@pegcage & md65000-I'm with you all the way about TDC-1. He reminds of the old Coke commercial in which Bill Cosby asks, "Why are these people trying to compare themselves to Coke?"
Not to take anything away from J.D. but I think it's safe to say that when this was filmed in the late 70s or early 80s Earl Scruggs was still the best banjo picker in the United States.
Wow... JD is in top form on this one. Here illustrated in a nutshell is the most basic reality of bluegrass banjo. What counts, and sets apart the aces from all others is clarity, tone, and rhythm. The critical factor is never the selection of notes played, but rather the WAY they are played. Additional complexity can never make up for a lack of the type of attack that JD has.
After typing in "JD Crowe with Tony Rice" and bringing up a couple of videos on Youtube, I tend to agree with you. The young Tony Rice looks different than this fellow.
To put the electric bass/upright bass controversy in perpective, it is well to remember that JD did a lot of experimentation with the New South back in the 70s , Electric bass was being used by Earl Scruggs (his son, Gary Scruggs played electric bass) and many others. Fortunately the fad passed and JD went back to upright bass many yeawrs ago.
The upright bass is mic'd by a transducer microphone set on the bridge, so it is "electric" , but with an acoustic sound made louder.
@ArkRed1 I grew up watching Flatt and Scruggs and Reno and Smiley on TV back in the 50's and J. D. Crowe is about as close to the tone and style Earl had back then. Probably not exactly like (to me as good) as Earl in the 40's, 50's and 60's but close. Recent tapes of Earl, to me, even he isn't like the younger Earl. Nobody sounds exactly like the old Earl or Don Reno to me. Their styles and tone were all there own, but today J. D. comes awful close. Most modern banjo players bore me. Sorry.
@Mrtagnuts1 I worked with an electric bass player in a bluegrass setting who knew how to get a good acoustic sound. He knew the right volume, EQ, and touch which blended nicely with the band.
@skipplet I don't notice anything wrong with it. I have played with both electric and upright bass players and I prefer electric.Uprights just don't have that bright tone, they are hard to pack and also trying the mic them sucks!
Im about like you...I don't notice any thing wrong with it either....but I also think that bluegrass sounds better with the regular bass...i dont quite like electric....but it still sounds good...lol
Usually it does sound pretty bad. If you get a really good quality bass with an especially warm tone, it can sound good, but I usually just prefer the upright. :)
I guess you know that not only being a left handed fiddler, he left the strings same as a right hand fiddle would play them. he played every instrument he played that way. Bobby told me when he was learning he borrowed other people's instruments and couldnt just change their strings, so that's how he learned to play backwards on regular tuned instruments. He can pick a banjo as well.
Who is that on fiddle? He's playing the fiddle left-handed. I've never seen that before. I'm left-handed, but I'm a graphic artist. I love J.D. Crowe's banjo playing. He is definitely the best in the country & that's not just me saying that.
Anybody have Flatt and Scruggs at Carnagie Hall? Lester says the "whole lot of pickin' and a little tuning" on that too. I've always liked J. D. Crow but I have to admit that on Flint HIll Special, he plays it just like Earl does on that live album I have. Note for note. I just replayed the Scruggs cut to be sure. Shouldn't J. D. do a few new licks on that song? Or should he play it just like Earl? I don't know. When Don Reno played a Earl song he played it the Reno way not note for note Earl.
hi quality guy. i was born and grew up in roanoke, va. don reno played on local tv there every morning for years. don was a nice man, always willing to talk. we used to go down to the tv station. don reno was a scruggs fan and friend. don said when he got out of the army, earl was so popular with that style that don decided to add two finger and thumb runs on the banjo so to have his own style. as good as j. d. and others are, i wonder why they want to play so much like earl?
Cheers orbpupil ! I get plenty of irish music in the local pubs etc but bluegrass is less widely played in Ireland we do have a few festivals and ive met Bill Keith Pete wernick and Tony Trishka at a few of them what i would really like to do is go to the states sometime as ive never been to America where is the best place (Nashville ?)
@freedomfascist me 2! well.... we are scots-irish, but none the less i love this music. im only 22 so i really dont have any one to jam with as far as bluegrass and gaileic folk music are conserned, but this music is in our blood! its like we are geneticaly bound to love this music, im sure you understand. god bless a TRUE TARHEEL SOUL!
without a doubt i've never heard this played that fast...that is just rediculous...and he played it just like it was wrote too. Him and earl....and raymond fairchild..are the three best ever i mean roots and all that is where it came from when earl brought this sound here in the 40's. I like don reno but man he's not in these guys class as far as bein smooth and incorporating all the different rolls into one song I dont care what anyones says..awesome! three best ever! Bluegrass rules!
