A New Backing Track For “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines”

“Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines” is the title song of the popular 1965 British film of the same title. Dave Hum does a fabulous job playing this tune. I used Dave's performance as a template. I've made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, faster)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, normal)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, slower)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, slow)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, very slow)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of A, woodshed)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, faster)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, normal)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, slower)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, slow)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, very slow)
• Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I'm using a real audio clip for the tambourine. As always, I use MixCraft Studio Pro to make all my backing tracks. It's the most affordable and easy to use Digital Audio Workstation in my humble opinion.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Banjo Signal”

“Banjo Signal” is a classic Bluegrass tune composed by banjo legend Don Reno (1926-1984). Don Reno was born in South Carolina, raised in North Carolina, and began playing banjo at the age of five. By age 12 he was performing on local radio. Dave Hum never recorded this song to my knowledge. This is a fun song to learn and play. It's actually quite simple to play once you learn the main roll. Remember: The way to play fast is to play slow. That is, start out very slow so you can learn to play the tune accurately note for note, and then increase your speed. Don't just wing it. I did my best to make a nice backing track at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference Enjoy!

• Banjo Signal (Jason Skinner explains how to play the song)
• Banjo Signal (Jim Pankey explains how to play the song)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, very fast)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, faster)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, normal)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, slower)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, slow)
• Banjo Signal (key of A, woodshed)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, very fast)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, faster)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, normal)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, slower)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, slow)
• Banjo Signal (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums, keyboard and piano. I used real audio clips for the tambourine, Cajon and percussion sounds. I'm playing my Cort 6-string acoustic guitar and Eastman 505CC mandolin.

Dave Hum and Friends

A New Improved Backing Track For “Smoke Behind The Clouds”

This is a fun song to learn and play. The picking pattern is addictive. I used Dave Hum's performance of “Smoke Behind The Clouds” as a template. Here is my original backing track that I made in 2024. Dave recorded the song in the key of G. I had only made backing tracks in the key of G for the first one, but for this new one I have made backing tracks in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Tablature For Smoke Behind The Clouds (.PDF | .TEF)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (faster, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (normal, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (slower, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (slow, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (very slow, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (woodshed, key of A)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (faster, key of G)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (normal, key of G)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (slower, key of G)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (slow, key of G)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (very slow, key of G)
• Smoke Behind The Clouds (woodshed, key of G)

I used MIDI for the bass, keyboard padding and piano. I'm using Real Audio loops for the drums, shaker, tambourines and Cajon. I use MixCraft Pro Studio to make all my backing tracks and recordings. It's very user friendly and I haven't had any technical issues with the software. Plus, the program costs only a fraction of other audio workstations.

The original backing track for this song and 113 more are available at Dave Hum's website. I encourage you to buy them. My backing tracks pale in comparison to Dave's. I am so thankful for his music and backing tracks, and to Dave's family for making them available to everyone. God bless.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Forked Deer”

This is an Old Time fiddle tune called, “Forked Deer,” played on the 5-string banjo in the Standard tuning (gDGBD tuning); capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret, for key of A. Here is some information about the song. I have made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of A and G for your preference. Enjoy!

• Forked Deer (a video lesson by Eli Gilbert)
• Forked Deer (a video lesson by Mike Hedding)
• Forked Deer .PDF Tablature (by Jack Beuthin)
• Forked Deer (key of A, normal)
• Forked Deer (key of A, slower)
• Forked Deer (key of A, slow)
• Forked Deer (key of A, very slow)
• Forked Deer (key of A, woodshed)
• Forked Deer (key of G, normal)
• Forked Deer (key of G, slower)
• Forked Deer (key of G, slow)
• Forked Deer (key of G, very slow)
• Forked Deer (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the drums, bass, flute, keyboard and piano parts. Real audio was used for the tambourine and Cajon box.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

Banjo Intros And Endings

Here's some helpful banjo resources...

