Tommy Jarrell: Cumberland Gap (1983)

"Cumberland Gap," performed by Tommy Jarrell on banjo and vocal at his home in Toast, North Carolina. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew, July 23, 1983. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit http://culturalequity.org. [03.27.17]

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[josher013]

sounds fine to me, but you may be right though. The 82 year old man was playing an out of tune banjo. great job

[DrVonChilla]

Well....no one wants to acknowledge that he's out of tune but me AND Tommy.....

Our beloved Mr. Jarrell is indeed The Master but, after 30+ years of playing, my ear is pretty keen, too. I'm not attacking Tommy, my friends....but I know an out-of-tune banjo when I hear it. We ALL slip out of tune from time-to-time. Heed the fact that he wraps it up pretty quickly....because he HEARS that he's out of tune! :-)

Been There/Done That a thousand times over 30+ years of playing....!

[DrVonChilla]

I've been playing the Round Peak style myself for nearly 30 years, fretless banjo and all.....he's nonetheless out of tune.....! ;-)



[Will Jeffers]

I think he's tuned like that on purpose. Just sayin... that old boy had a real good ear. It ain't out of tune. It's tuned that way.

[fiddlinandy]

To me it sounds like he's noting it just fine, but the 5th string is a little flat. That's why it only sounds out of tune when he rings that 5th string.

[DinkinsMillBluegrass]

it sounds that way because he is playing in a chordal position on a fretless, but he is probably in pretty good tune.

[DrVonChilla]

On my knees in respectful worship, but Tommy's banjo is WAY out of tune here....!!!! :-)

[Einhard Luther]

Very cool!

[2mandolin]

Alan Lomax was the smoothest man that ever lived! Thank You!!