The prewar grenada's are comming back. With the tone ring and trus rods and the warm rich tone they had it is definatly comming back. Course a grenada is simply probably the best banjo u can buy period....the flathead gibsons really have a lot more bass to them. Ive played some of them......if u can find one thats under 10 grand thats in really good shape..not a new one man buy that sucker..I am gonna get a grenada soon, thought about a huber..id rather have the grenada cant go wrong wit gibson!
The Banjo is one of the best around but the player is the best to be found or heard. Even today 2008, he can still cut it! If you get a chance, go see him!
Bluegrass fact #28 - JD can pull that same tone out of a coffee can strung with barb wire without picks. The only reason he doesn't do it is becuase all the other pickers would try to do it and you wouldn't be able to buy coffee or sell any picks.
Oh, sorry, that's out of context -- I was replying to the first comment. Also, the lead singer is Tony King. That places this video at about 1983 or 84, I think.
Wonderful video ... about 25 years old I'd guess. That was really the era of great pickers. JD, Earl, and don't forget Don Reno are as good as anyone that's ever played the instrument. Jim Mills is probably the best around these days. It's a shame that great instrumentals like Flint Hill Special are seldom heard these days. It's a treat to see the masters play them.
I saw and heard J.D. Crowe playing this piece at the Birchmere in Washington D.C. in 1982 (or maybe it was in 1981?) . Can´t avoid some nostalgic feelings. Great playing - oustanding American music! Here in Europe it is too seldom seen.
Apparently, he used to come here in Canada a whole lot back in the 70's and that general time. Have some pictures of him in hamilton from a while back.
screw chromatic tuning? If that's what you're worried about, listen to Charles Wood. That guy, like a lightening strike, will blow your shoes right off.
JD is great though and I like this song...but that ending? Sorry, that gets a bit sloppy and i get lost. is it just me there?
Oh my good god! Shut up already! If anything they're both the same.
Everyone has different opinions and if they're strong enough, nothing you say is gonna change em! So if I like Earl better, so what. If you like JD better, so what. I'm not gonna argue with you for an hour over it.
Earl certainly isn't the "best", he was just the "first" (although he really wasn't) I Know Earl is good, I'm a fan of his, but i'd take Crowe over Scruggs any day..screw chromatic playing.
To all you posters that compare and debate about who is 'better'. You all wouldn't know what or who is better. If you are childish enough to make comparisons between two world class musicians, you obviously don't have the brain capacity to know who is better. I'm a National Champion fiddle player. People like me are the only people that have a right to say who's better and I'll tell you right now, there is no such thing.
You said it for sure! Everyone has different opinions and if they're strong enough, nothing ANYONE says is gonna change em! So if I like Earl better, so what. If someone likes JD better, so what. I'm not gonna argue with someone for an hour over it.
Hey guys J.D. is old and still doing great. The only reason he is not as good as Earl is becuase he wasn't born before Earl. That's my personal opinion becuase I know J.D.
Well remember that Earl has a step above JD, Earl lived in rural NC, more secluded, I don't think Earl even had a radio until he was already picking 3-finger, he could come up with his own style without so many people telling him he was doing it wrong. Earl perfected it, JD used it, so you might say that thats one thing Earl has over JD.
I don't pay all THAT close attention to EVERY single lick. JD played a few parts slightly differently, but other than that it's the same. I think Earl and JD both are the best at their own songs.
It DOES sound a bit weird. I guess just the normal dtuning, plus the 2nd string, PLUS the ending and ending tune all crammed into one break is kinda a lot.
MY HUSBAND IS SAYING THE VERY EXACT THING ABOUT AN ELECTRIC BASS. IT RUINED A TALENTED GREATEST BANJO PLAYER'S WHOLE SONG. :(:(
bslegona47 3 weeks ago
Hah, the fiddle player must've learned the wrong way round, impressive. Oh yeah and that banjo playing is something else!
kingdantje 1 month ago
*****Hence the reason I want a banjo for Christmas*****
colarcobeb 3 months ago
Mid or late 80s I believe, and he is still one of the greatest!! Listen to the backup too......
banjoboy77a 4 months ago
Best Bluegrass Banjo Player that EVER lived.
capitalismforme 4 months ago
@capitalismforme Definitely in the top amongst Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt
WombatVlogs 4 months ago
they all need a hair cut badly
TierodMcslush 5 months ago
1'40 HE MADE A FACE !!1
Great great tune.
