Mini-lesson: Messing with people with Mississippi Sawyer

Easy tricks to play with the classic D tune Mississippi Sawyer using minor and modal variations. Assumes you already know the tune.

--Cathy Moore

Category:

Music

Tags:

• clawhammer
• banjo
• lessons

[Khalilullah]

That's great! I have a question that's been bugging me, tho. My grandpa and all the folks I grew up with, plus all the great old players that I've seen and seen pics of never used capos; why do most of the modern city-folk types seem to use them so much instead of natural tunings?

[BanjoMeetsWorld]

I don't know the history of capos, so I'm afraid I can't answer your question. But I personally use a capo because it shortens the neck, making it easier for me to play. Also, on one of my banjos, I think a capo improves the tone.

[darkstanley1974]

Would you be able to do a quick vid on how to tune the banjo to the tuning you have. I have a cappo and the tuning I have now is gDGBD. I started this when learning Bluegrass but after seeing your vid's I have started to learn Clawhammer. I just can't get the same tunes as you do with yours.

[BanjoMeetsWorld]

I plan to do a handful of "basics" videos, including one about tuning. In the meantime, for the aDADE tuning used in this video: if you have an electronic tuner, tune your open strings to gCGCD. Put your capo on your second fret, and either tune your 5th string up to A or, if you have a 5th string spike at the 7th fret, tuck the string under that spike. Either way, you'll end up with aDADE.

[moorekevinpaul]

Love, you are great. That style works for me to the letter. Did you remove the back of your banjo, if so why? Thank you Kevin Paul.

[BanjoMeetsWorld]

Thanks. The banjo in the video was made in the early 1900s before it was common for banjos to have backs (resonators). I like to play open-back banjos because they're usually lighter and thinner than resonator banjos.

[Michaelr1731]

I have enjoyed your videos but I wonder about your left arm and hand position. It looks (from an ergonomic position) very incorrect. I'm sure I'm not the first to point this out and I don't mean disrespect, but you could be heading for trouble down the road.

[pandapranks1]

Hick

[rjfpace]

holy cow. Man can you play.  I could listen for days.

[greekflatpicker]

Woa! You have a great timing and tone too.

I've enjoyed your video.

[Khalilullah]

Thanks! It's a mystery! I don't know much about the history of Capos either;  just banjos and oldtime music...it's weird how many non-Appalachian people use them, considering how much they change the feeling of the music.

[Labrabob]

Thanks very much!