A New Backing Track For “Cherry Blossom Waltz”

This pretty tune is called the “Cherry Blossom Waltz” by Tony Ellis. It is played in the Double C 5-string banjo tuning (gCGCD); capo 2nd fret and 7th fret on fifth string for the key of D. I used a nice performance by Gabriele Bazza & Emilio Vellati as a template to make my backing tracks in the keys of G and A (they did it in A). Here's a nice recording that let's you here the clear melody. Here's another. I love the peaceful sound of the Double C tuning, which I encourage you to learn. Some of Dave Hum's best recordings were done in Double C (e.g., Maid Behind The Bar, Whisky Before Breakfast, Gaspe Reel and Boys Of Bluehill). Enjoy!

• Cherry Blossom Waltz Tablature (Andy Holdaway PDF tabs as played by Tony Ellis)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (faster, key of A)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (normal, key of A)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (slower, key of A)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (slow, key of A)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (faster, key of G)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (normal, key of G)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (slower, key of G)
• Cherry Blossom Waltz (slow, key of G)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the drums, bass, piano and keyboard. I used real audio loops for the tambourine and shaker. For my Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), I only use MixCraft Pro Studio, which is awesome software for a very reasonable price. I'm surprised that MixCraft is not listed among the best DAW's in a web page search.

Here are some other .PDF tabs for Tony Ellis' songs. Janet Burton has a very nice and helpful website. On this web page she has 16 performances by Tony Ellis, including Chery Blossom Waltz. On this intriguing web page Janet has 158 Old Timey banjo recordings with tablature, mostly Clawhammer.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Banks Of The Ohio”

This popular tune is called, “Banks Of The Ohio,” which has been recorded by many musical artists. I used a recording by Tony Rice as a template to make my backing track, so you can see how the song is arranged. Standard 5-string banjo tuning is used. In a couple places there is an extra fill between verses, including after the initial 13 second intro. I just do the 'G-lick' twice. The original Tony Rice recording was done in the key of F. I've made backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Banks Of The Ohio (Chris Elliot explains how to play in key of F)
• Banks Of The Ohio (Mike Hedding explains how to play in the key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (faster, key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (normal, key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (slower, key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (slow, key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (woodshed, key of G)
• Banks Of The Ohio (faster, key of A)
• Banks Of The Ohio (normal, key of A)
• Banks Of The Ohio (slower, key of A)
• Banks Of The Ohio (slow, key of A)
• Banks Of The Ohio (woodshed, key of A)

I found a nice YouTube channel called, 'Bluegrass Practice Tracks' with dozens of free of Band-In-A-Box made backing tracks. Go check it out! Here is “Banks Of The Ohio” on their channel. Here is 'My Grandfather's Clock,' one of my favorite songs to play.

To make 'Banks Of The Ohio' I used MIDI for the bass, drums, piano and keyboard. I used real audio loops for the tambourine, shaker and djembe. As always, I use MixCraft Pro Studio to make all my backing tracks. Thank you for visiting my music blog.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

I Recorded The Song “Whisky Before Breakfast”

The popular Irish song “Whisky Before Breakfast” is also known as “Spirits Of The Morning.” I love how Dave Hum plays the song in Double C tuning (gCGCD). I used a capo on the 2nd fret, and on the fifth string 7th fret, for the key of D. In this recording Dave is using his Epiphone banjo. I recorded two takes last night using my Deering Goodtime Special banjo. I'm not as smooth as Dave, nor as fast, but I enjoy playing this song. I am using Dave's original backing track which you can purchase from his family on his website. This is one of my favorite tunes to play.

• Whisky Before Breakfast - First Recording - Deering Goodtime Special
• Whisky Before Breakfast - Second Recording - Deering Goodtime Special
• Whisky Before Breakfast - Deering Calico

Music makes the world a better place!

Here's a photo of Dave with his Chinese-made Epiphone banjo. Gotta love it!