Gareann 7 months ago
He calls Crowe the finest banjo picker in the U.S. but cannot introduce him without mentioning the greatest of them all: Earl Scruggs!
pegcage 7 months ago
@pegcage & md65000-I'm with you all the way about TDC-1. He reminds of the old Coke commercial in which Bill Cosby asks, "Why are these people trying to compare themselves to Coke?"
brasspick 7 months ago
Not to take anything away from J.D. but I think it's safe to say that when this was filmed in the late 70s or early 80s Earl Scruggs was still the best banjo picker in the United States.
md65000 7 months ago
he looks so bored... :{l
SticFig 8 months ago
Comment removed
SticFig 8 months ago
Wow... JD is in top form on this one. Here illustrated in a nutshell is the most basic reality of bluegrass banjo. What counts, and sets apart the aces from all others is clarity, tone, and rhythm. The critical factor is never the selection of notes played, but rather the WAY they are played. Additional complexity can never make up for a lack of the type of attack that JD has.
clyderf 8 months ago
awesome track it makes me bounce everywhere
muche repesct from france
CaptainPyny 9 months ago
Brilliant!!
Gazza100164 9 months ago
gordon bennett
mckennar 11 months ago
I think Earl is the best, not J.D. I'm just throwin my opinion out there, because I'm a die hard Flatt and Scruggs fan.
frozenhell98 1 year ago
who the hell are the 5 people that didnt like this? yee haa thanks for posting
josephcantone 1 year ago 2
I agree the bass should not be electric.
hdmh0426 1 year ago
i agree the bass should not be electric
hdmh0426 1 year ago
that banjo is a granada flathead from the thirties
jimmydorightful 1 year ago
yeeeehaaa!!!
Braziliense1984 1 year ago
whos doin the talkn at the beginning?
owsleyforkmusic 1 year ago
@owsleyforkmus
I think it's Tony Rice, the guitar whiz. But I'm not 100% certain.
written12 1 year ago
@written12 no i dont think its him. im not sure about that though
owsleyforkmusic 1 year ago
@owsleyforkmusic
After typing in "JD Crowe with Tony Rice" and bringing up a couple of videos on Youtube, I tend to agree with you. The young Tony Rice looks different than this fellow.
written12 1 year ago
@written12 That's not Tony Rice. Don't know who this guy is, but it's definitely not Tony.
masonb82 1 year ago
Love that mandolin!!!!!
lovinSpoonful 1 year ago
anyone no what kind of banjo hes playing on????
supercross666 1 year ago
@supercross666 gibson of some sort, maybe a granada? or an rb-3
owsleyforkmusic 1 year ago
I think this is a good video...but i love bluegrass...and im learnin to play the banjo right now
banjopicker16 1 year ago
I think this sounds perty good...but im a fan of bluegrass...and a banjo player myself
banjopicker16 1 year ago
Fantastic, i love this speed banjo song ! WOoow !
loresamba 1 year ago
YEEEEEEEEEEEE HAaaaaaaaaaa
slynkdnb 1 year ago
To put the electric bass/upright bass controversy in perpective, it is well to remember that JD did a lot of experimentation with the New South back in the 70s , Electric bass was being used by Earl Scruggs (his son, Gary Scruggs played electric bass) and many others. Fortunately the fad passed and JD went back to upright bass many yeawrs ago.
The upright bass is mic'd by a transducer microphone set on the bridge, so it is "electric" , but with an acoustic sound made louder.
wvmiller 1 year ago
An Electric bass in bluegrass music??! Blasphomy!!!
daddyben11 1 year ago
i believe that they should be using a good old fashioned standup base.
kneecaps08 1 year ago
I swear that J.D. is smoother than a minner's lip on that five string. Got to be my favorite three finger picker.
