All Videos Tagged tune (Minstrel Banjo) - Minstrel Banjo

Beginner Tune of the Month - (May2016) Old Joe

2016-05-01T22:32:05.474Z

I'd like to post this as the Beginner Tune of the Month for May 2016...
Old Joe, a banjo tune from Thomas Briggs' banjo tutor book of 1855. Here played in minstrel 'high bass tuning' in the key of D...tune your minstrel banjo to d-ADF#A. (You can also play this in regular Briggs 'low bass' tuning if you simply avoid hitting the bass string, since the tune as written does not utilize the bass string)
This is one of the easiest tunes to learn in stroke style/minstrel style banjo, and most of the moves will be familiar to clawhammer players already. But it's a satisfying tune or song for any level of minstrel banjo player.

Darkey Money Musk (Briggs, 1855)

2016-04-15T22:03:07.877Z

I'm continually surprised by the tunes that have slipped under my radar; I've been looking at the Briggs book for 6 years now and listening to Tim's CDs for almost that long, and somehow this one never grabbed my attention... until this morning. Still a little rough around the edges but what the heck - feels good to work up a new (to me) tune, it's been a while.

First "Selfie" Video: Minstrel Banjo Warmup Tune W/ Blooper

2014-06-16T01:25:31.938Z

Recorded on my Android pad. Me on my tackhead, fretless homemade minstrel-style banjo. Key of "Whatever" at the moment. Played with bare fingernails & no audio frills.