A Farewell To Whiskey

Ken Perlman has done more to encourage aspiring clawhammer banjo players to push their technique in new directions than almost anyone. If you play, you should avail yourselves of the wealth of instructional material found on his website:

http://www.kenperlman.com

Thank you Ken for all you've done, and continue to do, for the clawhammer community...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mike
• Iverson
• Ken
• Perlman
• clawhammer
• banjo

[billbeattie56]

Really enjoyed the video, sounds really great on the banjo. Correction, it is a "Scottish" tune written by Neil Gow who was born in Perthshire in 1727

[BlueSageBand]

@billbeattie56 You are correct. I have no idea why I said it was an Irish tune as I was looking right at the book where it is clearly identified it as a Scottish tune. I suspect I've gotten into the very bad habit of referring to all song with Celtic origins as being "Irish", especially when my brain in in the "off" position.

My bad...

[neillconnor]

Have you got the tab of the little high bit you do the second time around, it's so simple and subtle but it's got me beat

[BlueSageBand]

@neillconnor I'm afraid I haven't tabbed out anything for this particular song. For the "up the neck" variation, I worked out of closed position chord forms and sketched out the melody by ear. Sorry I couldn't be of more help... Mike

[billbeattie56]

@BlueSageBand

No problem, it happens quite a lot and being a "staunch" Scot I feel the need to correct the misconception. I'm very impressed at what a versatile instrument the banjo is and your rendition of "Farewell to Whisky" is really good. A friend who teaches "clawhammer" style banjo told me to look for Ken Perlman which led me to you. I've never played an instrument before, however I'm seriously thinking about trying to play the banjo

Thanks again from "bonnie" Scotland

[plaustrarius]

Smooth touch; excellent for this style of music. Great job =]

[neillconnor]

Don't suppose you could play the tune on the opposite page, Nancy, could you?. I have a cassette of ken playing it in England in the eighties where he adds a few variations to it but I always thought he played it too fast

[neillconnor]

Superb!

[postcardsfromheaven]

excellent ! love your music and inspiration to us all.my heart felt thanks goes out you.

[HamacekS]

Just beautiful - a wonderful inspiration. I hope one day I can play like this in a contemplative moment. Thanks so much, and checking Ken's site now.