Quicklink: flatpicker hangout tab archive

check it out, there are about 50 different tunes in there, mostly fiddle but some singing tunes as well.

Some songs to learn

Dumping this list 'cuz I keep losing the little pieces of paper.

Why Did You Wander
My Saro Jane
Washington County
Country Boy Rock 'n' Roll
Paradise
Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
Home In the Mountains
Will you be Loving Another Man
All the Good Times are Passed and Gone
My Blue Eyed Darlin
Going Back to Old Kentucky
Hills of Roane County
Dill Pickle Rag
Sweet Potato Rag
She's no Angel

04/02/2009 RWC/5th Qtr Jam Report

Ah, spring is here. The days are longer, the nights are warmer, something about moonshine. Yeah.

I think the jam has hit critical mass and is just about self-sustaining. Folks are showing up without even really knowing how/where they heard of us. I think this is a good sign -- the jam has had enough impact to permeate into the collective, er, subconscious of the local bluegrass scene.

Or something like that.

In any case, the warmer and longer days mean that the 5th quarter jam is a sunny affair, where we hike up the blinds and let the evening sun keep us company whilst we pick. If we're lucky, we don't have to run the heat, for which the instruments thank us.

I've also noticed a movement away from the 'same old stuff' phenomenon. Yes, of course, we still play a lot of standards, but I've also noticed that folks are making the effort to bring out new (old) material to play at the jam. I think this is the sign of a healthy jam.

Here's the attendance list (best as I can remember) and the jam-setlist. UPDATE: Thx to Patrick for helping with Michael's name.

In attendance:
5 guitar: Linda G, Mark H, Michael S, Chris and a gentleman who gave me his name but was promptly .. lost. I'm sorry. I blame all the fast living in my youth. Michael S was HOT on the flatpicked Martin. I'm glad he came and hope he comes on back again.
3 banjo: Autumn, Robert, Jerry
1 dobro/saw: Patrick
1 mandolin: Dan (and darling daughter)

Some songs played:
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
Mother's Not Dead (She's Only a'Sleeping)
Red River Valley
I Saw the Light
Lonesome Road Blues
Turkey in the Straw
Cripple Creek
Cherokee Shuffle
Blackberry Blossom
Foggy Mtn. Breakdown
Cumberland Gap
My Home Aint in the Hall of Fame
Little Maggie

I'm sure I missed about 30% of songs played. I know that the new gentleman picked a couple of tunes that, like his name, have flown the proverbial coop. Ah well. I'll bring a pen and paper next week.

Redwood City Bluegrass Jam Report: 3/26/09

Just a quick attendance and set list, more description over the weekend or if I can get more of a break from work.

In attendence:
5 guitar (Mike B, George B, Linda G, Chris, myself)
2 fiddle (Jamison, Brian)
3 banjo (Robert, Jerry, Autumn)
1 upright bass (Lou M)

Some songs played:
Red Haired Boy
Blackberry Blossom
Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Cheatem
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Red River Valley
Little Cabin Home on the Hill
I'll Fly Away
The Last Thing on my Mind
Wheels
No Ash Will Burn
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
Nine Pound Hammer
Sitting on Top of the World
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Angelina Baker
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Big Sciota
Better Times a'Comin
Katy Daley

Solid group, great jams, and I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say that we all had a great time.

Quicklink: All the Good Times / Maiden's Prayer / Red Wing

A quick dump of some arrangements I've been working on.

The Red Wing arrangement is still very much a basic melody / work in progress and will likely be updated.

All the Good Times Are Past and Gone - from Dix Bruce's double-stop mando tab (PDF)

Maiden's Prayer - key of A, rearranged from piano sheet (PDF)

Red Wing - from bluegrassguitar.com (PDF)

Jam update and whatnot coming later this evening.