49 Bluegrass Banjo Endings!

(by Eli Gilbert)

13 Cool Intros For Banjo

(by Eddie Collins)

Roy Clark Style Endings For Bluegrass Banjo

(by Jim Pankey)

I use this next ending quite often...

Easy 'Shave And A Haircut' Ending Banjo Lick

(by Richie Dotson)

Shave and a Haircut Two Bits - A Fun Song Ending for Bluegrass Banjo

(by Jim Pankey)

Jim Pankey is a tremendous banjoist and a really nice guy...

Learn to Play Bluegrass Banjo - Lesson 1
(by Jim Pankey)

Jim Pankey's Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Lessons

Enjoy!

A New Improved Backing Track For “Maid Behind The Bar”

I redid the backing track for “Maid Behind The Bar,” which is one of my favorite tunes to play using the 'Double C' tuning. It is such a peaceful song. This track is a bit brighter. Here is the original backing track that I made in May of 2024. In the original recording I missed some timing with the guitar strums, which I have tried to fix in this newer track. Dave recorded the tune in the key of D; capo the 2nd fret, and the 7th fret on the fifth string. I used Dave Hum's performance as a template. I have made backing tracks in both keys of C and D for your preference. I also made additional tracks with a mandolin down this webpage. Enjoy!

• Tablature For The Maid Behind The Bar in 'Double C Tuning' (.PDF | .TEF)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (faster, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar (normal, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (slower, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar (slow, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar (very slow, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar (woodshed, key of D)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (faster, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (normal, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar (slower, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar (slow, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar (very slow, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar (woodshed, key of C)
• Maid Behind The Bar | Slower (a backing track by Anurakt Scheepers)

I used MIDI for the drums, bass and piano. I am playing my Cort acoustic guitar, which is the nicest sounding and natural feeling guitar I've ever owned (for just $130 at Guitar Center). 

Sadly, my guitar strap twisted its way off a couple years ago and cracked the body of the guitar. Yikes! I put Duck tape over it. Thankfully the guitar still sounds just as pleasant, but since that mishap I am now using (and I highly recommend that you do the same) Guitar Strap Locks (only $4.99 for 4 of them at Amazon). I have these locks on all my instruments where there's a risk of the strap working its way off.

The original backing track for this song and 114 more are available at Dave Hum's website. I encourage you to buy them. My backing tracks pale in comparison to Dave's. I am so thankful for his music and backing tracks, and to Dave's family for making them available to everyone. God bless and keep on pickin'.

I added a mandolin to this next track in January of 2026, trying different things to make a better backing track. Also, I am using a bass MODO plugin by IK Multimedia for a realistic bass and percussion as well. I am always trying to improve my backing tracks. Some tracks come out better than others, but all sound nice. I am confident that you will enjoy playing along with these newest backing tracks...

• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, faster)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, normal)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, slower)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, slow)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, very slow)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of C, woodshed)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, faster)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, normal)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, slower)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, slow)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, very slow)
• Maid Behind The Bar  (key of D, woodshed)

Of all Dave Hum's precious recordings, this tune is arguably one of his greatest masterpieces. Dave took each song and made it his own, putting his own touch upon it while bringing the song alive with his masterful banjo articulation. Each song tells a story, taking the listener on a musical journey. I have no doubt that when other banjoists here Dave Hum play a song, they think the same thing I do: “Now that's how the song is supposed to be played!”

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

Free Banjo Backup Tracks By Sean Ray

Sean Ray Videos

I enjoy learning from Sean Ray and playing along with his quality-made backing tracks. If you haven't purchased his 'THE SESSION BOOK' yet for $50, I highly recommend it.

Sean's website says...

The Session eBook features 26 of the finest Scruggs-style banjo instrumentals ever played.

This Package includes 147 page PDF eBook/52 track MP3 download as well as 26 TablEdit files.

MP3 Play-Along files features full arrangements, played by real musicians. These are not your typical, generic MIDI, BIAB backing tracks.

I purchased 'The Session Book' last year and am sure glad that I did. Great stuff!

Sean Ray Studios

Gotta love banjos!