Banjo Heaven: I Added My Pedal Steel To “Just Over Yonder” (I fixed the dead links)

Friday, August 8, 2025

I Added My Pedal Steel To “Just Over Yonder” (I fixed the dead links)

I found a nice Gospel song on Facebook a few days ago by David Johnson. He's singing and playing acoustic guitar. I thought it would be fun to add a MIDI bass, kick drum and tambourine (I used MixCraft Pro Studio 10.1 software). And then I added my pedal steel guitar playing to it, which I humbly think came out okay. It's not perfect but I had fun making it. ...

Just Over Yonder (original song)
Just Over Yonder (added bass and percussion, no steel guitar)
Just Over Yonder (with pedal steel guitar)

I used my black Rittenberry S-10 pedal steel guitar. I play from my steel guitar, to the volume pedal, to a BOSS DD-3 delay, to my Evans FET-15 amp (I bought it back in 1992), out the "pre amp" output in back to a Scarlett solo interface box, to my computer. I didn't use any effects except my DD-3 pedal (I use a long delay with one repeat). It's not bad for a cheap home recording studio. I use a BJS bar for playing my steel. The decorative birthstone fell out years ago at the tip. The bar works fine, so I just use it as is. I changed out my stock pickup last year and replaced it with a Bill Lawrence 710. I'm happy with it.

I learned years ago that many steel guitar players also play the 5-string banjo, because both instruments share some of the same skills, use the same finger picks, and both use rolls. So, there is some overlap. If you can play pedal steel guitar, you can easily learn to play the banjo. I also think the reverse is true. I also think it would be quite easier for a banjo player to learn to play pedal steel guitar, which I have played as a hobby since 1992. There is a steep learning curve to learn pedal steel, but once you pass that initial hurdle it is downhill for the rest of your life. The steel guitar has been the joy of my life. Pedal steel will always be my first musical love. Lap steel steel guitar is second, which I play Hawaiian music on. Hawaiian music is a style, not a guitar, although it is usually played on a non-pedal steel guitar.

I also love the 5-string Banjo. I found Dave Hum's YouTube channel and amazing music in 2018 and my love of the banjo was rekindled. My passion for the banjo remains strong. I wish they weren't so darn overpriced and expensive, but that is a separate issue. As of August 2025, you can still buy a Show-Pro single neck pedal steel guitar for $3,895 from the Sho-Pro company in Nashville, Tennessee. Emmons charges about $12,000!!!

Last year, I bought two expensive Deering banjos from Fuller Guitars in Houston, Texas, at a 15% discount: a Calico for $4,430, and a Golden Wreath for $4,130. I'm not rich, but I had saved money for a long time. I am a firm believer in saving first and paying cash. I hate owing anybody a dime. There's a wonderful joy that comes from diligently saving money and waiting to buy to acquire something; as versus going into debt first and despising what you purchased on credit.

The Calico and Golden Wreath are both nice quality banjos, but I personally like the sound and tone of the Calico better. My Golden Wreath is sitting in its case now. I play the Calico. I also bought an inexpensive Goodtime Special for $1,099 on Amazon. To be quiet honest, I love and play the Goodtime Special more than any other of my banjos, because I love the clear unfinished wood on the neck, and that the banjo only weighs 9.3 pounds (over 3 pounds lighter than my other banjos), and the tone is excellent.

If someone were to break into my home and steal all my stuff (I don't trust crooked insurance companies, and they're all thieves, so I don't have insurance), I'd likely only buy a Goodtime Special. In hindsight, I regret buying two high end Deering banjos (which are definitely way overpriced without question). I am in the same boat as nearly all other banjo players, in that I simply haven't had the opportunity to play a bunch of different high end banjos to pick the one that fits me best. I've never played a Gibson, Yates, Stelling, OMG, ODE, or other top name builders, but I sure would like to. All I know is the ones I have bought.

I also own a Recording King Elite 85 with a maple body and neck, that I paid $1,895 for from Ross Nickerson in 2018, plus $225 shipping when I lived on Guam. Ouch! The Elite 85 has a 27 3/8" scale neck, which is a bit awkward since it is noticeably larger than the standard 26 1/4" length neck. It definitely has a bigger sound. But to be honest, it lacks the resonance that I love in a banjo. My Calico has resonance. Even the Goodtime Special resonates better than my Elite 85. That being said, the Calico does resonate a little better than the Goodtime Special. I just love and enjoy playing the Goodtime Special, which has a tone ring inside. It is a student banjo, but it's my favorite banjo to play. Go figure! The Goodtime Special just has a great feel to it!