Redwood City Bluegrass Jam Report: 2/19/09 at 5th Quarter Pizza

Bluegrass and Old Time Jam
2/19/2009
5th Quarter Pizza
Redwood City, CA

In attendance:
5 guitar (Vincent, Troy, Jerry L, a new female guitarist, myself)
1 double bass (Lou)
3 banjo (Jerry, Robert, new banjo player)
2 mandolin (Patrick, Dan)
1 dobro (a young lady with an excellent voice. Didn't get her name. Sorry!)
1 fiddle (Brian)

Quick summary (my own):
The BOB Festival Kick-Off Jam, and the first jam with the new start time (7pm). The circle started out small, but more folks showed up as we got warmed up. Circle size was much more reasonable than last week's, in my opinion. New faces included Vincent, Jerry L, and a powerful mother/daughter singing duo who were real easy on the ears. My personal hightlight was singing Dim Lights; my learning moment was when Lou ever-so-gently informed me that I was 'pushing the beat' on Red Haired Boy. Live and learn...

Next jam is 2/26/09, but may end up being sparsely attended. If you don't come to the jam, go see the Stoney Mountain Ramblers at Angelica's Bistro instead!

Jam setlist (partial):
Orphan Girl
The Flame in My Heart
She's No Angel
Maiden's Prayer
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
June Apple
Bill Cheatem
Cherokee Shuffle
Blackberry Blossom
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Colombus Stockade Blues
New River Train
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
I Saw the Light
Remington Ride
Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms
Angelina Baker
Red Haired Boy
Little Annie
Down Yonder
Step Stone

PS: Big thanks to everyone who helped set up and tear down the room!

Fandango Bluegrass Jam Report: 2/18/2009

Bluegrass Jam
Fandango Pizza
Palo Alto, CA

In attendance:
4 banjo (Clark, Bob, Robert, Jerry)
2 guitar (Mike B, myself)

setlist-ish:
Little Annie
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
Blackberry Blossom
Katy Daley
Earl's Breakdown
Bonaparte's Retreat
Foggy Mountain Special
Mountain Dew
Old Home Place

I think I'm missing both Mike and Robert's first tunes in there, but
that's most of 'em.

9:15 quitting time? ouch.

Redwood City Bluegrass Jam Report: Thursday 2/12/2009

Redwood City Bluegrass Jam
Thursday 2/12/2009
5th Quarter Pizza

Short summary:
The big news of the jam was the guest appearance of 4/6 of the Stoney Mountain Ramblers. Those boys sure do know how to pick! We were thrilled and honored to have them. Go see them during the BOB festival at Angelica's Bistro on the 26th!

Jam logistics were a bit rocky at first, we competed for space with a girl's soccer team meeting. Eventually we drove them out with the most sure fire anti-teenager power known to man: Bluegrass Music!

I must admit, it is a struggle to fit almost 20 jammers into the back room at 5th quarter. I think we all managed pretty well considering. The jam was engaged in a cold war with the folks watching the NBA in the front room; I think we won.

Tons of fun tunes, lots of hot picking, and old friendships being renewed. I can't ask for more.

In attendance:
2 double bass (Bill H, Lou M)
5 fiddle (Steve J, a new female fiddler (welcome! c'mon back, y'hear?), and 3 fiddlers whose names I -should- know by now but don't. Bad brain, no biscuit!)
3 mando (Mando Mike, Mason, John W)
5 guitar (Troy, Robert Z, Linda G, myself, and someone new to the jam)
1 dobro (Virgil S)
3 banjo (Scott D, Robert, Jerry)

Partial jam 'setlist':
Will You Be Loving Another Man
Sitting Alone in the Moonlight
Cherokee Shuffle (trad)
Billy in the Lowground (trad)
Blue Night (Monroe)
Waterbound
Foggy Mountain Top (AP Carter)
Rich Gal
White Freightliner Blues (Towns Van Zandt)
Love Please Come Home
I'm Using My Bible For a Roadmap (Don Reno)
Little Cabin Home on the Hill (Monroe and Flatt)
Whiskey Before Breakfast
One More Dollar (Gillian Welch)
Arkansas Traveller
Fisher's Hornpipe
Gold Rush
Sitting On Top of the World
Ragtime Annie (trad)
Going Downtown (?)
Catfish John
Fireball Mail

Redwood City Bluegrass Jam Report: 2/5/09 at 5th Quarter

Here is an abbreviated jam report for last week's jam. Forgive me for not having all the information that I usually do -- it has been quite a week.

