I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground

My bottleneck arrangement of a classic banjo tune. Needs work but so does everything else I do... Apologies for the lighting. I'll get a better take up someday. I know I always say that, but...

1936 National Trojan tuned to Spanish @ F# (half step low of Open G=
C#-F#-C#-F#-A#-C#)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mole
• In
• The
• Ground
• Bascom
• Lamar
• Lunsford
• 1936
• National
• Trojan
• Resonator
• Guitar
• Bottleneck
• Fingerpicking
• Country
• Blues
• Old
• Time

[thewoolgatherers]

Just wanted to say that this is by far my favorite version of this song I have ever heard. Being a long time banjo player, your version of this song is actually what inspired me to pick up a resonator guitar in the first place.

If you don't mind my asking, do you by chance have this tabbed out or could possibly explain your finger picking pattern? Either way, it would be greatly appreciated.

[MSB76]

@thewoolgatherers Much appreciated! I get self conscious about some of these arrangements of old banjo tunes, cuz really... I'm only playin' 'em on guitar cuz I can't play banjo! Sorry, I've never tabbed anything out and the fingerpicking is just straight alternating bass, "Piedmont Blues" kinda stuff. There are lots of great instructional fingerpicking vids out there if you search around.

[MSB76]

@thewoolgatherers The basic idea is to get your thumb on autopilot playing an alternating bass line while your fingers do whatever they need to do to play the melody. No real "patterns" to learn. Eventually your thumb will just "get it" and then you can have some fun. Just takes lots of practice and patience to get there (like many things in life, I suppose...).

[diggity53]

Wow, what a great arrangement - love it! I never thought I'd hear a rendition of this song that I liked better than Doc Watson's, but you've even got old Doc beat!

[MSB76]

@diggity53 quite the compliment! much appreciated!

[Bisbonian]

This is absolutely my favorite version of Mole in the Ground...wonderful!

[MSB76]

Huge compliment cuz there's a lot of versions out there. Thank you kindly!!

[ButterflyLady59]

The coffee, the strummin, the voice, drives me wild. Nice!

[thewoolgatherers]

@MSB76 Thank you so much for your advice. I am just starting to get used to blues style fingering. After nearly a decade of bluegrass picking and clawhammer, not having a high G under my thumb is still throwing me off a bit. Thanks again!

[mmasny]

Some nice playing here! Greetings from Poland.

[UnchangeableBird]

This guy thinks he's the edge. Pure silliness.

[sawabojo]

very nice very very nice you have a great touch