A New Backing Track For “Pony Express”

This fun Traditional Bluegrass tune is called “Pony Express,” played on the 5-string banjo in Standard tuning (gDGBD). The song was released in 1972 on the famous album, “Dueling Banjos,” composed by banjo player Eric Weissberg (1939-2020). I used a recording by the 'Blueridge Mountain Bluegrass Band' to make backing tracks in the keys of G and A. Enjoy!

• Pony Express .PDF Tablature (by Chris Athey)
• Pony Express (a video lesson by Doub Pearce)
• Pony Express (key of A, normal)
• Pony Express (key of A, slower)
• Pony Express (key of A, slow)
• Pony Express (key of A, very slow)
• Pony Express (key of A, woodshed)
• Pony Express (key of G, normal)
• Pony Express (key of G, slower)
• Pony Express (key of G, slow)
• Pony Express (key of G, very slow)
• Pony Express (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the percussion, bass, piano and keyboard. I used real audio files for the drums, tambourine and shakers.

Dave Hum
(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Cumberland Gap”

This tune “Cumberland Gap” is an Appalachian folk song that was first recorded in 1924. 'Cumberland Gap' is a pass through the Cumberland Mountains in the Appalachians, near the tripoint of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Dave Hum recorded the song on his “Celtic And Bluegrass - Volume I” album using standard tuning (gDGBD), in the key of G. I have made backing tracks by using Dave's song as a template. I've made tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Sean Ray also has some tabs and a great backing track available for this song. Enjoy!

• Cumberland Gap (a video lesson by William Nesbitt)
• Cumberland Gap (a video lesson by Jim Pankey)
• Cumberland Gap Tablature (from Banjo Hangout)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, faster)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, normal)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, slower)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, slow)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, very slow)
• Cumberland Gap (key of A, woodshed)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, faster)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, normal)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, slower)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, slow)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, very slow)
• Cumberland Gap (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I strummed along with my Cort acoustic guitar. I also overdubbed the guitar to add some acoustic padding. I'm using a real audio tambourine and Cajon. Toward the end I added a stick in the drums, and then stopped the tambourine completely, as a heads-up that the end is coming. I humbly think the track came out fairly well. The Cumberland Gap is a great song to jam with and have fun!

Dave Hum
(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

49 Great Endings By Eli Gilbert

I was having fun learning some great new ending licks today by Eli Gilbert. Good stuff!

49 Bluegrass Banjo Endings!

A New Backing Track For “Stony Mountain Twist”

This is a popular Bluegrass tune called “Stony Mountain Twist,” a song by Earl Taylor and The Stoney Mountain Boys, released on Rebel Records. Standard tuning (gDGBD). This song sounds a bit like “Salty Dog Blues” to me. I used a 1986 recording by 'J.D. Crowe and The New South' to make a backing track in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Stony Mountain Twist PDF Tablature | TEF (by Michael Corcoran)
• Stony Mountain Twist (a video lesson by Tom Adams)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, fast)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, faster)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, normal)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, slower)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, slow)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, very slow)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of A, woodshed)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, fast)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, faster)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, normal)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, slower)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, slow)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, very slow)
• Stony Mountain Twist (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums, keyboard and piano. I have been very pleased with the quality achieved through using MIDI. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is only computer data that contains no music. The computer's sound card converts the MIDI data into actual sound, which I record in my backing tracks. Still, the finished quality is impressive for making backing tracks.

Dave Hum had a certain style that he used to make his backing tracts, which I have tried to emulate to make my own tracks. Dave never recorded Stony Mountain Twist, but I'm sure if he had been given more time on earth, he would have. His surreal YouTube banjo recordings are a continual source of musical inspiration for me. I thank God for Dave Hum.

In contrast to MIDI data, audio loops are actual recordings of musical instruments performed by various different musicians. I buy the ready made loops to incorporate into my songs. Just like Dave Hum did, I have my favorite Go-to loops that I like to use. My backing tracks pale in comparison to Dave's. Many songs, like John Henry, John Hardy and Stony Mountain Twist, Dave never recorded or made backing tracks for. By God's grace, I'm continuing the tradition that he started, making my own backing tracks. It is my joy to freely share them with others.

Thank you friend for reading my music blog.