If you're considering coming out to the jam at all, consider coming out this month -- we're part of the NCBS Bluegrass on Broadway festival, which is a real treat. Rumour has it that Sid Lewis (http://www.acousticcollege.com, www.jamming101.com) will be in attendance either on the 19th or the 26th. I'll pass along more info as I receive it.

Jam participants will also receive a 20% discount off the 5th quarter menu, which is nice in these tough times.

Do you have a bluegrass or old timey band? Would you like easy exposure and 'face time' with like-minded folks within the scene? Consider coming out to the Thursday jam. Contact me individually if you're interested.

Anyway, on with the jam report:

In attendance
---
4 fiddle - Mostly new folks who were old-timey players.
5 guitar - Linda, George, myself, and two new gentlemen, both of whom were quite hot on the improv.
2 banjo - Robert and Jerry holding it down for a grand total of 10 strings between them.
1 hammer dulcimer / saw / dobro - Patrick the multi-instrumentalist! Believe it or not, the dulcimer can overpower both banjos and fiddles without even trying.
0 mandolin - but who is counting?

Some tunes played -- more incomplete than usual. I blame work.
---
June Apple
Sitting on Top of the World
Turkey in the Straw (aka 'do your ears hang low')
Angelina Baker
Red Haired Boy
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
I'll Fly Away
Katy Daley
Ragtime Annie
Cherokee Shuffle

NEW FEATURE: Practice Tunes!!!

If you are wondering what to practice between now and Thursday evening, here are two tunes I am guaranteed to call Thursday night. If you have any practice tunes that you would like featured for next week, email me and I will add them.

Practice Tunes for 2/12/09:
* Forked Deer (traditional, key of D)
- guitar : http://www.bluegrassguitar.com/tabs/ForkedDeer.html
- mandolin : http://www.mandolincafe.com/tab/fdeer.txt
- banjo : http://www.banjohangout.org/tabnew/files/forked_deer-677.tef (tabledit)
Sorry, I couldn't find fiddle tab.

* Nine Pound Hammer (C. Bowman, key of G)
- guitar : http://www.flatpick.com/blues/9lblesson.htm
- banjo : http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/banjo/B_13.html
- mandolin : http://www.mandolinsessions.com/jun04/hammer.html
No fiddle tab. What is it with the bluegrass fiddle online?

Jam Report: Wednesday 2/4/2009 Fandango Pizza Bluegrass Jam

Bluegrass Jam
Fandango Pizza
Palo Alto, CA

In attendence:
3 banjo (Robert, Bob, Jerry)
2 guitar (a gentleman whose name I'm failing to recall, myself)

Some songs played:
I'll Fly Away
Foggy Mountain Top
Cherokee Shuffle
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Earl's Breakdown
Grandfather's Clock
Cripple Creek
Old Home Place
Lay Down My Old Guitar

Small group, but good jamming nonetheless. We got a pretty late start (~8:30pm). Boy, Fandango's sure closes up early in the winter!

Redwood City Old Time and Bluegrass Jam Report - 01/29/2009

1/29/2009 Jam Report
Old Time and Bluegrass Jam
5th Quarter Pizza, Redwood City CA

UDPATED 2/2/09: Added names that I figured out after-the-fact. TY to Mando Mike and Ran for the assists.

Short summary (my own):
Three hours of great jamming. Having a bassist around is always a treat! New folks every week, new tunes every week, top-notch jamming every time, and lots of old friendships being renewed. I do wonder what happened to all the mando players, though... Oh, and Ragtime Annie has a "C" part. Who knew?

