Never new the name of this piece; last heard it some 30+ yrs. ago played by a penna. dutchman named Handwerk.
He learned to play his tunes by ear some 80yrs. or so prior to when I used to hear him. You play it much better but then I guess you aren't deaf either as he was and can tune your fiddle yourself...
thanks for the nice comment Grundsau47. I would have liked to hear Handwerk's version.. I hope I can still play music when I'm 80... I already have enough trouble tuning the thing. Glad you enjoyed our version... thanks
Thanks Fiddler26. That's nice of you to take the time to make a nice comment. I try to do that as well when I come across something that I think is well done. Read your other comment on the Band.. totally agree.. one the best bands I ever heard... thanks..
A very nice, sweet, authentically old-time sound here. The fiddle key in A really helps to bring out the old-time sound; B Flat does the same thing, only it's even more difficult to get it exactly right. Well done !!
Thanks Colin. As far as I know A, (AEAE) is the most "correct" key to play this in. Just playing it by myself I sometimes do it in D as well... (ADAE) and like it there too. Bb would be just fine with me. Every key brings it's own personality and mostly, I like them all. Glad you liked the video, and thanks for the very nice comment. We appreciate the encouragement.
Yea this is a pretty cool tune. I guess it's a little less widely known than a lot of other old time tunes. A lot of fun to play. Thanks for the comment.
Hey that banjo guy used to play in a Rock&Roll band back in the 60s. He was lead singer with a harmonic and guitar. They were called the Lone Wolves or something and played at all the bowling alleys in town. He said his uncle was Tiny Tim who sang Tip Toe thru the Tulips and strummed a bad Ukulele. You rock banjo guy
Oh yeah, I just looked up "Walk Chalk Chicken" and found a website that explains what that means. I wouldn't have guessed it. Do a Google search for "walk chalk chicken" and "mudcat" and it's the first result. Fascinating stuff.
I'm beginning to see that your manner of holding/suspending the fiddle has something in common with Didier François's way of holding his nyckelharpa (see YouTube video nKP9GkXDJKg).
I see you're going to play at the Kent Stage Friday; hope you have a great crowd! Brady's Run was outstanding at the Folk Fest the other night.
Thanks for pointing Didier François out to me. I see the similarity you're talking about. I enjoyed his music a lot.. Beautiful stuff. Perhaps see you at the Kent Stage.
This is not the normal way of holding a nyckelharpa; from what I've read, apparently François (who is French rather than Swedish) came up with it, as apparently it frees the player to have more facility in his/her fingering. By the way, I mentioned your unique hold/strap setup to Tom Lashuay, the banjo player from the Kent Shindig, and he said there were two or three fiddlers at Clifftop who use straps; apparently they all picked the idea up from a fiddler from New Zealand (!)
I'm sure this has to be a coincidence, but I was in New Zealand last January for three weeks, playing my fiddle, busking in the center of town, with my strap. I just did a little busking there... I'm sure I'm not the New Zealand fiddle they were speaking of, but what a strange coincidence..
Lucky you! I assume when you say "town" you mean Auckland. I'm going to check with Tom and see what he can find out. You may in fact be the originator of this "meme."
OK, that sounds like a pretty remote place, so the chances someone was surveilling you are much slimmer. There's actually a nice trad music scene on the South Island, around the Dunedin/Otago area. I've been in contact with John Steel, a biology professor who used to be in a band called the Pioneer Pog 'n' Scroggin Bush Band, whose "Playing for Pennies" album has got to be one of the best bush band albums ever. He was the teachest bass player.
Woah man.......you guys rock old time. Please keep on postin' your tunes! Yea, I see it's been said, but I love the way you hold that devils box. Joe's doin' that banjr right .......... awesome!
I've had a bunch or folks email me asking how I'm attaching my strap to my fiddle. I've posted some pictures of what it is and how it's attached on my "fiddlehangout" home page. Google Fiddle Hangout- search for SMDTMTL's home page and Click on the "photos" link above the picture to see the closeups of the strap and how it's attached. Hope this is helpful to those interested.
Love your guy's sound. If you ever put out a cd I'll buy it. Joe - Do you pick banjo with two or three fingers of the right hand? Where'd you get that style of banjo picking? Thanks a bunch for posting your tunes. Post some more!
Thanks for your comments! I pick the banjo primarily with the thumb and first finger, with the melodic lead played on the first finger. I occasionally use the second finger along with the first. I also drop the thumb to pick up notes on the other strings and play fast passages along with the first finger. It's actually a picking version of how I play clawhammer banjo, an exact replication but with picking up instead of downstroking. Thanks again.
Just because it's more comfortable for me than the usual ways. I hated holding it with my neck, and I also hated the left hand "pancake" grip, so this is what I came up with. If it were more comfortable to hold it in the conventional manner, that's what I would be doing. I think everyone plays their best when they are the most relaxed. This is the way it feels best for me.
Is the "pancake grip" the one Lester McCumbers uses, with the fiddle held against the chest and the whole neck resting flat on the palm? That's how I play.
