A New Backing Track For “Sportsman's Hornpipe”

This is an English hornpipe fiddle tune called, “Sportsman's Hornpipe.” Also known as: “Oldham Sportsman” or “The Sportsman.” Dave Hum plays this tune on 5-string banjo using the Sawmill tuning (gDGCD); capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret for key of A minor. I've made backing tracks at various speeds in the keys of A and G for your preference. Enjoy!

• Sportsman's Hornpipe PDF Tablature | TEF
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of A, normal)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of A, slower)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of A, slow)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of A, very slow)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of A, woodshed)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of G, normal)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of G, slower)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of G, slow)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of G, very slow)
• Sportsman's Hornpipe (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the bass, drum, synthesizer and piano parts. Real Audio loops for the cymbal, shaker and tambourine.

Dave Hum performing with the Huckleberries

A Cool Technique I Noticed In 'Southern Flavor'

I was working on one of my favorite songs today, 'Southern Flavour.' Dave Hum has 5 different recordings on YouTube of Southern Flavour. He must have really liked the tune, as I do too. At 1:28 time in the video, you can see Dave mute (with his third finger) the first string at the second fret to kick off his run. The muted note happens so fast that it is very easy to overlook. I suggest slowing the video down in the YouTube “Settings” to half or quarter speed, so you can see what Dave is doing. You can use this helpful technique elsewhere.

At first I couldn't figure out what Dave was doing, but then noticed that he doesn't actually play the note, he mutes it to create a cool effect. I made this brief audio clip, so you can hear the muted note. Guitar and steel guitar players call this technique, 'Chicken Pickin.' To create the effect, simply gently place the tip of your third finger on the string to mute it. If you hear the note sound, you pressed too hard. Watch the video (slow it down to clearly see and hear what he's doing).

I learned a very long time ago as a musician that any time you cannot recreate what another musician is playing, it is simply because your technique (the way something is done) is wrong. Dave is amazing, doing little techniques that we often overlook. Those little things are what separate his playing from the rest of us. Another musical hero of mine, pedal steel guitar artist Lloyd Green (born 1937) is a master of incorporating little techniques into his playing. Lloyd and Dave are masters of timing, which only comes with years of playing.

In the aforementioned video 'Southern Flavor,' at about 1:30 time, I took this screenshot of Dave's cool skull tuner on the fifth string. Love it! This is his 1992 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard (ESS) banjo.

Screenshot From 'Southern Flavour' Video

A New Backing Track For “The Crow”

This fun tune to play, “The Crow,” was composed by banjo virtuoso Steve Martin (born 1945), played on the 5-string banjo in Double C tuning (gCGCD). I was delighted to learn that Steve Martin's favorite choice of banjo is the Deering Calico. I bought one last year and am very pleased with it. The Calico has plenty of resonance and it has beautiful aesthetics. I bought mine at a 15% discount from Fuller Guitars in Houston, Texas. I used Dave Hum's recording as a template to make backing tracks in the keys of C and D for your preference. Enjoy!

• The Crow Tablature | TEF (accurate tabs as played by Steve Martin; Good stuff!)
• The Crow (key of C, normal)
• The Crow (key of C, slower)
• The Crow (key of C, slow)
• The Crow (key of C, very slow)
• The Crow (key of C, woodshed)
• The Crow (key of C, slack dog)
• The Crow (key of D, normal)
• The Crow (key of D, slower)
• The Crow (key of D, slow)
• The Crow (key of D, very slow)
• The Crow (key of D, woodshed)
• The Crow (key of D, slack dog)

To make this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums, piano and keyboard. I'm using real audio loops for the percussion, shakers and tambourine. I used MixCraft Pro Studio software to make this track. This is a really great song to learn and play in the Double C tuning.

Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) And Steve Martin

A New Backing Track For “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”

This is a popular Bluegrass favorite titled, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” by Earl Scruggs (1924-2012). Dave Hum recorded the tune in the key of G in standard tuning (gDGBD) on the 5 string banjo. I have made backing tracks at various speeds in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Foggy Mountain Breakdown PDF Tablature
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Bill Nesbitt explains how to play)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Jim Pankey explains how to play)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Eli Gilbert explains how to play)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, faster)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, normal)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, slower)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, slow)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, very slow)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of A, woodshed)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, faster)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, normal)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, slower)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, slow)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, very slow)
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown (key of G, woodshed)

For this backing track I used MIDI for the bass, drums and piano. I played along with my Cort acoustic guitar, and my Eastman 505CC mandolin. I added a real audio shaker, Cajon and other percussion. The song only uses three chords: Em, G and D. There's probably not a more popular Bluegrass song than Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

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

A New Backing Track For “Mist Covered Mountain”

Here's an Irish Jig called, “Mist Covered Mountain.” Also known as, “Mist On The Mountain” and “Misty Mountain.” Dave Hum recorded this tune on 5-string banjo using the Sawmill tuning (gDGCD); capo 2nd fret, 5th string capo 7th fret for key of A. I've made backing tracks for you in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Mist Covered Mountain (key of A, normal)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of A, slower)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of A, slow)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of A, woodshed)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of G, normal)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of G, slower)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of G, slow)
• Mist Covered Mountain (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the drums, bass and piano. Real audio tambourine. This track was a bit difficult since it has a more complicated rhythm pattern. I did my best to recreate Dave's backing track. I also added a real audio guiro, which I think sounds nice.

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

A New Backing Track For “The Mathematician”

This is a Scottish hornpipe composed by one of Scotland's greatest fiddle composers, James Scott Skinner (1843-1927). Dave Hum did an amazing job recording the tune in the key of G, using the 5-string banjo in standard tuning (gDGBD). I have made backing tracks at various tempos in the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• The Mathematician (key of A, normal)
• The Mathematician (key of A, slower)
• The Mathematician (key of A, slow)
• The Mathematician (key of A, very slow)
• The Mathematician (key of A, woodshed)
• The Mathematician (key of G, normal)
• The Mathematician (key of G, slower)
• The Mathematician (key of G, slow)
• The Mathematician (key of G, very slow)
• The Mathematician (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the drums, bass and piano parts. On this song, I used both a bass and low piano notes to double the bass tones, which is what Dave Hum did for his backing track. Good stuff! I encourage everyone to purchase Dave's original backing tracks from his family, which are superior to mine, and the money goes to help Dave's family. God bless them!

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