ArkRed1 1 year ago
@ArkRed1 I grew up watching Flatt and Scruggs and Reno and Smiley on TV back in the 50's and J. D. Crowe is about as close to the tone and style Earl had back then. Probably not exactly like (to me as good) as Earl in the 40's, 50's and 60's but close. Recent tapes of Earl, to me, even he isn't like the younger Earl. Nobody sounds exactly like the old Earl or Don Reno to me. Their styles and tone were all there own, but today J. D. comes awful close. Most modern banjo players bore me. Sorry.
boblackey1 1 year ago
i agree, electric bass dont belong in bluegrass music, not traditonal or progressive
jrdixon51 1 year ago
The electric bass sounds terrible !
skakoman 1 year ago
You boys can say whatever you want to about the bass but, the timing hasn't moved at all!!!!
BATENKILL 1 year ago
Glorious picking - most enjoyable. Thanks to Jennie for the share.
oldfolkiepad 1 year ago
WOW!!!
5*****.
Jennie.
Kittielips 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i agree with judy about the bass
paullynskey1 1 year ago
i agree with judy about the bass
paullynskey1 1 year ago
i agree with judy about the bass
paullynskey1 1 year ago
brilliant
paullynskey1 1 year ago
Please, an upright bass for this production instead of that electric one!
Judyandherbass41 1 year ago
I like that.good picking.
mrmcgee123 2 years ago
Class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
banjonutty 2 years ago 2
Am I the only one who thinks an electric base in traditional bluegrass sounds awful?
jacobk23 2 years ago 93
Probably not, but I would make 2 points:
1) I don't think anything could make these boys sound bad.
2) JD and his bands were never traditional bluegrass. Hence electric bass, steel guitar, etc.
masonb82 2 years ago 6
@masonb82: Steel guitars are in traditional bluegrass.
I think the electric bass sounds awful too, too shallow.
ColdFusionGames 2 years ago
That performance rocks! Good job J.D.!
Electric bass doesn't sound particularly bad, but I sure do prefer the double bass.
fancypantsdancer 2 years ago 2
@jacobk23
Well, i can sound good, but it's too loud here. I've played with traditional Bluegrass bands that use elec. Basses. It's all about mixing it.
WEIRDALROXMYSOX 2 years ago 2
@jacobk23 I wouldn't say awful really. Just not proper.
Ichbinmuede 1 year ago
@jacobk23 the bass not base is fine in traditional bluegrass. It's player however sounds like diddn't have it on the right settings or tuning.
Mrtagnuts1 1 year ago
@Mrtagnuts1 I worked with an electric bass player in a bluegrass setting who knew how to get a good acoustic sound. He knew the right volume, EQ, and touch which blended nicely with the band.
maverickdallas100 1 year ago
@jacobk23 its murderface.
piobaireachdjongleur 1 year ago
@jacobk23 lol I was just about to make a comment on that. The electric bass just doesn't sound right at all.
skipplet 1 year ago
@skipplet I don't notice anything wrong with it. I have played with both electric and upright bass players and I prefer electric.Uprights just don't have that bright tone, they are hard to pack and also trying the mic them sucks!
I prefer electric bass in bluegrass.
HillbillyJ 1 year ago
Im about like you...I don't notice any thing wrong with it either....but I also think that bluegrass sounds better with the regular bass...i dont quite like electric....but it still sounds good...lol
banjopicker16 1 year ago
@jacobk23 no jacob i totally agree. it just aint right. why would you play bluegrass guitar with a strat? gotta keep it real. thanks jtraske
jtraske 1 year ago
@jacobk23 you can make an electric bass sound good in bluegrass music though.
owsleyforkmusic 1 year ago
Usually it does sound pretty bad. If you get a really good quality bass with an especially warm tone, it can sound good, but I usually just prefer the upright. :)
ColdFusionGames 10 months ago
@jacobk23 It Isn't right, I don't like it either!
daddyben11 9 months ago
@jacobk23 yes you r..lol
MrHello1297 8 months ago
@jacobk23
That's why this is NewGrass not Bluegrass, it's a minor technicality but i think I'll forgive the lot of thumbs up here!! HAHA good times!!
Quacko28 7 months ago
@jacobk23
brandonch25 5 months ago
@jacobk23 No your not. Upright bass needs to stay in Bluegrass forever.
frozenhell98 4 months ago
This was the "recessional" at our wedding.
sufenta67 2 years ago 2
Bobby Slone is on fiddle, Wendy Miller on mando, Tony King on guitar, Steve "Boom Boom" Bryant on bass, and of course J. D. Crowe on the banjo.
brianpowell50 2 years ago
I guess you know that not only being a left handed fiddler, he left the strings same as a right hand fiddle would play them. he played every instrument he played that way. Bobby told me when he was learning he borrowed other people's instruments and couldnt just change their strings, so that's how he learned to play backwards on regular tuned instruments. He can pick a banjo as well.
kattsas 2 years ago
Who is that on fiddle? He's playing the fiddle left-handed. I've never seen that before. I'm left-handed, but I'm a graphic artist. I love J.D. Crowe's banjo playing. He is definitely the best in the country & that's not just me saying that.
