Cotton Pod Walk Around - Stroke Style Banjo

Comment by Tim Twiss on July 29, 2015 at 9:15pm

The quintessential banjo song. One of the first I picked up in the Flesher book. Easy to mix up with about 50 others.

Comment by Strumelia on July 29, 2015 at 9:37pm

That's great Andy!   :)

Once you get the hang of  1234, 1234,  try doing the tambo every other beat, like 1_3_, 1_3_.   Then bring in an occasional  1_34.   Or a nice 123_  at the ending phrase.   Takes some practice!  When you flub it, go slower til you get it again.  :)    In my video of the tune I'm almost always using a  1_34,  with an occasional 1234 section.

Camptown Hornpipe seems like a fancier version of this in some ways, so I used to find it tempting to only play that one instead.  But I think if one can approach the two distinctly in the mindset, then Cotton Pod doesn't get shoved to the back of the cupboard.  :)

Comment by Andy Chase on July 29, 2015 at 9:41pm

The similar 'Camptown Hornpipe' from Briggs was one of the first I learned.  This one has been on my list forever and I needed something relatively easy after banging my head against 'Operatic Jig' lately.

Comment by Andy Chase on July 29, 2015 at 10:04pm

There's definitely a bit of a 'patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time' element to letting your foot do its own thing.  Something to practice with the tunes I know in my sleep!

Comment by Tim Twiss on July 29, 2015 at 11:22pm

This community is pretty accepting of wherever you choose to place the beat...1and 3, or 2 and 4. Maybe 1, 2, 3, and 4. Just be deliberate. Or ....do whatever. If it is in time, it will be just fine

Comment by Chris Prieto on July 30, 2015 at 1:13am

sounds good. If I'm not careful I get the camptown hornpipe and a few of the walk arounds all mixed up.

Comment by Strumelia on July 30, 2015 at 7:42am

CA- you are not alone in that.  ;)

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