A New Track For “Old Spinning Wheel”

This is one of my very favorite tunes, an Old Time mountain song, played on the 5-string banjo. Dave Hum recorded it in standard tuning (gDGBD) in the key of C using improvisations. I've made backing tracks at various speed in the keys of A and G for your preference. Enjoy!

• Tabs For Old Spinning Wheel (from the BanjoHangout; More detailed tabs)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, faster)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, normal)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, slower)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, slow)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, very slow)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of A, woodshed)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, faster)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, normal)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, slower)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, slow)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, very slow)
• Old Spinning Wheel (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano and keyboard parts. Real audio loops were used for the tambourines, shakers, djembes and cymbals.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

Some Tips On Playing Like Dave Hum

First, let me say that I humbly don't think I can play like Dave Hum and I never will. That is not my goal. My goal is to learn his techniques and implement them into my own playing.

Dave is such an amazing and intriguing musician. I don't think I will ever fully grasp why he plays ghost notes, which he does quite often. That is where he extends his left hand several frets up the neck to make it look like he is picking a note up there, but he's not. He is picking an open string instead, creating an optical illusion, but it looks so cool. I have no desire to do this as a means of artistic expression. I understand what Dave is doing, but I cannot figure out why. I wish I had the passion like Dave did to play ghost notes, but I just don't and I don't know any other banjo player that does. Dave was truly one of a kind! I sincerely don't think Dave played ghost notes to impress others; but rather, he enjoyed doing it. In this song, 'Behind The Haystack,' you can see Dave playing several obvious ghost notes.

Dave Hum is excellent at Pick Blocking and he uses this technique at times. I first learned how to do pick blocking on the pedal steel guitar. I learned from Jeff Newman (1942-2004), in his 'Woodshed Workshop' series of pedal steel guitar courses. Here is a pedal steel guitar website that explains pick blocking. Picking blocking is often used with Double Stops in music. A “Double Stop” is playing two notes simultaneously on a musical instrument.

Here are some audio examples that I made of using pick blocking on the banjo, using the patterns that I have tabbed for you....

1. Pick Blocking Example 1
2. Pick Blocking Example 2
3. Pick Blocking Example 3

I'm sure many of you have already been doing Pick Blocking and Double Stops and perhaps didn't even realize it. It's a bit tricky to learn at first, but a very simple and rewarding technique. You simply pick a note and then use the same pick to block that note while you pick another note, creating an alternating note picking pattern.

These are some of the basic chord patterns they Dave uses (.pdf). Here is the .tef version. In these tabs you will see Double Stop PATERNS 1, 2 and 3. If you have a good ear for music, then you can hear the chords as you play these patterns that I've tabbed, so that you don't even need the tabs. You should commit these patterns to memory, so that you know them fluently. Only then can you be free to ad lib and improvise on the banjo as a true professional musician. In these tabs you're essentially paying a complete musical scale using Double Stops (i.e., your playing the scale by using two notes). The reason why Dave sounds so uniquely different than other banjo artists is because he does a lot of improvising, using scales to express himself musically. You can easily do this too, if you'll learn these scale patterns and implement them into your playing.

Dave uses Double Stops quite often. In the song 'Tobin's Jig' (Double C Tuning) Dave Hum uses Double Stops. He's not using pick blocking here. Also, in the song Mason's Apron (Standard Tuning) he is using pattern one above. I enjoy using Double Stops often. In Raggle Taggle Gipsy (Standard Tuning), Dave also uses Double Stops.

In Dave's video, 'Speed The Plough,' at 1:47 time he uses the first chord pattern that I shared with you, improvising. In this clip Dave is playing strings 1 and 3 in combination with using Double Stops. A “Double Stop” is playing two notes simultaneously on a musical instrument. If you pay attention to Dave's videos, you will notice that he often uses Double Stops with strings 1 and 3 and at other times strings 2 and 4. In the same song, 'Speed The Plough,' Dave uses Double Stops for the introduction on strings 2 and 4. If you use the third chord pattern in the tabs that I shared with you, you'll be able to figure out what Dave is doing.

There are no exact notes that you must play. If it sounds good, you've got the right chord. I have studied Dave Hum's playing probably more than any banjo enthusiast. I have learned that he simply sticks to the chord patterns (mostly the one's I showed you). There's no magic to Dave playing. He well understands the tunings that he uses. Every musical instrument and tuning has a specific chord pattern to it. For example: I love the 'Double C Tuning' (gCGCD) on the banjo, but it has a very different chord pattern than 'Standard Open G Tuning' (gDGBD). I am familiar with the Double C Tuning. If you've never tried Double C, you are missing out. In 'Maid Behind The Bar' (Double C Tuning), you can here Dave employ Double Stops very well.

I love Dave Hum's banjo playing. He was a great man, having done something that no one else did musically. I love Dave's backing tracks and am so thankful to his family for making them available for everyone. The banjo is such a happy instrument. Music makes the world a better place.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)

A New Backing Track For “Rocky Top”

The popular tune “Rocky Top” was written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 1967 and recorded by the Osborne Brothers later that same year. The song is a city dweller's lamentation over the loss of a simpler and freer existence in the hills of Tennessee. Dave Hum played it in standard tuning (gDGBD); capo the 4th fret, 5th string capo 9th fret, for the key of B. I've made backing tracks in the keys of A, B and G for your preference. This is a fun song to learn and play on the banjo! Enjoy!