Obviously, I am not a professional banjo player. I am just giving my honest opinion as a banjo hobbyist. Dave Hum (1966-2012) is one my musical hero on the banjo. For pedal steel guitar my hero is Lloyd Green (born 1937). For Hawaiian steel guitar my hero is Jerry Byrd (1920-2005). Those are my three musical mentors.

I have two Pro-II Sho-Bud D-10 pedal steels that I bought used. I bought my first one in 1993 for $1,200. I bought the other one around 2011, but I cannot remember what I paid for it. I'm guessing I paid about $1,800. I bought my Rittenberry S-10 about 14 years ago new for $3,000. I only play the Rittenberry today, because mechanically it can do things (pedal and knee lever changes) that my other used steels cannot do. I also have an old cable Fender 1000 that I haven't played in years. It's an amazing instrument. Jimmy Day used a Fender 1000 on his 'Steel and Strings' and 'Golden Steel Guitar Hits' albums.

My Pro-II Sho-Buds weigh 85 pounds each in their cases, dinosaurs. They have a sweeter tone than my Rittenberry (which weighs 42 pounds in the case), but the Rittenberry is much more modern in design (built 40 years later). If anyone is interest in playing pedal steel, I recommend buying a new guitar from Show-Pro. You can't beat the price and workmanship, and a used pedal steel guitar on the Steel Guitar Forum will cost you just as much (you have to become a member to see the “For Sale” advertisements). I strongly advise you NOT to buy an old used pedal steel, unless you want to inherit a bunch of mechanical problems.

It was the beautiful 1970's country music that drew me to learn to play the pedal steel guitar. Country music is dead today, sadly. What is being produced in Nashville today is a mixture of rock, rap and country, which isn't real music in my humble opinion.

That all being said, I love the 5-string banjo and for the past few years have spent most of my time learning to play Dave Hum's awesome style. I already have backing tracks completed and scheduled to upload every Friday until December 26th, 2025. Thank you for your continued interest in my music blog. I don't make any money and don't accept donations for my work, I just love music and want to be a blessing to others. I thank God for Dave Hum and regularly pray for his family. I encourage you to purchase Dave's albums, backing tracks and tablature, which financially helps his family. God bless.

Are you going to Heaven dear friend?

Above: I'm playing my other Sho-Bud D-10 pedal steel, about 14 years ago

Above: Me with my Pro-II Sho-Bud D-10 pedal steel, about 30 years ago

No comments:

Dave Hum's Banjo Tunings

Standard - gDGBD
Double C - gCGCD
G Modal - gDGCD
G Minor - gDG(Bb)D
Open D - aDF#AD
D Minor - aDFAD
Other D - aDGBD
Reuben's Tuning - f#DF#AD

Dave Hum shines on whatever tuning he plays, but I really enjoy his work on the "Double C tuning" (e.g., Maid Behind The Bar, Gaspe' Reel and Coleman's March.)

Dave says: “I like to set up my three main banjos so I can get a compromise between a dry snapping tight head sound associated with the Bluegrass sound and a mellower warmer tone for the Celtic, old-time and ragtime tunes. I have found that some condensed foam inside the pot helps and a combination of medium strings and a not too tight head with the tailpiece parallel to the head helps me to achieve the tone I like. Each banjo has its own character and tone and I am forever tinkering with them to see what gives - which is half the fun!” (quoted from his website)

My banjo is a Recording King Elite 85 with a maple neck. It has a longer than standard neck, at 27 3/8" verses the standard 26 1/4" neck, which I really like. It is built to exact Prewar Gibson specifications. It has a great tone, but I'd say about 80% of a Gibson. I've learned that much of the tone comes from the player's hands, and not the particular banjo brand that is being played (to an extent). Dave Hum's awesome sound comes from his skilled hands. Dave controls the banjo, masterfully, he doesn't allow the banjo to control him.

I did try the things which Dave mentioned above, like loosening my banjo head, putting a block of foam inside my banjo, setting my tailpiece parallel to the head, and putting on some heavier gauge strings (12,12,16,24,12). The result, after 3 months of playing it that way is that I very much like the foam inside, because without it I get overtones that throw off my ears while playing. The foam trick is brilliant, I think.

I prefer my head tight, so I went back up to between an F# and a G# (when you tap on the head you'll get a pitch to tune the rightness by). On my Recording King, it seems that F# is as high as I can safely get without risking over tightening the head. I kept the tailpiece parallel. My string action is as close as I can get without an annoying buzz. I actually have a very slight buzz (at times), that I don't mind, having the strings nice and close to the neck.

I am learning to pick the strings more firmly, like Dave Hum does, which makes a BIG difference in my tone overall while playing! It is important not to try to play just like Dave Hum; but rather, learn TECHNIQUES from him, and apply those skills to your own playing, and you will become more like Dave that way, than merely trying to copy him.

