Wednesday, May 8, 2024

New Backing Track For “Earl's Breakdown”

I made this backing track yesterday for Earl's Breakdown. It's a classic Bluegrass song written by Earl Scruggs and was first recorded and released by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys in 1951. It's done in the key of G. Here is an excellent performance of Earl's Breakdown by Daniel Varadi. Good stuff Mikey!

I used Dave Hum's recording of this song as my template to build off. So if you want to know how the banjo ending licks should go, watch Dave's YouTube video. Dave ends the song differently than the tabs provided below...
I received my Cajon box yesterday and tried to do something percussive with it to add to the track, but I realized quickly that I am going to need some practice before I can get it right. My peripheral neuropathy doesn't help. My hands do something different than what my brain intends...lol.

I used my Gretsch short-scale electric bass for this recording. I learned the acoustic guitar break quickly, since I am good on guitar with the basic G, C, A, and D chords. I hope you like it. This is a great song.

I'm using Cheat-A-Keys from Gold Tone on my Deering Goodtime Special. I have Keith D Tuners on my Recording King Elite 85. I get frustrated often with my Recording King, because the dang thing won't stay in tune. I haven't had tuning issues so far with the Deering Goodtime Special. The arm rest is starting to hurt my right underarm though, because it is only about 1/2" wide (much too narrow).

I did have some issues with the Cheat-A-Keys. At first I installed the device backwards on the banjo headstock, which is an easy mistake to make. If you do, you won't be able to lower the strings anywhere near their proper desired pitch. However, even when I installed the device correctly, it still would not lower string 2 all the way to an A note. It would stay a few degrees sharp and annoy me. I think whoever designed Cheat-A-Keys needs to improve their product, so that it will work with any gauge string. I am using a .012" string gauge on my Recording King (which is what Dave Hum uses), but the Cheat-A-Keys won't lower it all the way to an A note on string 2.

So, I put the Cheat-A-Keys on my Deering Goodtime Special instead and installed a .013" string. It works okay now. So if you use Cheat-A-Keys and have the same issue, use a thicker gauge string. I buy my banjo strings from Amazon for $6.99 a set (medium gauge). I don't like light gauge strings and neither did Dave Hum.

Enjoy the backing track. By the way, you are welcome to share and use my backing tracks anyway you want. I love sharing.

My Deering Goodtime Special and Rittenberry S-10 Pedal Steel

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5 String Banjo Instruction [1967] - Earl Scruggs

5 String Banjo Instruction Album [1967] - Earl Scruggs