J.D. Crowe

(August 27, 1937 – December 24, 2021)

A New Backing Track For “John Hardy”

This is a fun Traditional American tune titled, “John Hardy” or “Old John Hardy.” The song is based on the life of a West Virginian railroad worker living in McDowell County in the Spring of 1893. The song was first recorded and released by Eva Davis in 1924. It was covered by Mother Maybelle Carter, Brian Peters and other artists. The tune is played on the 5-string banjo in Standard tuning (gDGBD). I used a performance by Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt as a template to make backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• John Hardy Tablature | TEF (by Michael Corcoran in Standard tuning, key of G)
• John Hardy (a video lesson by Bill Nesbitt with tabs in the key of G)
• John Hardy (a video lesson by Jim Pankey in the key of G; additional licks)
• John Hardy (a video lesson by Mason Crone with tabs in the key of G)
• John Hardy (key of A, faster)
• John Hardy (key of A, normal)
• John Hardy (key of A, slower)
• John Hardy (key of A, slow)
• John Hardy (key of A, very slow)
• John Hardy (key of A, woodshed)
• John Hardy (key of G, faster)
• John Hardy (key of G, normal)
• John Hardy (key of G, slower)
• John Hardy (key of G, slow)
• John Hardy (key of G, very slow)
• John Hardy (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the drums, bass and piano. I'm using real audio loops for the tambourine and shakers.

The picture below shows Dave playing his “Ode” banjo made in Arkansas during the 1970's. His wife told me that Dave later sold this banjo. I love that 'Flying Eagle' inlay, which Jason Skinner and Sean Ray also have on their “Neat” brand banjos.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “John Henry”

“John Henry” is the hero in a popular Traditional folk ballad. It describes his contest with a steam drill, in which John Henry crushed more rock than did the machine, but died “with his hammer in his hand.” Dave Hum didn't record this tune. I used a performance by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in the key of D as a template to make backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. The song is played in various tunings. Enjoy!

• John Henry Tabs In The Key Of G (by Ben Freed)
• John Henry (a video lesson in the key of G by Jim Pankey)
• John Henry (a video lesson with tabs by John Moore in the key of D)
• John Henry (a video lesson in the key of D by Jim Pankey; no beard version...lol)
• John Henry Tabs In The Key Of D (by Richard Van Patten)
• John Henry (key of A, faster)
• John Henry (key of A, normal)
• John Henry (key of A, slower)
• John Henry (key of A, slow)
• John Henry (key of A, very slow)
• John Henry (key of A, woodshed)
• John Henry (key of G, faster)
• John Henry (key of G, normal)
• John Henry (key of G, slower)
• John Henry (key of G, slow)
• John Henry (key of G, very slow)
• John Henry (key of G, woodshed)
• Check out this blast from the past of Roy Clark (1933-2018)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. Read audio loops were used for the shaker and tambourine. I use 'MixCraft Pro Studio software' to make all my backing tracks.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Gentle On My Mind”

This is a classic 1966 song by John Hartford (1937-2001) titled, “Gentle On My Mind.” Buddy Emmons (1937-2015) played awesome pedal steel guitar on this live version of the song. Glenn Campbell (1936-2017) popularized the song in 1967 (the year I was born on March 5th). This tune is played on the 5-string banjo in Drop C tuning (gCGBD). I used this live performance by Glenn Campbell in 1999 at the Ryman Theater as a template to make backing tracks in the keys of G and A. Here is another backing track that I found, which I also enjoy playing along with. Also, this one and this one. Enjoy!

• Gentle On My Mind (a video lesson by Eddie Collins in Drop C tuning - gCGBD)
• Gentle On My Mind PDF Tabs | TEF (by Chris Ragaisis in Standard tuning - gDGBD)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, faster)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, normal)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, slower)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, slow)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, very slow)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of A, woodshed)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, faster)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, normal)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, slower)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, slow)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, very slow)
• Gentle On My Mind (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums piano. I used real audio loops for the shakers and tambourine. I played my Cort model # AD810 OP (open pore) guitar at the end. I only spent $130 at Guitar Center in 2022 ago for my Cort guitar, but it is the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned. The instrument has a natural wood finish, not smothered in glossy lacquer, which I really like. Amazon also sells an electric model. I didn't buy the electric model; I just installed a sound hole pickup instead.

When recording just the guitar, I have to turn down the backing track volume because the guitar's body actually functions as a microphone and picks up sound, which gets into the recording. I use earphones when recording my Eastman 505CC mandolin through a Shure 57 microphone. When I am recording my non-electric mandolin live, I have to turn the backing track all the way down. But the earphones still allow me to hear the track, so I can play along with it to record. I keep the mandolin (or whatever instrument) within 1 foot of the microphone. That's how I record my songs.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)