One thing that I have notice is that Dave KNOWS the songs he is trying to play. It is easy to wing through a song without really buckling down and getting into the nitty-gritty of the tablature, which is a mistake. Learn slow, and then work up your speed playing accurately. YouTube is an awesome tool, which allows you to slow down the speed of any video, so you can see what is going on. For many of Dave's songs, like Mason's Apron, I am still playing it at 3/4 speed, because I cannot keep up with him...lol. That is perfectly okay. Music is not a competition, which Dave Him himself once said. Enjoy!

Dave Hum's sound is in his hands, not the banjo! Dave uses his 1992 ESS Gibson in nearly all of his YouTube videos, but as you will see in this awesome song, “Arkansas Traveller (3),” he is using his ODE banjo. Dave's beautiful sound comes from using proper picking TECHNIQUE, not from using any particular banjo brand. By the way, Dave's ODE banjo was made in Arkansas in the 1970's. No doubt he intentionally used the ODE made in Arkansas on the song “Arkansas Traveller.” Dave's widow told me that he later sold the ODE. Gotta love banjos!

Dave Hum's Banjos

Dave Hum's main banjo is a Gibson ESS (Earl Scruggs's Standard) banjo, a reissue of the original Gibson classic.

Gibson ESS (Earl Scruggs Standard) 1992

SET UP:

Head - Remo
Tailpiece - Fults 1934
Tuners - Keith D (strings 2 and 3) and Scruggs
Strings - D'Addario
Gauges - 12,12,16,24,12
Bridge - Snuffy Smith 5/8
Origin - Nashville, USA
All other parts standard Gibson.

Baldwin Ode Model D '70's

SET UP:

Head - Renaissance
Tailpiece - Fults 1934
Tuners - Keith D/Scruggs
Strings - D'Addario
Gauges - 10,12,16,24,10
Bridge - Moon Lightweight 1/2
Origin - Arkansas, USA
All other parts standard Ode.

Epiphone MB250 '90's

SET UP:

Head - Five Star
Tailpiece - Fults 1934
Tuners - Keith D
Strings - D'Addario
Gauges - 10,12,16,24,10
Bridge - Snuffy Smith 5/8
Origin - Made in China

All other parts standard Epiphone.

Dave uses a Compact 60 AER rechargeable acoustic amplifier, which now costs $1,999, made in Germany. The amp was MUCH cheaper 20 years ago. The amp plugs into the wall to recharge (no replaceable battery). Tommy Emmanuel uses the same amp, but using corded power. These amps were specifically designed for acoustic instruments. However, the amp weighs 29 pounds!

Here is a more affordable alternative for busking, I humbly think.

Dave mics his banjo using a Shure Beta 98D mic with A98D bracket clamp.

What NOT to buy...

NOTE: I bought a “Feather” Goose pickup for $199 and hate it. It whines continually from feedback, and has wires all over, ripping off when I forget they're attached by clip to my waist. The item comes with umpteen parts that you have to assemble, and it is not easy. Please don't waste your money on it!

I recommend using a Gold Tone ABS pickup, which includes a stompbox from Banjo "Ben" Clark.

Music truly does make the world a better place.

Banjo Has A Steep Learning Curve

Like pedal steel guitar (my favorite instrument), the banjo has a steep learning curve. That simply means the hardest part is getting started. If you can stick with it long enough to learn a couple dozen songs fluently, you'll be off to a fantastic start. I learned 5-string banjo fairly quickly, finding out that there are common picking patterns that once learned, overlap into nearly every other song. I encourage you to learn Blackberry Blossom right away, which will teach you melodic runs.

At first my picking fingers stumbled, because my brain wasn't familiar with the tabs. Friend, if you can play even one thing fast, you can play anything fast once you learn it. Also, I learned 30 years ago while learning to play pedal steel guitar, that my brain processed what I learned at night while I am sleeping. You read right! So when you are plowing away, and it seems hopeless like you'll never get it, during the night your brain will process what you've learned. It's similar to workout out in a gym. You don't build muscles at the gym. You lift heavy weights at the gym. But then during the night is when your body builds new muscle.

I also recommend learning the song, Sailor's Hornpipe, which is another great song to learn your melodic runs. After a month I was playing subconsciously, which is called "muscle memory." I didn't stumble anymore when playing melodic runs, because my fingers already knew what to do. Trust me, if you practice for at least a solid hour every day, you'll quickly advance on the banjo, but you must apply yourself to learn the tabs.

What I am about to say is IMPORTANT. Start out going very slow, to accurately pick every note in the tabs. Your speed will increase in time, as you become familiar with the song, and don't have to think what comes next. Dave Hum is a master of chords, progressions and single note scale runs. What makes Dave Hum so different than all the other banjo artists is that he simply follows the chords and does his own thing musically.