1artistcyclist 2 years ago
they are all great pickers ,but i believe reno was the best i have ever heard
qualityguy365 2 years ago 2
Anybody have Flatt and Scruggs at Carnagie Hall? Lester says the "whole lot of pickin' and a little tuning" on that too. I've always liked J. D. Crow but I have to admit that on Flint HIll Special, he plays it just like Earl does on that live album I have. Note for note. I just replayed the Scruggs cut to be sure. Shouldn't J. D. do a few new licks on that song? Or should he play it just like Earl? I don't know. When Don Reno played a Earl song he played it the Reno way not note for note Earl.
boblackey1 2 years ago
Don Reno was the greatest ever ,he didn't have to copy anyone
qualityguy365 2 years ago
hi quality guy. i was born and grew up in roanoke, va. don reno played on local tv there every morning for years. don was a nice man, always willing to talk. we used to go down to the tv station. don reno was a scruggs fan and friend. don said when he got out of the army, earl was so popular with that style that don decided to add two finger and thumb runs on the banjo so to have his own style. as good as j. d. and others are, i wonder why they want to play so much like earl?
boblackey1 2 years ago
WWEP..What would earl pick...
nasty5oh 2 years ago
am i the only tranny that likes grass???? crowe can sure hammer the five.....
dogsee1 2 years ago
Who is on bass?
JanieJust2day 2 years ago
Damn that electric bass just ruins it....lol
paleoman1999 2 years ago 2
I`m an Irishman and Christ i love bluegrass !!
dec5551 2 years ago 29
dec5551 You're an Irishman with class two of my favorite types of music are Irish and Blugrass both are awesome.
orbpupil 2 years ago
Cheers orbpupil ! I get plenty of irish music in the local pubs etc but bluegrass is less widely played in Ireland we do have a few festivals and ive met Bill Keith Pete wernick and Tony Trishka at a few of them what i would really like to do is go to the states sometime as ive never been to America where is the best place (Nashville ?)
dec5551 2 years ago
@dec5551 ... it has irish roots too
44eelz 1 year ago
@dec5551 I'm an Irishman from North Carolina from a long family o Irish n we grew up on this stuff down south! nothing beats it :)
freedomfascist 1 year ago
@freedomfascist me 2! well.... we are scots-irish, but none the less i love this music. im only 22 so i really dont have any one to jam with as far as bluegrass and gaileic folk music are conserned, but this music is in our blood! its like we are geneticaly bound to love this music, im sure you understand. god bless a TRUE TARHEEL SOUL!
longrangeskeeter 10 months ago
Guitar PLayer is Tony King
abridg20atuncc 2 years ago
mandolin player is Wendy Miller
bohlly 2 years ago
Tony Rice*
KevGobProductions 2 years ago
Definately not Tony Rice, at this time he wasn't with the group, That guitar player is Tony King* LOOK IT UP.
abridg20atuncc 2 years ago
anyone know who the mandolin player is?
botulizer 2 years ago
mandolin picker is Wendy Smith. Who is guitar player?
mandojohn 2 years ago
Wendy Miller on Mandolin
abridg20atuncc 2 years ago
wincest
gtfonewfag 2 years ago
I like this kind of music:D
nvdmolen 2 years ago
It is very nice to listen it.
strnadkared 2 years ago
HAHAHAHAHAHA you just made me laugh my ass off.
freakon6 2 years ago 5
if he's the finest in the usa , earl, snuffy and friends must be in Europe ..
fiddlnbanjo 2 years ago
Left handed fiddle! Wow!
jk3us 2 years ago
check out that bass players' perm...boy that thang is sweet.
blugrastooth 2 years ago
The bassist got off easy on this one.
gun4hire 2 years ago
he went beast mode on that ol' banjo!!!!! Thats so awesome!
