's like a high pitched weird sound that if you listen closely there is amazing stuff going on.

I have no idea how to explain it.

i do like the banjo.

[bigmrclean]

@PPCLOCK Very well put.

[katrinaburgoyne]

Awesome work Allinaday

Great video. :)

Much love Kat

[lespm]

Earl has always been #1..often copied...never equaled

[hillbilly482]

I agree.

[TEfanNo1]

banjofive2000 u r obviously a  huge legend in YOUR OWN MIND & u love hearing yourself talk. Tell all your bullshit to someone who cares.

[banjofive2000]

Thank you thank you, your words are to kind,

I'll add you as 1 of my thousand of fans.

Thank you again sweet heart

[lespm]

yer bs is showing TEfanNo1

[TEfanNo1]

Earl Scruggs is a true legend. banjofive2000 is not!!!

[banjofive2000]

more of a LEGEND then you.

Read the post if you can,

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Pure music.

Excellent stuff.

He will always be a genius.

George Vreeland Hill

[banjofive2000]

Part 4

I had someone to send me an email that reminded me of what I was here for & that is to make friends & to tell stories of the past so we will not for get where we come from and what got us where we are today, so I want to thank Granada90 for reminding me of that.

[allinaday]

And banjofive2000 my film is here not only to give enjoyment and the chance to communicate to banjo lovers and those who admire role Scruggs, but also to hopefully sell a film, DVD, which is how I make a living as a filmmaker these days.

Best regards,

David Hoffman-  filmmaker

[banjofive2000]

My apologies to you allinaday, I hope you believe me when I say I was not trying to trash your site. (honestly) I do sincerely hope you make a million some day doing

what you have to do to make a living & I can tell you enjoy filming too.

When you say a living, sounds like youre in the same boat as the rest of us, living on a paycheck week form week, which it keeps food on the table & the bills paid.

Best of wishes banjofive2000 & keep posting your videos for all to enjoy & go back in time

[allinaday]

dear banjofive2000. Thank you for your response. And for the positive support for me as an independent filmmaker who like you, loves quality mountain music.

Best regards,

David Hoffman

filmmaker

[hamaki747]

Can you just shut up already?

[banjofive2000]

you know I was going to say something mean in return, but I remembered dont stepdown to your low level, because you'll beat me every time with experence.

[banjofive2000]

Part 3

Ok moving onward just to let you all know I am not as green as some thinks, its like dating an older woman age doesnt matter. I have been to every state but 5 & this was before I was 12 I even got a kiss from Allison Kruse at a place called Slagels pasture it was on the check, but hey it was a kiss. Ive sit a played for hours with Doc Watson at a little place called the rock store in Mt. City, TN and a lot more famous & non-famous people just way to many to mention.

[allinaday]

Iam sorry for the typo. I meant Earl not role.

[banjofive2000]

Part 2

style, but that he made it famous (popular) whatever you like to call it. Yes I said hes overrated, but like I said that is my opinion. I was not taking anything away from the good man that he is. The thing is and what makes it so great is the different styles, My hero is Ralph. Agree with me on this, if everyone played the same way would it not be so boring? Thats why we go to Bluegrass Festivals to learn or catch a lick or run that you can add to your own tunes.

[banjofive2000]

Part 1

I will have to make this a 3 or 4 part comment

Ok everyone listen close and get your reading glasses. My intentions were not to start an argument or to make anyone mad, but to state my option like everyone else gets to do. Someone asked to name someone who played 3 finger style around his time, not before him & nothing about any recordings before him, but there were people playing it before he did & when he did, and I stated the truth when I said he did not create or invent the 3 finger

[dekeus]

Like any great musician of an era, others come along and equel and surpass their musicianship, I am sure there are better players today than Scruggs, but to call him over-rated, nobody better in his era

[banjofive2000]

Eddie Van Halen lol that's a good one.

I agree he is a good man none no better.

but I hate to say this because he is a good man, but he's over-rated.

Like before he introduced the 3-finger style, other's done it before he did.

Like Don Stover, Reno, Eddie Adcock that's just the famous names.

[Granada90]

How is he over-rated? Sir, I wish you would do your history. I personally know 2 of the 3 you mentioned!

