A New Backing Track For “Reeds Hornpipes”

This fun tune titled “Reeds Hornpipes” was composed by Jim Reed in Sydney, Kentucky, who is a skilled banjo enthusiast. Here is Jim playing his tune. Thanks to Jim! Also, Dave Hum recorded the tune and gave due credit and tribute to Jim Reed. I've made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Reed's Hornpipes (normal, key of G)
• Reed's Hornpipes (slower, key of G)
• Reed's Hornpipes (slow, key of G)
• Reed's Hornpipes (very slow, key of G)
• Reed's Hornpipes (woodshed, key of G)
• Reed's Hornpipes (normal, key of A)
• Reed's Hornpipes (slower, key of A)
• Reed's Hornpipes (slow, key of A)
• Reed's Hornpipes (very slow, key of A)
• Reed's Hornpipes (woodshed, key of A)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums, piano and keyboard. Real audio loops used for the tambourine and shaker. MixCraft Pro Studio is the software I use.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Buffalo Gals”

“Buffalo Gals” is a Traditional American tune. Dave Hum recorded the tune on the 5-string banjo in standard tuning (gDGBD); capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret for key of A. Also known as “Buffalo Girls.” The tune was originally published as “Lubly Fan” in 1844 by the blackface minstrel John Hodges, who performed as “Cool White.” I've made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Buffalo Gals (Jim Pankey explains how to play this tune)
• Buffalo Gals (normal, key of A)
• Buffalo Gals (slower, key of A)
• Buffalo Gals (slow, key of A)
• Buffalo Gals (very slow, key of A)
• Buffalo Gals (woodshed, key of A)
• Buffalo Gals (normal, key of G)
• Buffalo Gals (slower, key of G)
• Buffalo Gals (slow, key of G)
• Buffalo Gals (very slow, key of G)
• Buffalo Gals (woodshed, key of G)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums, piano and keyboard. Actual audio loops were used for the Cajon, tambourine and shaker.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Blackberry Blossom”

“Blackberry Blossom” was originally composed as a fiddle tune in the key of G major, popular in Old Time, Bluegrass and Celtic traditional circles.  In the 1920s and 30s it was popularized by Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, who recorded Blackberry Blossom with his Dixieliners in 1935. Bill Keith made the tune famous with his new melodic banjo style in the 1960's. Dave Hum plays the song in combination with Devil's Dream, since they share similar chord structure and time. I wanted to make a backing track just for Blackberry Blossom. I used Dave's performance as a template to make my backing track, in the keys of G and A. Enjoy!

• Blackberry Blossom (Jim Pankey explains how to play this tune)
• Blackberry Blossom (Bill Nesbitt explains how to play this tune)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, fast)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, faster)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, normal)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, slower)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, slow)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, very slow)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of A, woodshed)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, fast)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, faster)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, normal)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, slower)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, slow)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, very slow)
• Blackberry Blossom (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I'm playing my Cort acoustic guitar and Eastman 505 CC mandolin. This song was somewhat challenging for me to make, since there are a lot of moving chords, but I did my best with my music skills.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Little Rock Getaway”

The famous tune “Little Rock Getaway” was first recorded and released by Joe Sullivan in 1935. This tune has become a staple in the Bluegrass community. I used a nice recording by Marshall Wilborn to make my backing track. Here's a great arrangement by Bill Knopf. Enjoy!

• Little Rock Getaway (Richie Dotson explains how to play this tune)
• Little Rock Getaway (.pdf tablature by J. Gentle, Jr.)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, faster)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, normal)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, slower)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, slow)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, very slow)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of A, woodshed)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, faster)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, normal)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, slower)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, slow)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, very slow)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano.

I also have a recording of Dave Hum masterfully playing this tune in it original ragtime style, which I did my best to make a backing track from. Since I bought the recording from his wife, I cannot share it. My track is inferior to Dave's backing track, but I was able to capture some of his brilliant essence in this ragtime style track. I used an upright MIDI string bass for this track. Since Dave played the tune in G, I have only made backing tracks in the key of G. Enjoy! ...

• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, faster)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, normal)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, slower)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, slow)
• Little Rock Getaway (key of G, very slow)

Bad habits are hard to break. I sincerely thought all my life that this tune was titled, “Little Rock Gateway.” It's “Little Rock Getaway.” I like doing a lot of thumb strumming in this tune to give it a ragtime feel. It's a really great song to learn and play.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Home Sweet Home”

“Home! Sweet Home” is a Traditional tune that is 202 years old, adapted from American actor and dramatist John Howard Payne's 1823 opera “Clari” or “The Maid of Milan.” The fun tune's melody was composed by Englishman Henry Bishop with lyrics by Payne. During the American Civil War this song was banned as it was thought to encourage desertion by soldiers. I used Earl Scruggs' 1961 album recording as a template to make my backing tracks in the keys of G and A. This tune is played in Standard C tuning (gCGBD). For Jim Pankey's lesson below, simply use the backing track in the key of A. Enjoy!

• Home Sweet Home (Eli Gilbert explains how to play this song in Standard C)
• Home Sweet Home (Jim Pankey explains how to play the song with D tuners in D)
• Home Sweet Home (normal, key of A)
• Home Sweet Home (slower, key of A)
• Home Sweet Home (slow, key of A)
• Home Sweet Home (very slow, key of A)
• Home Sweet Home (woodshed, key of A)
• Home Sweet Home (normal, key of G)
• Home Sweet Home (slower, key of G)
• Home Sweet Home (slow, key of G)
• Home Sweet Home (very slow, key of G)
• Home Sweet Home (woodshed, key of G)

This is a fun song to learn and play. Remember to lower your fourth string from D to C for Standard C tuning. I used MIDI for the bass, drums, keyboard and piano. I'm using a real audio loop for the shaker and tambourine. I use MixCraft Pro Studio to make all my backing tracks, which is very user friendly software. I really like this DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “The Big Old Tree”

I did something different for this song. I was searching for banjo music on YouTube and I found this song, which was artificially generated. Yes, A.I. It didn't take me but a moment to realize that this wasn't a real banjo, because it lacks the beautiful resonance and overtones that a real physical banjo produces. And also, that the individual song lacked a title and attribution to a human musician was a give away clue. Albeit, the tune's chord progression moved me musically, so I made a backing track in the keys of G and A. I've included a link to the song (the first one in the video), so you can hear what the A.I. played. I just named the tune, “The Big Old Tree.” These A.I. generated unknown songs provide good backing tracts to enhance your chord knowledge, which is what I did with this tune.

• The Big Old Tree (normal, key of A)
• The Big Old Tree (slower, key of A)
• The Big Old Tree (slow, key of A)
• The Big Old Tree (normal, key of G)
• The Big Old Tree (slower, key of G)
• The Big Old Tree (slow, key of G)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums, keyboard and piano. I'm using a real audio loop for the tambourine. I use MixCraft Studio Pro to make all my backing tracks.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “All The Good Times Are Past And Gone”

Here's a traditional old Waltz from the 1800s called, “All The Good Times Are Past And Gone,” played in standard tuning (gDGBD). The tune was popularized in 1937 by The Monroe Brothers (Bill Monroe), and has been covered by Earl Scruggs and The Kingston Trio to name but a couple artists. Dave Hum didn't record this song, but I'm sure if he had more time would have. I've made backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• All The Good Times (Bill Nesbitt explains how to play this song)
• All The Good Times (normal, key of A)
• All The Good Times (slower, key of A)
• All The Good Times (slow, key of A)
• All The Good Times (very slow, key of A)
• All The Good Times (normal, key of G)
• All The Good Times (slower, key of G)
• All The Good Times (slow, key of G)
• All The Good Times (very slow, key of G)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and keyboard. I use MixCraft Studio Pro to make all my backing tracks. I'm playing a Cort 6-string acoustic guitar and Eastman 505CC mandolin.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)