My understanding of the term "pancake grip" is that the neck is resting in the palm of the hand, and also importantly, the heel of the hand, back by the wrist, is pressed into the fiddle body. That's a big part of why that "chest position" is possible. Without the chin holding the fiddle in position, instead the heel of the hand is holding it in position... pressed against the body somewhere. There are very many fiddlers who use the pancake grip while still holding the fiddle under the chin...
In my experience, this grip makes it harder to get notes from high B up because your fingers aren't as mobile, but I like being having the fiddle down further so that I'm able to see my fingerings and the sound isn't as loud in my ear.
By the way, do you live in Akron? We just started the Kent Shindig (old-time jam) up again on the first Sunday of each month at Professor's Pub in Kent (110 East Main Street), and it would be great to have you come down and play.
I just checked and found that you're absolutely right--my wrist is pressed into the fiddle body when I hold it this way. So now I know what this old-timey grip is called! I wonder if Leonardo da Vinci held his lira da braccio this way.
I used to think that that way of holding the fiddle originated with old timers in this country, but instead I think it goes way way back, and someone told me that Scottish fiddlers in particular have all held them like that for a darned long time...
I'm no historian though... just happened to hear that from somewhere.. Yea, I'm close to Kent, and will try to stop out and listen. thanks for mentioning it.
Nice job! I played several time with Melvin. Great old guy. The last time we played together was at the Walnut festivle in Spencer, WV the year before Melvin died.
Never new the name of this piece; last heard it some 30+ yrs. ago played by a penna. dutchman named Handwerk.
He learned to play his tunes by ear some 80yrs. or so prior to when I used to hear him. You play it much better but then I guess you aren't deaf either as he was and can tune your fiddle yourself...
Grundsau47 3 weeks ago
thanks for the nice comment Grundsau47. I would have liked to hear Handwerk's version.. I hope I can still play music when I'm 80... I already have enough trouble tuning the thing. Glad you enjoyed our version... thanks
smdtmtl 3 weeks ago
I'd like to transfer this to diatonic accordion.... wonder how it will do?
k8sl 4 months ago in playlist Old Time Banjo & Fiddle
great...well done.
fiddler26 8 months ago
Thanks Fiddler26. That's nice of you to take the time to make a nice comment. I try to do that as well when I come across something that I think is well done. Read your other comment on the Band.. totally agree.. one the best bands I ever heard... thanks..
smdtmtl 8 months ago
A very nice, sweet, authentically old-time sound here. The fiddle key in A really helps to bring out the old-time sound; B Flat does the same thing, only it's even more difficult to get it exactly right. Well done !!
colindominy 1 year ago
Thanks Colin. As far as I know A, (AEAE) is the most "correct" key to play this in. Just playing it by myself I sometimes do it in D as well... (ADAE) and like it there too. Bb would be just fine with me. Every key brings it's own personality and mostly, I like them all. Glad you liked the video, and thanks for the very nice comment. We appreciate the encouragement.
smdtmtl 1 year ago
This is a great tune... well-done!
zoeplankton 1 year ago
@zoeplankton Thanks. That's nice of you to say.
smdtmtl 1 year ago
I think this is my favorite. Love the title. Tunes not bad either.
jwllong 2 years ago
Yea this is a pretty cool tune. I guess it's a little less widely known than a lot of other old time tunes. A lot of fun to play. Thanks for the comment.
smdtmtl 2 years ago
Hey that banjo guy used to play in a Rock&Roll band back in the 60s. He was lead singer with a harmonic and guitar. They were called the Lone Wolves or something and played at all the bowling alleys in town. He said his uncle was Tiny Tim who sang Tip Toe thru the Tulips and strummed a bad Ukulele. You rock banjo guy
Ginger32503 3 years ago
look up "Truman Price" on YouTube. He has some videos of himself playing with the fiddle on his arm/chest. Plus explanations
pappyfiddle 3 years ago
Oh yeah, I just looked up "Walk Chalk Chicken" and found a website that explains what that means. I wouldn't have guessed it. Do a Google search for "walk chalk chicken" and "mudcat" and it's the first result. Fascinating stuff.
dbadagna 3 years ago
I'm beginning to see that your manner of holding/suspending the fiddle has something in common with Didier François's way of holding his nyckelharpa (see YouTube video nKP9GkXDJKg).
I see you're going to play at the Kent Stage Friday; hope you have a great crowd! Brady's Run was outstanding at the Folk Fest the other night.
dbadagna 3 years ago
Thanks for pointing Didier François out to me. I see the similarity you're talking about. I enjoyed his music a lot.. Beautiful stuff. Perhaps see you at the Kent Stage.
