Banjo Heaven: September 2025

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Here's Some Helpful Banjo Resources

I just wanted to share some nice helpful things I recently found with everyone.

First, go check out this really great YouTube channel at:

Bluegrass Backing Tracks!
(169 free backing Track videos)

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Second, I love this free Transpose Extension for your Chrome browser. The classic version is totally free and allows you to change the key, pitch and tempo of any YouTube video. You can even loop portions of any song. This is awesome for playing along with your favorite banjo tune in a different key, slower tempo, or focusing on one section of a video to learn it.

After you install the extension, make sure to go up to the right corner in your browser and click the three vertical dots. In the drop down menu click “Extensions, Manage Extensions,” scroll down to the “Transpose” extension and select “Details.” Then make sure “Pin to toolbar” is enabled for easy access. Also, make sure that the extension is enabled. You'll see the yellow icon (with up and down arrows) in the upper right corner of your browser. This is an awesome free tool.

Free Transpose Extension

(transpose; change pitch, tempo, loop)

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Third, here are some really nice quality MP3 backing tracks made by skilled musician Curtis Jones. Here are nine free songs. He has 37 songs (193 tracks total at various tempos) available for $60. When I ordered they gave me a discount on each pack, which I'm sure you'll also receive. While checking out they asked if I wanted to also purchase the Jam Session Survival book for $5. How could I pass that up? The book contains chords for 100 top Bluegrass songs. I bought the book, so I could easily enter the chords into Band-In-A-Box, which project I plan (Lord willing) to start at some future time, to start making additional folk and Bluegrass backing tracks with BB. I have a lot of ideas for future music projects. Anyway, all toll I paid $53.75 for everything after the discounts were applied.

Bluegrass Jam Tracks

Friday, September 26, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Locust Hill”

This is a Bluegrass instrumental. I used Dave Hum's performance as a template to make my backing track. Dave uses some improvisations in the tune, which he played in the key of G, standard tuning (gDGBD - capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret for key of A). I've rendered backing tracks in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

Locust Hill - PDF | TEF (tablature by Robert Gulyas)
Locust Hill (key of A, faster)
Locust Hill (key of A, normal)
Locust Hill (key of A, slower)
Locust Hill (key of A, slow)
Locust Hill (key of A, very slow)
Locust Hill (key of A, woodshed)
Locust Hill (key of G, faster)
Locust Hill (key of G, normal)
Locust Hill (key of G, slower)
Locust Hill (key of G, slow)
Locust Hill (key of G, very slow)
Locust Hill (key of G, woodshed)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano parts. The tambourine is a real audio loop. It's a simple backing track, but effective to accompany the 5-string banjo.

Also, Dave's original backing tracks are available for purchase from his family. Considering that Dave spent several hundred hours making his backing tracks, I humbly think the tracks are worth much more than the family is selling them for. I haven't found any tracks available that compare to Dave's. They are simple, uncluttered and have a driving beat that inspires the banjo enthusiast to want to play the banjo. I am so thankful for Dave's backing tracks. Thank God for Dave Hum!

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

Friday, September 19, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Soldier's Joy”

This is a popular old folk tune called “Soldier's Joy,” which Dave Hum played on the 5-string banjo using the Drop C tuning (gCGBD). Also known as: “The King's Head,” “French Four” and “The Clap Dance” and “The Gower.” Make sure to lower the 4th string from down D to C. I have made backing tracks in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

Soldier's Joy Tablature (PDF | TEF)
Soldier's Joy (Casey Henry explains how to play)
Soldier's Joy (key of G, normal)
Soldier's Joy (key of G, slower)
Soldier's Joy (key of G, slow)
Soldier's Joy (key of G, very slow)
Soldier's Joy (key of G, woodshed)
Soldier's Joy (key of A, normal)
Soldier's Joy (key of A, slower)
Soldier's Joy (key of A, slow)
Soldier's Joy (key of A, very slow)
Soldier's Joy (key of A, woodshed)

For this backing track I used MIDI for the drums, bass and piano. I used real audio loops for the shaker, tambourine and train rhythm.

