For enthusiasts of early banjo

Clog Hornpipe

Taken from Frank Converse's book "The Banjoist" 1871, played "Banjo Style". Relative humidity 59%, Bell banjo.

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Comment by Strumelia on August 13, 2012 at 6:40pm: That's pretty darn humid, Tim! ...Is it a fiberskin head or calf?

Nice acoustics in that room!

This tune takes me back to the exercises I used to try to play at school cello lesson about 45 years ago... =8-o

Comment by Tim Twiss on August 13, 2012 at 6:42pm: It is calfskin. Not to be totally nurdy about it, but I got a gauge, so i can start to become aware of the subtle changes in the instrument relative to the weather. Find that breaking point....

Comment by Strumelia on August 13, 2012 at 6:46pm: A gauge for the room's/house's humidity? Good to be as aware as we can...later on it becomes second nature.

The trick is to remember to UN-tighten the head as it gets drier again.

Reminds me of some quote attributed to Earl Scruggs, concerning how tight to crank your banjo head: "Tighten it up just until the head splits, then back down a little". lol!

Comment by Tim Twiss on August 13, 2012 at 6:49pm: It's portable and small so I can take it with me. I usually don't even mess with the tensioning.

Comment by Tim Twiss on August 13, 2012 at 6:52pm: I've always been fascinated by the sensitivity of banjos to the weather. i walk by them during the day and just strum it, and I can get a good feel for the weather. I was just curious about what those numbers were. If I were in need of recording something, some awareness of the conditions may prompt, or deter me. Sometimes, a damp thuddy sound might be cool for a tune.

Comment by Strumelia on August 13, 2012 at 7:32pm: Absolutely. The banjo's sound is the result of so many different little factors, all variable. That's part of what makes working with them so appealing, like fine tuning an old bicycle.

Your words remind me-

I have several banjos hanging on a pegboard on my office wall, the pots of them hang low near the floor. I watched in amazement the other day when one of my cats sauntered past the banjos casually, paused for a moment, reached a paw up and very daintily plucked just one string, then continued walking. =8-o

Comment by Bell Banjos on August 13, 2012 at 7:38pm: Sounds great. I was holding my breath there at the end. You gave me a banjo attack. Man, you make old Brownie ring. OK everybody. The head should never be 'tight.' It should be snug. And you won't have drastic changes in sound and action. That bridge should be like a little old man holding the strings with one finger, not like Atlas with the globe on his back. The volume comes from the string length and your attack. When your skin is too tight, it chokes the sound and you'll know it - you'll lose sustain and the lower tones. It just won't sound 'musical.' So let your banjo 'go' with the weather and don't worry about it. Like Tim.

Comment by Strumelia on August 13, 2012 at 7:44pm: Valuable stuff to know, Terry!

Comment by Matthew Mickletz on August 14, 2012 at 1:57pm: Good advise Terry and Tim! Part of my job and the job of my crew is to take Temp and RH readings of the museum. Our worry isn't banjo heads (though there are days I wish!) but the old bones of priceless funiture swelling and splitting. Rarely is it a worry, but we do have our moments in time to "freak out".

Comment by Bell Banjos on August 14, 2012 at 2:04pm: Matt, what's the freak out number? And do you have have times of moderate temperature with high humidity that are dangerous?

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