I love Dave Hum and could relate to him the first time I heard him play the banjo. The song was "The Ballad Of Jed Clampett." I cried when he started playing those triplets in the second half of the song. I had never heard anything so pretty. It took me awhile to figure out how he is doing those triplets, but it is super easy once you get it. I slowed it down using MixCraft software so I could hear exactly what he's doing. It reminds me of being on a river boat on the Mississippi River.

Friend, when you're as good as you want to be, you're as good as you're going to get! Hawaiian steel guitar legend, Jerry Byrd (1920-2005), taught me that. Anyone can play the banjo if they are willing to work at it. Talent is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration! Intellect also plays a big part, which I learned about the pedal steel guitar from my musical hero, Lloyd Green.

The best way to learn the banjo, once you have the tabs in front of you, is to study Dave Hum's YouTube videos. I downloaded all of them and converted them into mp3 files for my own use.

BUY 115 OF DAVE HUM'S ORIGINAL BACKING TRACKS

His backing tracks are superior to anything available on the internet that I have found. Those wonderful driving tracks are a wonderful canvas for Dave's awesome banjo artistry. I wish Dave was still with us. He sadly died of cancer at age 46 in 2012. It is quite amazing to me that he had the physical and mental strength to record so many of his greatest banjo videos—with cancer, an eye removed and part of his picking fingers amputated. I thank God for Dave Hum and his cheerful music!

I wrote these words to encourage you dear banjo enthusiast. I used to think I would sound like Dave Hum if I bought a 1995 ESS Banjo like he used. Not so! Dave had an aggressive picking style, taking charge of the banjo, and used amazing advanced techniques. TECHNIQUE is the key word (how he majestically manipulated the strings to get the sounds he wanted). You need to watch his subtleties while he's playing. If your playing doesn't sound like him, then you're not doing something the way he's doing it, and that is technique!

One thing that Dave does is he applies quite a bit of picking pressure on the strings, driving the banjo. That is why he needs to wear metal thumb picks and use Velcro to keep the picks from flying off his fingers!

Make Your Own Backing Tracks

I have purchased several hundred dollars worth of backing tracks available online, AND MOST ARE WOEFULLY LACKING ANY REAL INSPIRATION. Some tracks I've found are superb (like Jay Buckey), but there's just something about the simplicity of Dave Hum's tracks, with just a bass guitar!

If the backing track doesn't move the player, you're not going to “feel” the music! Dave's tracks are profoundly simple and have a happy energy to them, reflective of Dave himself. In my humble opinion, Band-In-A-Box is lame compared to Dave's tracks. If anyone has ever tried to make your own rhythm tracks, then you know how difficult and time consuming it is, so I wanted to share some helpful ideas.

Songs are generally composed of 16 to 32 bars. The first thing you need to do is find a song's chords. I found a helpful website which provides the chords to hundreds of oldtime songs, many of which Dave plays on YouTube. For example: Here are the chords for a jig titled, “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife.” Here is Dave Hum playing the song (awesome). And here are some backing tracts that I made, which you are freely welcome to use and share. By the way, I NEVER sell anything or receive donations. IT'S ALL FREE (as it should be in my humble opinion). All my music is free, and you are encouraged to freely share my backing tracks with others! I am still learning how to make tracks, so I am progressing slowly.

If you'd like to work at making your own backing tracks, as I am doing, you'll need a bass guitar. If you can play guitar, you can definitely play bass, which is simply the four lowest strings on a guitar! Dave Hum's backing tracks are simple, usually just a bass and perhaps a tambourine for simple percussion. Many of Dave’s songs use only a bass guitar.

Buy A Shubb F5 Capo

I really like my Shubb F5 Capo, which stays on the banjo. I had purchase a cheaper Paige banjo capo for about $40, trying to save money, but I hate the thing because it falls off the banjo neck every time I loosen the tension knob. If you're going to spend $40, you might as well splurge and spend the $75. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

When playing in the key of G, I just loosen the tension nut and slide the capo up over the nut, which works fine. Plus I like the shiny look of the Shubb F5 capo. It is small and easy to use.

I also like that the capo firmly presses the strings down, eliminating any string buzz. I had also purchased some of the cheaper clamp-on type capos for $20 and under, which are okay if that's all you can afford, but you have to play with them oftentimes to get the strings to stop buzzing.

I really like the Shubb F5 Capo!

Banjo Heaven

Friday, August 8, 2025

I Added My Pedal Steel To “Just Over Yonder” (I fixed the dead links)

No comments:

Post a Comment

5 String Banjo Instruction [1967] - Earl Scruggs

Wikipedia

Labels