Steve
smdtmtl 3 years ago
This is not the normal way of holding a nyckelharpa; from what I've read, apparently François (who is French rather than Swedish) came up with it, as apparently it frees the player to have more facility in his/her fingering. By the way, I mentioned your unique hold/strap setup to Tom Lashuay, the banjo player from the Kent Shindig, and he said there were two or three fiddlers at Clifftop who use straps; apparently they all picked the idea up from a fiddler from New Zealand (!)
dbadagna 3 years ago
I'm sure this has to be a coincidence, but I was in New Zealand last January for three weeks, playing my fiddle, busking in the center of town, with my strap. I just did a little busking there... I'm sure I'm not the New Zealand fiddle they were speaking of, but what a strange coincidence..
smdtmtl 3 years ago
Lucky you! I assume when you say "town" you mean Auckland. I'm going to check with Tom and see what he can find out. You may in fact be the originator of this "meme."
dbadagna 3 years ago
No, not Auckland... I was on the west coast of the south island... a town called Hokitika.
smdtmtl 3 years ago
OK, that sounds like a pretty remote place, so the chances someone was surveilling you are much slimmer. There's actually a nice trad music scene on the South Island, around the Dunedin/Otago area. I've been in contact with John Steel, a biology professor who used to be in a band called the Pioneer Pog 'n' Scroggin Bush Band, whose "Playing for Pennies" album has got to be one of the best bush band albums ever. He was the teachest bass player.
dbadagna 3 years ago
Totally!
Peter was never in rome.
jeremiahfodgother 3 years ago
Woah man.......you guys rock old time. Please keep on postin' your tunes! Yea, I see it's been said, but I love the way you hold that devils box. Joe's doin' that banjr right .......... awesome!
FiddleDoctor 3 years ago
Thanks Doc... I've been enjoying your fiddle videos for quite some time now. Keep them coming.
smdtmtl 3 years ago
I've had a bunch or folks email me asking how I'm attaching my strap to my fiddle. I've posted some pictures of what it is and how it's attached on my "fiddlehangout" home page. Google Fiddle Hangout- search for SMDTMTL's home page and Click on the "photos" link above the picture to see the closeups of the strap and how it's attached. Hope this is helpful to those interested.
Steve
smdtmtl 3 years ago
Very interesting method of holding your fiddle, I am going to try it, may help my severe neck problems..
many thanks
manwithabanjo 3 years ago
Love your guy's sound. If you ever put out a cd I'll buy it. Joe - Do you pick banjo with two or three fingers of the right hand? Where'd you get that style of banjo picking? Thanks a bunch for posting your tunes. Post some more!
ranbanjo 3 years ago
Thanks for your comments! I pick the banjo primarily with the thumb and first finger, with the melodic lead played on the first finger. I occasionally use the second finger along with the first. I also drop the thumb to pick up notes on the other strings and play fast passages along with the first finger. It's actually a picking version of how I play clawhammer banjo, an exact replication but with picking up instead of downstroking. Thanks again.
Joe
butchie66 3 years ago
great tune.. love the fiddle strap. gotta try to make my own
wundumgai 3 years ago
it was cool, but why does he hold the violin like that?
teddy023 4 years ago
Just because it's more comfortable for me than the usual ways. I hated holding it with my neck, and I also hated the left hand "pancake" grip, so this is what I came up with. If it were more comfortable to hold it in the conventional manner, that's what I would be doing. I think everyone plays their best when they are the most relaxed. This is the way it feels best for me.
thanks for the comment
smdtmtl 4 years ago
Is the "pancake grip" the one Lester McCumbers uses, with the fiddle held against the chest and the whole neck resting flat on the palm? That's how I play.
dbadagna 3 years ago
My understanding of the term "pancake grip" is that the neck is resting in the palm of the hand, and also importantly, the heel of the hand, back by the wrist, is pressed into the fiddle body. That's a big part of why that "chest position" is possible. Without the chin holding the fiddle in position, instead the heel of the hand is holding it in position... pressed against the body somewhere. There are very many fiddlers who use the pancake grip while still holding the fiddle under the chin...
smdtmtl 3 years ago
In my experience, this grip makes it harder to get notes from high B up because your fingers aren't as mobile, but I like being having the fiddle down further so that I'm able to see my fingerings and the sound isn't as loud in my ear.
By the way, do you live in Akron? We just started the Kent Shindig (old-time jam) up again on the first Sunday of each month at Professor's Pub in Kent (110 East Main Street), and it would be great to have you come down and play.
dbadagna 3 years ago
I just checked and found that you're absolutely right--my wrist is pressed into the fiddle body when I hold it this way. So now I know what this old-timey grip is called! I wonder if Leonardo da Vinci held his lira da braccio this way.
dbadagna 3 years ago
I used to think that that way of holding the fiddle originated with old timers in this country, but instead I think it goes way way back, and someone told me that Scottish fiddlers in particular have all held them like that for a darned long time...
I'm no historian though... just happened to hear that from somewhere.. Yea, I'm close to Kent, and will try to stop out and listen. thanks for mentioning it.
smdtmtl 3 years ago
Nice job! I played several time with Melvin. Great old guy. The last time we played together was at the Walnut festivle in Spencer, WV the year before Melvin died.
Keep up the good work.
fredcoonbanjo 4 years ago
You guys is amazing to play so good in black and white...I don't understand the music but I know what I like!!!!
GASimon 4 years ago
Excellent, Steve. And you've invented the fiddle strap too!
dgreenwood3 4 years ago