A New Backing Track For “Lark In The Morning”

This is a popular Irish Jig called, “The Lark in the Morning,” played by Dave Hum on the 5-string banjo in standard tuning (gDGBD); capo 2nd fret and 5th string capo at the 7th for key of E. Usually this tune has four parts, but Dave is only playing the first two parts, adding a D flat minor variation. I used Dave's recording as a template to make this backing track. This tune is also known as “Ha'penny Bridge” and “Father Kelly's” and “Kelso Races.” I've made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference. I also tabbed out the main parts of the tune as Dave played it. Enjoy!

• Tablature For Lark In The Morning (PDF | TEF)
• Lark In The Morning (normal, key of A)
• Lark In The Morning (slower, key of A)
• Lark In The Morning (slow, key of A)
• Lark In The Morning (very slow, key of A)
• Lark In The Morning (woodshed, key of A)
• Lark In The Morning (normal, key of G)
• Lark In The Morning (slower, key of G)
• Lark In The Morning (slow, key of G)
• Lark In The Morning (very slow, key of G)
• Lark In The Morning (woodshed, key of G)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums, keyboard and piano. I used real audio loops for the tambourine, cymbal and shaker. As always, I use MixCraft Studio Pro to make all my backing tracks, which is very affordable and easy to use. The software company is located in Germany. I've had no technical issues with the software over the years.

Surprisingly, if you search online for quality Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), MixCraft doesn't show up in a search engine, which amazes me. For a fraction of what more expensive DAWs cost, you cannot beat MixCraft for about $149 for their pro version. I've tried numerous different DAWs. Each has it's own pros and cons, but I am very content using MixCraft. The program comes with over 5,000 real audio loops to work with, and there's tons more for free or purchase online. I've only scratched the tip of the iceberg.

Please download all of these backing tracks I've made. I made them for YOU dear friend, meaning everybody who wants them. You can do whatever you want with all of these backing tracks. Nothing is copyrighted. I just made them for the love and fun of making music. Backing tracks are invaluable tools to learn and play songs. Dave Hum inspired me by making his own backing tracks, which I have diligently tried to recreate for other banjo enthusiasts. If you have a song that I haven't done yet, I'll be glad to freely make a backing track for it. Just send me an email request and include a link to the original song, so I can use it as a template.

God bless you and thanks for your continued interest in my music blog.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Wreck Of The Old 97”

The “Wreck Of Old 97” is the name of one of the most famous Bluegrass songs ever written, about a fatal train wreck in 1903. Though he did not write the song, Henry Whitter was the first to record the old-time railroad ballad back in 1923, on Okeh Records. To my knowledge Dave Hum never recorded this tune. Dave's motto was: So many tunes, so little time! I used a recording by Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatts to make my backing track.

The timing is a bit tricky after doing the common “G-lick.” There's an additional bar of time between parts. You can either do two G-licks, or add whatever you'd like to fill the space. This is how Earl Scruggs did the tune, which I followed carefully to make my backing track. Listen to Earl play. The original tune was done in the key of Bb, so I have made backing tracks in the keys of G, A and Bb for your preference. Enjoy!

• Wreck Of The Old 97 (Jim Pankey explains how to play the song)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (Bill Nesbitt explains how to play the song)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, faster)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, normal)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, slower)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, very slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of G, woodshed)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, faster)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, normal)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, slower)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, very slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of A, woodshed)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, faster)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, normal)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, slower)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, very slow)
• Wreck Of The Old 97 (key of Bb, woodshed)

Right after the train whistle ends, that your que to start a banjo kickoff!

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I added audio loops for the train whistle, train rhythm, tambourine, cymbals and shakers.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

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!