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

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

BANJO BACKING TRACKS

Here's a list of all the backing tracks I've made so far (a new backing track is added every Friday). Please download them all, so you'll have them for safe keeping in the future. You are welcome to freely share them elsewhere online; no credit need be given. I just made them for fun for everyone. These 192 kbps MP3's are only temporarily stored on my SteelC6th.com steel guitar website, which if something happens to me WILL disappear from the internet when my web hosting package expires. So, save them while you still can dear reader and share them freely. Consider these backing tracks, YOURS. Enjoy!

I made these backing tracks for YOU dear friend, meaning everybody who wants them. I have many more backing tracks which, Lord willing, I will be uploading over the next several months. Every Friday my goal is to upload a new backing track. You can do whatever you want with all of these backing tracks. Nothing is copyrighted. I just made them for the love and fun of making music. Backing tracks are invaluable tools to learn and play songs. Dave Hum inspired me by making his own backing tracks, which I have diligently tried to recreate for myself and other banjo enthusiasts.

I have uploaded all of the backing tracks I've completed thus far to YouTube. At present there are over 300 backing tracks. Consider these your tracks friend to do with as you please. I have set the copyright designation to Free Commons. Enjoy!

Dave Hum Style Backing Tracks

By the way, if you have a particular song that I haven't done yet, I'll be glad to freely make a backing track, to share with everyone. Just email me a request and include a link to the original song, so I can use it as a template. I enjoy making backing tracks. I'm learning as I go, getting better at making them. I use MixCraft Pro Studio to make all my tracks, which is an awesome Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Interestingly, MixCraft doesn't appear with the other popular DAW's online, but I assure you that it is among the best available.

I made this blog as a tribute to one of my musical heroes, Dave Hum (1966-2012). It is my joy and privilege as a fellow banjo enthusiast to freely share these backing tracks I've made with others, continuing the excellent musical spirit of Dave Hum. I found Dave's wonderful music on YouTube in 2017 and been hooked on the banjo since. Dave Hum's backing tracks are second to none in my humble opinion, which have an alluring driving beat to them.

If you still haven't purchased Dave's original backing tracks, I highly encourage you to do so. His family also has Dave's albums and tablature for the banjo available (not tabs for Locust Hill). The money helps his family, and there's no backing tracks as unique that are available. My tracks pale in comparison to Dave's. He was skilled as a seasoned veteran musician. God bless Dave and his beautiful family. Thank you for reading my banjo blog. Music makes the world a better place.

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

Friday, September 12, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Miss McLeod's Reel”

This is a popular beloved Irish Reel called, “Miss McLeod's Reel.” There are an astonishing 38 different names for this popular tune. Some of the names are: The Brown Cow, Da Broon Coo, Did You Ever Meet The Devil?, Uncle Joe and The Gray Old Lady Of Raasay. Scottish in origin, this tune has become a staple of both the Irish and American musical traditions. In the excellent spirit of Dave Hum, I am looking for new tunes to make backing tracks for, to play along with on the 5-string banjo. I used this music video as a template to make my backing track, in the keys of G and A for your preference. I also made some tabs for you. Enjoy!

Miss McLeod's Reel (I played the song so you can hear how it songs)
Miss McLeod's Reel (Here's the same recording I made, but slower)
Tabs for “Miss McLeod's Reel” (.pdf | .TablEdit tablature)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of A, normal)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of A, slower)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of A, slow)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of A, very slow)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of A, woodshed)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of G, normal)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of G, slower)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of G, slow)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of G, very slow)
Miss McLeod's Reel (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I used real audio loops for the tambourine and shaker. I also found this nice backing track for the tune (for copyright reasons I cannot share the edited track, but if you have MixCraft you can lengthen the song, change the tempo and change the key if you want, which is what I did). Be sure to check out these other free intriguing accompaniment tracks for Jigs, Reels & Hornpipes. As Dave Hum said: So many tunes, so little time!