[banjofive2000]

Glad to hear you know 2 of the 3, you should then feel honored. Then you of all people should know what I am talking about. I also know these people PERSONALLY Ive even jammed with them. And you say know my history? lol I grew up all around the starter's of bluegrass traveling dirt roads before they were paved, going to VA, TN, NC to radio stations, community events, personal family get together with them, Yes I know their history personally & not from what you read out of books thank you :)

[2ndfret]

Don Stover did not do it before Earl nor did Addcock Reno was around about the samr time aus Earl but he has nothing on record that time. unlike you Ihave been around for 72 years and saw all these groups that created this music. I see you are 40 years old a green horn who got your info from books

[banjofive2000]

Why? Do we have a perfectionist out there? You might want to check out how to do a sentence structure since youre so smart?

[dekeus]

He's the Eddie Van Halen of the banjo, desent picker, he was doing things in the 50's and 60's nobody else was doing. Name a picker that matched him back then

[allinaday]

Thank you for your comment. I completely agree. Not only is he a masters master, but he also is a wonderful man. Kind. Without an ego. Generous. Treated me wonderfully so many years ago when I made that movie with him.

David Hoffman

Filmmaker

[pegcage]

You are looking at a great legend, the one who started it all with the Bluegrass 3-finger style banjo. He is an innovator in American music, and should be so honored.

[manyhatsinc]

the GRAND MASTER of banjo

[aroundthebend1]

A legend who will live forever

[teakbridge101]

This vid is sooooooooooooo(oooo) awesome!!Mr. Earl... you are still the best!

[Banjomountain]

Earl turned 85 today, January 6, 2009.

[bluegrasslass]

My husband worships Mr Scruggs :)

[deathblw1wheel]

You my friend are lucky. What a great opportunity to not only have meet but to have been given the chance to record them live in their element.

[allinaday]

Thank you for your comment. It is one of my favorite videos also and I may be a bit prejudiced since I filmed it. It is wonderful that the documentaries don't lose their value to people even though filmed so many years ago.

David Hoffman

Filmmaker

thehoffmancollection

[d2majzoub]

This is one of my favorite videos. Thanks for posting it.

[buddhidev]

He is 'the one', he is my hero, and the inspiration of my works. Awesome!

[scruggs84]

Earl is so AWSOME!

[BanjoMaster318]

Scruggs is still alive and pickin' today. He is also my hero. Saw him in concert :D

[allinaday]

Earl is alive and well though he never thought he would live this long considering the major car accident that he had so many years ago. He may not be the fastest but he never tried to be. A true artist he is who took that instrument in his hands and mad eit come alive. Like BB King and his guitar.

David Hoffman

filmmaker of this film

theHoffmancollection

[Pickinbuddy]

In the very early days, he DID go for speed--check out the 1951-3 transcriptions. He did a lightning fast "Train 45" behind the announcer's sign-on greeting.

[flatpikinguitar]

him, ralph stanley, and doc watson are a few i would like to see live. they wont be around forever

[abaybay101]

is earl scruggs still alive because he is my grandpas brother from my dads side of the family but i never got to meet him and i was just wanting to know if anyone finds out please tell me thankyou

[BanjoBoyMatteo]

Sure he is! And he's still picking in a few occasions. I never got to meet him too, but I wish I'll be able to do so, he's my hero!

[cwknig2]

I think most people would agree that Earl Scruggs is one of the best banjo players, and a lot of people like myself would consider him the best simply because a lot of pickers can play faster and more complicated licks-but no one could pull tone out of a banjo like Earl.

[pegcage]

I doubt anyone could play faster either. Ever hear him on Molly and Tenbrooks with Bill Monroe?

[cwknig2]

Absolutely, I have everything Earl has out on CD. Although, there are still some of his recordings that never made it off Vinyl.

[brownie134]

thats Cripple Creek right?

[rmstudio]

This so so great to see this.. He was so much younger back then wow.. He sure gives that flavor to that good old picking.. I am of latin decent and loved his banjo playing since I was a little boy in the early 1970's I would sneak to listen to Earl's music playing any time I would get the chance. As my father would forbid me to listen to bluegrass or country music.. This video is like getting to see a secret to me.. To watch him slide his fingers to make that old mountain "Sound" Thank you.

[iceonaboy]

lovin seein the boss play at a speed I can compute for once, well done

[allinaday]

Thank you for your comment. I am very proud of this documentary film, really the only one made of any length on Earl.

David Hoffman

thehoffmancollection

[westwind1957]

WOW...is there more of this wonderful footage?

[mcul2112]

Gold.

[allinaday]

I sure agree. Earl did not want to do this interview but I felt there would be those out there who would want to see him explain the basics. He is such a sweet man to have done it. You can hear my voice asking him the naïve questions.

David Hoffman

the filmmaker

[mcul2112]

Forgive me. The correct term:

Priceless.