GeezynCoblerProducts 2 years ago 2
cool
pinktroll2 2 years ago
Richard Bennett on the Bass! Wow
bodybuilder863 3 years ago 4
That's Randy Hayes on bass.
vintage18lover 3 years ago 5
woah! that is some crazy banjo playing wow! i love what he does with the tuning...
botulizer 3 years ago
This is great. I saw some other good videos by The Out Of Town Boys and The Johnson Mountain Boys. Y'all should check them out.
bigdaddybluegrass 3 years ago
Is that Ron Speers on mandolin(of special concensus)?
dec5551 3 years ago
HAHAH! No way. That's Wendy Miller.
IZZYMIZ 3 years ago
Thanks IZZYMIZ i`ll have to brush up on my bluegrass research !!
dec5551 3 years ago
c'est tout juste énorme!!!
Merci
damscop 3 years ago
without a doubt i've never heard this played that fast...that is just rediculous...and he played it just like it was wrote too. Him and earl....and raymond fairchild..are the three best ever i mean roots and all that is where it came from when earl brought this sound here in the 40's. I like don reno but man he's not in these guys class as far as bein smooth and incorporating all the different rolls into one song I dont care what anyones says..awesome! three best ever! Bluegrass rules!
bigmrclean 3 years ago
j.d.crowe and earl scruggs have a good thing in comon?theirs only one!!
banjoman32 3 years ago
The prewar grenada's are comming back. With the tone ring and trus rods and the warm rich tone they had it is definatly comming back. Course a grenada is simply probably the best banjo u can buy period....the flathead gibsons really have a lot more bass to them. Ive played some of them......if u can find one thats under 10 grand thats in really good shape..not a new one man buy that sucker..I am gonna get a grenada soon, thought about a huber..id rather have the grenada cant go wrong wit gibson!
bigmrclean 3 years ago
great!!!
Sukun 3 years ago
the bass player is Randy Hayes. Randy can also creat beauty out of anything that has a string attatched, including a tennis racket.
RossM3838 3 years ago
check out 2ndgeneration on youtube,they'll blow your socks off and on this one too.
luvoldies 3 years ago
great music!love banjo sound!
DMVADC 3 years ago
The Banjo is one of the best around but the player is the best to be found or heard. Even today 2008, he can still cut it! If you get a chance, go see him!
hcurrin 3 years ago
JD Crowe was definitely not the Chuck Norris of wardrobe selection.
beboobeboo 4 years ago
Too funny!
pfcbeetlebailey2 3 years ago
JD is the Chuck Norris of banjo picking.
Bluegrass fact #28 - JD can pull that same tone out of a coffee can strung with barb wire without picks. The only reason he doesn't do it is becuase all the other pickers would try to do it and you wouldn't be able to buy coffee or sell any picks.
BShuping 4 years ago
LOL - indubitably. On top of that, he can play a tune whether he ever heard it before, or not.
nevatoo 3 years ago
Oh, sorry, that's out of context -- I was replying to the first comment. Also, the lead singer is Tony King. That places this video at about 1983 or 84, I think.
nevatoo 3 years ago
I hpoe he does I have some old "prewar" coffee can I would like to get rid of lol
BATENKILL 2 years ago
Wonderful video ... about 25 years old I'd guess. That was really the era of great pickers. JD, Earl, and don't forget Don Reno are as good as anyone that's ever played the instrument. Jim Mills is probably the best around these days. It's a shame that great instrumentals like Flint Hill Special are seldom heard these days. It's a treat to see the masters play them.
hickmusic 4 years ago
What are we talking here??? It sort of looks like The Deering Golden Era that I just bought. And I say this even thougt some one says pre war!
j25k 4 years ago
It's a prewar flathead Granada.
carteru93 3 years ago
I'd kill a man for that banjo.
VV44NNcc33 4 years ago 2
VV44NNcc33
Learn to play that good and maybe you wouldn't have to kill someone to get a banjo that nice!
wilfredsnipple 4 years ago
Still might have to, a prewar like that is worth more than most houses.
VV44NNcc33 4 years ago
:))
legalizebluegrass 4 years ago
who wouldn't
EvanPhillips1 4 years ago
Wow. JD just makes it seem effortless.
appalachianangler 4 years ago
that was kick ass banjer pickin, yeeee...haw!
iceonaboy 4 years ago
Dude!
Banjoey1 4 years ago
I saw and heard J.D. Crowe playing this piece at the Birchmere in Washington D.C. in 1982 (or maybe it was in 1981?) . Can´t avoid some nostalgic feelings. Great playing - oustanding American music! Here in Europe it is too seldom seen.
hellstfr 4 years ago
same in Canada!
carteru93 4 years ago
Apparently, he used to come here in Canada a whole lot back in the 70's and that general time. Have some pictures of him in hamilton from a while back.