• Rocky Top (key of A, faster)
• Rocky Top (key of A, normal)
• Rocky Top (key of A, slower)
• Rocky Top (key of A, slow)
• Rocky Top (key of A, very slow)
• Rocky Top (key of A, woodshed)
• Rocky Top (key of B, faster)
• Rocky Top (key of B, normal)
• Rocky Top (key of B, slower)
• Rocky Top (key of B, slow)
• Rocky Top (key of B, very slow)
• Rocky Top (key of B, woodshed)
• Rocky Top (key of G, faster)
• Rocky Top (key of G, normal)
• Rocky Top (key of G, slower)
• Rocky Top (key of G, slow)
• Rocky Top (key of G, very slow)
• Rocky Top (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I used real audio for the shaker, djembe and tambourine. I use Mixcraft Studio Pro to make all my backing tracks, which costs $149. It is often on sale for $99. With the Studio Pro version, you get over 5000 audio loops to work with.

I just had another Dave Hum T-shirt made. You can order the shirts for about $20 on Amazon. I use GIMP (a free open source program to feather and remove the image edges). You can find videos on YouTube how to use GIMP. I uploaded the exact second image below to have the following T-shirt made.

Dave Hum

(April 11, 1966 - November 14, 2012)

A New Backing Track For “Shenandoah Breakdown”

This popular Bluegrass instrumental tune, “Shenandoah Breakdown,” was written by Bill Monroe (1911-1996) and first recorded and released by Bill Monroe in 1964. Also known as “Shenandoah Valley Breakdown,” a traditional American folk tune hailing from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The tune is played on the 5-string banjo in standard tuning (gDGBD); capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret, for key of A.

Dave Hum does a tremendous job playing this tune. He must have really enjoyed this song, because he uploaded three different recordings to YouTube. Contrary to what many banjo instructors teach, Dave DOESN'T anchor his right-hand pinky on the banjo head while playing. His hand is freely floating, which you will see in these videos. I love it! ...

• Shenandoah Breakdown
• Shenandoah Breakdown (2)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (3)

I've made various backing tracks at different speeds in the keys of A and G for your preference. Enjoy!

• Tablature For Shenandoah Breakdown By Bill Keith (TablEdit Tabs)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, normal)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, slower)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, slow)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, very slow)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, woodshed)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of G, normal)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of G, slower)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of G, slow)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of G, very slow)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drum and piano parts. This is a fairly simple track. David didn't use any cymbals, shakers, djembe or a Cajon box, so neither did I.

Just for fun, I also made a few different tracks using the drum track for Andy Gibb's popular 1975 song, “Jive Talking,” which works well I humbly think. I also used this same track for my backing track, “Temperance Reel.” For this backing track, I just made a few in the key of A. ...

• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, normal)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, slower)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, slow)
• Shenandoah Breakdown (key of A, very slow)

I hope you enjoy playing along with these backing tracks as much as I did making them. Dave Hum's birthday was this past Friday, April 11th. He would have turned 59. God bless his family.

Thankfully, Dave's music lives on in the hearts and minds of thousands of people like me. I hear musicians all the time who can play very fast and are highly skilled, but their music isn't worth listening to because it lacks timbre, rhythm and style. Dave's banjo playing along with his superb driving backing tracks are nothing short of amazing! I've been watching some YouTube videos of so-called top banjo artists, who can't hold a candle to Dave Hum. 

Ultimately, it doesn't matter how good you can play an instrument if you don't sound exceptional while performing. Dave didn't just play the banjo, he created something beautiful and thankfully recorded it for us to enjoy and cherish for a lifetime.

Finally, I have done my best for the past couple years to recreate Dave's backing tracks, to freely share with other banjo and music enthusiasts like me. But my tracks pale in comparison to Dave's. He was a seasoned musician who exceled at making his own backing tracks.

Therefore, I highly recommend purchasing Dave's backing tracks, which are still available from his family. Considering that Dave invested several hundred hours making the 115 tracks that are available, they are worth every penny! Every penny goes to help Dave's family. When Dave passed away in 2012, the bank foreclosed on their home in Salisbury, England, and refused to give his wife time to come up with the next mortgage payment. So, the wicked bank took their home without mercy. I hate the ungodly greedy banks! Anyway, my heart goes out to the family. I've already bought all 115 tracks and they are one of my most prized possessions.

Thank you for reading my blog. So many tunes, so little time!

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

A New Backing Track For, “Shove That Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire”

This Old Time fiddle tune is called, “Shove That Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire.” Some websites refer to the song as: “Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire.” I'm not sure which titled is the official name, but I like “that” better than “the.” Dave Hum actually calls the tune by both names in his video description. The song is played on the 5-string banjo in standard Open G tuning (gDGBD).

A ‘pig’s foot’ is a blacksmith’s tool that somewhat resembles a crowbar or poker, used to manipulate pieces of pig iron in a forge. The tune was originally recorded by a western North Carolina fiddler named Martin Marcus, on an LP where he played it as a duet with his son Wayne. Marcus also recorded it for the Library of Congress in the 1940's. Also known as “Ruby With The Dancing Eyes.” I used Dave Hum's performance to make a backing track's in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, faster)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, normal)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, slower)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, slow)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, very slow)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of G, woodshed)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, faster)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, normal)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, slower)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, slow)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, very slow)
• Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire (key of A, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano parts. I used real audio loops for the djembe, tambourine and shaker. I use 'MixCraft Studio Pro' to make all my backing tracks. All audio workstation software has its own pros and cons, but I really like MixCraft because it is very user friendly and doesn't have any problems loading or processing. When I tried Ableton's trial version it kept crashing. I wrote a review of 'Ableton Live' in this blog. You can't beat MixCraft for the affordable price. It does what I need it to do to make nice backing tracks.

“Shove That Pig's Foot A Little Closer To The Fire” is a fun song to play. It's fairly simple to learn. If you don't already know, you can go into the settings (right hand corner) icon for any YouTube video and slow it down as much as you want. I slow Dave's recordings down to 25% to 50% to learn his tune's note for note, which makes learning a lot easier.

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