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Keep On The Sunny Side”

This tune, “Keep on the Sunny Side,” is a popular American song originally written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn with music by J. Howard Entwisle. This tune is played on the 5-string banjo in standard tuning. I used a recording to Larry Perkins as a template to make my backing track. The song was popularized in a 1928 recording by the Carter Family. I've made backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Keep On The Sunnyside (Bill Nesbitt explains how to play in key of C)
• Keep On The Sunny Side Tablature (by Randall Rode in Key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (Mike Hedding explains how to play in G ; also, Backup Style)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (faster, key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (normal, key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (slower, key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (slow, key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (very slow, key of G)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (faster, key of A)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (normal, key of A)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (slower, key of A)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (slow, key of A)
• Keep On The Sunny Side (very slow, key of A)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums, piano and keyboard. I'm using real audio loops for the Tambourine, shaker and cymbals.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Snowbird”

The beautiful tune “Snowbird” was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gene MacLellan. Though it has been recorded by many performers, it is best known through Anne Murray's 1969 recording, which was released as a single in 1970. I used Anne Murray's recording as a template to make my backing track in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Snowbird (Chuck Van Dyke explains how to play)
• Snowbird (Casey Henry explains how to play)
• Snowbird (faster, key of G)
• Snowbird (normal, key of G)
• Snowbird (slower, key of G)
• Snowbird (slow, key of G)
• Snowbird (very slow, key of G)
• Snowbird (woodshed, key of G)
• Snowbird (faster, key of A)
• Snowbird (normal, key of A)
• Snowbird (slower, key of A)
• Snowbird (slow, key of A)
• Snowbird (very slow, key of A)
• Snowbird (woodshed, key of A)

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

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “The Weeping Willow”

“Bury Me Beneath The Willow Tree” is a Traditional ballad folk song. The tune is also known as “Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow,” “The Weeping Willow,” “The Willow Tree,” and “Under the Willow Tree.” Its author is unknown. The first citation to the song appears in Henry Marvin Belden's 1909 compilation “Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society“ as “Under the Willow Tree.” Jim Reed does a great job picking this tune. I used Jay Buckey's performance to make my backing tracks in the keys of G, A and E for your preference. Here's Jay's backing track as well. Enjoy!

• Weeping Willow Tree - Tablature by Jay Buckey (.PDF)
• Weeping Willow Tree - Tablature By Don Reno (PDF | TEF)
• Weeping Willow Tree (Jim Pankey explains how to play)
• Weeping Willow Tree (Mike Hedding explains how to play)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a G, faster)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a G, normal)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a G, slower)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a G, slow)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a G, very slow)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a A, faster)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a A, normal)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a A, slower)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a A, slow)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a A, very slow)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a E, faster)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a E, normal)
• Weeping Willow Tree (key a E, slower)

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

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “The Wildwood Flower”

“The Wildwood Flower” is a variant of the song “I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets,” published in 1860 by composer Joseph Philbrick Webster who wrote the music, with lyrics attributed to Maud Irving. The Carter Family popularized the song years later. I used a recording by Mother Maybelle Carter as a template to make my backing tracks in the keys of C, D and G for your preference. She recorded the original tune in the key of Eb, so I had to transpose. Enjoy!

• The Wildwood Flower (Jim Pankey explains how to play in C)
• The Wildwood Flower (Eddie Collins explains how to play in C)
• The Wildwood Flower (Ted Nesbitt explains how to play in G)
• The Wildwood Flower (Chuck Van Dyke explains how to play in G)
• The Wildwood Flower (faster, key of G)
• The Wildwood Flower (normal, key of G)
• The Wildwood Flower (slower, key of G)
• The Wildwood Flower (slow, key of G)
• The Wildwood Flower (very slow, key of G)
• The Wildwood Flower (faster, key of C)
• The Wildwood Flower (normal, key of C)
• The Wildwood Flower (slower, key of C)
• The Wildwood Flower (slow, key of C)
• The Wildwood Flower (very slow, key of C)
• The Wildwood Flower (faster, key of D)
• The Wildwood Flower (normal, key of D)
• The Wildwood Flower (slower, key of D)
• The Wildwood Flower (slow, key of D)
• The Wildwood Flower (very slow, key of D)

I used MIDI for the bass, piano and keyboard. I'm playing along with my Eastman 505CC mandolin and Cort 6-string acoustic guitar. I've used real audio loops for the tambourine and shaker.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)