NSchrobilgen 4 years ago
That bass player has a bitching afro/mullet/perm
ubermasterson 4 years ago 4
screw chromatic tuning? If that's what you're worried about, listen to Charles Wood. That guy, like a lightening strike, will blow your shoes right off.
JD is great though and I like this song...but that ending? Sorry, that gets a bit sloppy and i get lost. is it just me there?
khybor 4 years ago
Its just you there, take my word for it.
donnyaldridge 4 years ago
yep, khybor, it's just you. sorry.
villagodzilla 4 years ago
Oh my good god! Shut up already! If anything they're both the same.
Everyone has different opinions and if they're strong enough, nothing you say is gonna change em! So if I like Earl better, so what. If you like JD better, so what. I'm not gonna argue with you for an hour over it.
carteru93 4 years ago 2
Earl certainly isn't the "best", he was just the "first" (although he really wasn't) I Know Earl is good, I'm a fan of his, but i'd take Crowe over Scruggs any day..screw chromatic playing.
bigdjindustriez 4 years ago
To all you posters that compare and debate about who is 'better'. You all wouldn't know what or who is better. If you are childish enough to make comparisons between two world class musicians, you obviously don't have the brain capacity to know who is better. I'm a National Champion fiddle player. People like me are the only people that have a right to say who's better and I'll tell you right now, there is no such thing.
xms32 4 years ago
You said it for sure! Everyone has different opinions and if they're strong enough, nothing ANYONE says is gonna change em! So if I like Earl better, so what. If someone likes JD better, so what. I'm not gonna argue with someone for an hour over it.
carteru93 4 years ago 5
exactly. you're dead on the money.
xms32 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
no. the only reason jd isn't better than earl is because he's just not.
redsox446 4 years ago
Hey guys J.D. is old and still doing great. The only reason he is not as good as Earl is becuase he wasn't born before Earl. That's my personal opinion becuase I know J.D.
gibsonbanjo96 4 years ago
jd is good but he's not earl!!! Earl is the man!!!!!
redsox446 4 years ago
Thank you very much for sharing, that´s my favourite scruggs tune, done perfectly by JD in my opinion!
snakeroll 4 years ago
Damn the bass player is good,because it's me! he he he
I couldn't resist that,thanks Jarrod.
haze61151 4 years ago
Hey Randy! Thanks for the comment! Nice being able to chat with you and Tony earlier...you guys are great!
vintage18lover 4 years ago
J D picking it as good as it can be picked.
2ndfret 4 years ago
Well Earl's was better ;)
carteru93 4 years ago
Your opinion. J.D. is as good a banjo player who ever picked a string my opinion of course.
2ndfret 4 years ago
Whoa whoa whoa
I didnt' say JD wasn't great. JD IS great! Just Earl is better LOL
carteru93 4 years ago
Well remember that Earl has a step above JD, Earl lived in rural NC, more secluded, I don't think Earl even had a radio until he was already picking 3-finger, he could come up with his own style without so many people telling him he was doing it wrong. Earl perfected it, JD used it, so you might say that thats one thing Earl has over JD.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago
True. Think of how many pickers have copied/used Earl's famous style!
carteru93 4 years ago
To many to count, LOL.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago
I do agree!
carteru93 4 years ago
Plus Earl wrote this song, there might not be a single lick in this song that Earl didn't do first, knowing Earl, LOL.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago
I don't pay all THAT close attention to EVERY single lick. JD played a few parts slightly differently, but other than that it's the same. I think Earl and JD both are the best at their own songs.
carteru93 4 years ago
Well the main difference is the tuner at the 3rd break instead of the 2nd like Earl's and at the ending, which is weirder than Earl's.
Best at their own songs? Yeah sure, thats a cool way to look at it.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago
Yup. They composed it, so they know it best.
carteru93 4 years ago
I do think that Jim Mills does Blackjack better than JD, I can't help it, just like Jimmy better.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago
Well maybe ;)
Please don't kill me JD! LOL
carteru93 4 years ago
It DOES sound a bit weird. I guess just the normal dtuning, plus the 2nd string, PLUS the ending and ending tune all crammed into one break is kinda a lot.
carteru93 4 years ago
Yup.
HillbillyJ 4 years ago