In attendance:
4 guitar (George B, Linda Grace, Chris, myself)
3 banjo (Robert, Autumn, Patrick, and Aron from Ran's jam class)
2 dobro (Patrick, new guy)
2 fiddle players (both new to me. I promise I'll learn your names!
1 electric upright bass (John E)
0 mando

Partial setlist, not ordered correctly:
Blackberry Blossom
Red Haired Boy
Sitting on Top of the World
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Wildwood Flower
Katy Daley
Ragtime Annie
Temperance Reel
John Hardy
Little Maggie
Maiden's Prayer
Kitchen Girl
Cherokee Shuffle
Clinch Mtn Backstep
Bill Cheatem
Red River Valley
City of New Orleans
Wheels
Paradise
Arkansas Traveller
Lay Me Down a Palette on Your Floor

Bluegrass / Old Time Jam Report: 1/22/2009

Bluegrass / Old Time Jam Report: 1/22/2009
5th Quarter Pizza, Redwood City CA

In attendance:
7 guitar (Myself, George B, Martin L, Lyn(?), two new guys and Mason's buddy with the D18)
2 mando (Mason & Dan)
2 fiddle (Two gentlemen new to the jam)
1 upright bass (Lou M)
2 banjo (Jerry and a new banjoist)

Short summary:
A good group of folks! Some of us were obviously pretty new to bluegrass/OT, some of us were old hands and quite skilled, some of us were just trying to hang on.
Lots of BG/OT, plus some americana/folk and jug band! I love it.
We started on time and were out the door at 10:30. A solid three hours of jamming...

Some songs played (incomplete, no particular order, no warranty)
---
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Hard Times Come Again No More
On and On
Old Dangerfield
June Apple
Cherokee Shuffle
Blackberry Blossom
Big Sandy River
Salt Creek
Bill Cheatum
Blue Night
Red Haired Boy
Mississippi Sawyer
Earl's Breakdown
Catfish John
Iris Dement tune
Emmylou Harris tune
Foggy Mountain Top
Katy Daley
Better Times A' Comin'
Arkansas Traveller
Cora is Gone

Jam Report: Wednesday, 01/14/2009 Lintpicker's Revenge

Another lovely winter Wednesday at Fandango.

Vibe summary (my own): "To hell with mandolins! We'll just add more (banjo/guitar)!"

In attendance:
Mike B (Martin HD28-12 and banjo)
George B (thrift store special fingerpicked)
Autumn, Bob, Robert, Jerry (banjo)
Yours truly (Michael Kelly Rose Trio guitar)
Zippy (fiddle)

Three 'new folks' or folks who were new to me:
A gentleman on fingerstyle folk guitar
Autumn's quiet guitar buddy, who sits outside the circle even after repeated pestering to join us. Don't be shy, now!
A woman on guitar, reportedly a jazz guitar teacher. She threatened to bring in her accordion next week. I think she thought we might have tried to run screaming, but we didn't.

Some tunes played (no particular order):
I'll Fly Away
Golden Slippers
Old Home Place (damn you, B7, damn you to hell!)
Hard Times Come Again No More
Teardrops in My Eyes
Old Cabin Home
Simple Life (ricky skaggs)
blackberry blossom (this one started out slow, and just ran away from us)
theme time
cherokee shuffle
sowing on the mountain, reaping in the bounty (a.p. carter by way of woody guthrie)
earl's breakdown (plus explanation of 'scruggs pegs')
old country church (?)
how mountain girls can love
denominational blues

Notes:
* Banjo Bob (as opposed to Banjo Robert) has a fancy new axe. Looked like mahogany back, with 'stealth' in mother of pearl on the front at the base. I allowed as to how there was never seen such a strange beast as a stealthy banjo. In any case, stealthy or not, it sounds real nice and bright.