Lately, I've been playing my Deering Goodtime Special banjo the most, which is a very nice banjo for $1,100. I really like the tone. Plus it's only 9 pounds. I suffer chronic neck pain because of an old injury from 1992, when I got severely rear-ended by a church bus. The lesser 3-pounds on the Goodtime Special make a BIG difference! Honestly, if my house ever burned down or thieves stole my stuff, I would just buy another Deering Goodtime Special as my only banjo. It's that good! The Goodtime Special banjo (which has a tone ring) has grown on me a lot. Granted, it is still a student model, so realistically you're getting what you pay for. I love my Deering Calico, but for practicing I usually grab the Goodtime Special. It's a fun banjo!

Having said that, I think that the high end banjos are ridiculously WAY overpriced. You cannot beat the quality of the Goodtime Special banjo for the very modest price. American made instrument prices are just getting too darn high for the average musician to afford.

I was shocked recently to see that a pedal steel guitar at Jackson Steel Guitars will now cost you $9,000 (for a single neck) to $16,000 (for a double neck); and that's not even including add-ons and tax). That's insane! No steel guitar is worth that much money!!! I only paid $11,000 for my 2013 Honda FIT in 2021. If a Chinese company ever starts building affordable quality pedal steel guitars, they'll put many of the American builders out of business!

I thank God for the 5-string banjo and other awesome musical instruments. I hope you enjoy learning this song as much as I have. Miss McLeod's Reel is listed in the top 100 favorite folk songs of history. God bless.

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

Friday, September 5, 2025

A New Backing Track For “I Saw The Light”

This is a popular gospel favorite which plays well on the 5-string banjo. “I Saw the Light” is a country gospel song written by Hank Williams Sr. (1923-1953). Few people know that Hank Williams Sr. died at only age 29. Williams was inspired to write the song while returning from a concert by a remark his mother made while they were arriving in Montgomery, Alabama. I used a recording by Bill Anderson to make my backing track. You can listen to how he arranged the song, so that my backing track will make sense. Bill did the tune in the key of G#, but I have made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

I Saw The Light (key of G, faster)
I Saw The Light (key of G, normal)
I Saw The Light (key of G, slower)
I Saw The Light (key of G, slow)
I Saw The Light (key of G, woodshed)
I Saw The Light (key of A, faster)
I Saw The Light (key of A, normal)
I Saw The Light (key of A, slower)
I Saw The Light (key of A, slow)
I Saw The Light (key of A, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I'm playing along with my Cort acoustic guitar. The shaker and tambourine are real audio files.

Hank William's Sr. wrote many beautiful songs, including: Cold, Cold, Heart, I Saw The Light, Hey Good Lookin', I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Your Cheatin' Heart, There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight, Jesus Died For Me and Jesus Remembered Me. Hank Williams Sr. had a remarkable musical career for a man who died so early in life at only age 29, like Dave Hum also died at only age 46 of cancer. I am so thankful for Dave Hum's musical legacy that he left to all of us through his beautiful majestic recordings. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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

Google Blogspot does not allow me to upload audio files, so I had to store them all on my SteelC6th.com website. If something were to happen to me, dying for example, my SteelC6th website would disappear after the next April (which is the month each year when I renew my annual hosting plan). All of these backing tracks would be gone forever! So, I strongly encourage you to download all my backing tracks to your own computer. You are more than welcome to share and even post my backing tracks on your own blog, website, social media, et cetera. I made them to share freely with everyone. No credit need be given. I just love music and want to be a blessing to other musicians. These are YOUR backing tracks! So enjoy them my friends.

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
Neck & Resonator - Maple
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
Neck & Resonator - Walnut
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 MB-250 (90s SET UP)

SET UP:

Head - Five Star
Neck & Resonator - Maple
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

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Here's Some Helpful Banjo Resources

Friday, September 26, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Locust Hill”

Friday, September 19, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Soldier's Joy”

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

BANJO BACKING TRACKS

Friday, September 12, 2025

A New Backing Track For “Miss McLeod's Reel”

Friday, September 5, 2025

A New Backing Track For “I Saw The Light”

5 String Banjo Instruction [1967] - Earl Scruggs

Wikipedia

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