* Jerry, Mike B, George B and I ended up in the laundromat after Fandango gave us the boot. I recall picking/singing a couple, but couldn't give you a list.

* coming up: Thursdays at 5th quarter! No rest for the wicked!

Quick Link: Jack Tuttle's Guitar Lesson Mp3s

Here is a winamp playlist containing links to all of the mp3s from Jack's guitar books that he has posted to his site: tuttle_online.m3u

Am I too retro, still using winamp (v5.08c baby!)?

Quick Link: Right Hand Technique for Guitar

Here's a good vid on how to improve your right hand technique on flatpick guitar. Vid by Brad Davis. He's pretty damned good.

Oh, and here's a take on Blue Night which is pretty straight forward for beginners.

EDIT: damn, that crap is difficult

EDITx2: Another fairly simple bluegrass lead: Roll On Buddy, and Roll On Buddy variation #2

Jam Report: First Thursday at 5th Quarter

Last night was the first 5th Quarter Thursday jam. I think we had a pretty stellar turnout for a completely unknown promoter type (me) and mostly untested venue.

I think at its height, we had about 12 folks there. There were a number of Fandango folks, and quite a few folks I had never met before. The jamming was of pretty high quality, too. I'm very pleased that everyone could make it out.

I'll keep promoting the jam in various venues, online and off, in hopes of keeping the number of participants high. One idea I've had is to ask Jack down at Gryphon to mention the jam to his students. I'll also continue to try and get the jam on all of the various jam lists on the internet.

I didn't keep a song list this time, but I will next week.

---

EDIT: better jam report from my post to fandangojammers:

Last night was the first 5th Quarter Thurday jam! Here is a quick report.

First of all, while I'm typically terrible with names, I am trying to learn at least the names of the regulars. If I screw yours up, please yell at me.

I showed up at 5th quarter at around 6:30 to have dinner and prep 5th quarter's owner/manager, Hassan, as to what all was going down that night. Dan (mando) and daughter showed up just after 7, and together we rearranged the back room to accommodate about fifteen or so folks. Hassan had turned on the heat (!) in the back room, so it was downright toasty.

About the room: I think max jam occupancy will probably be 20 or fewer folks. The room is long but somewhat narrow, carpeted, and low-ceilinged. The acoustics are decent; I was able to hear folks taking their solos all the way across the circle.

Patrick W of www.scbs.org showed up early with his dobro and saw. We chatted a bit about the upcoming Bluegrass on Broadway show ( http://www.scbs.org/events/bob/ ) and the state of bluegrass on the mid-peninsula in general. Other early arrivals included Jerry and Bob/Robert (which one of you is Bob and which Robert? I'm so confused). An excellent mando player also showed up early; his was a new face and I didn't get his name. Mando-rascal Mike joined us, as did George B a bit later. Guitarist-who-was-new-to-me-whose-name-I-should-be-remembering arrived fairly late in the evening with his D-18 and played the fiddle tunes real nice.

All told, I think we had about 12 folks turn out last night, with a max count of about 10 folks jamming simultaneously. There was some good cross-pollination of groups, and introductions being made.

Thanks to Mike for the pitcher of beer!

We wrapped up at about 10:45. Thanks to everyone who helped put the room back in some semblance of its original arrangement.

Some songs I remember being played, in no particular order:

Cherokee Shuffle
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Blackberry Blossom
Rose of Old Kentucky
June Apple
Salt Creek
A Maiden's Prayer
White Freightliner Blues
Turkey in the Straw
Red River Valley
Earl's Breakdown
Themetime
Waterbound
Some singing tune with Gb in it.
Dark Hollow (in Bb)
St Anne's Reel

PS: We need a stand-up bassist and some fiddles! :-D

Bluegrass jam tonight

Bluegrass open jam at Fandango Pizza tonight from 7:30 to 9:30pm.

I'll post jam setlist (so to speak) when I get back.

EDIT: Here is the jam report. I think I forgot a couple of the ukulele tunes, but the rest is accurate.