New Backing Track For “I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap”

I like this popular Bluegrass song, “I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap.” Jason Skinner does a great job playing and, and he also made a helpful YouTube lesson explaining how to play Don Reno's rendition of the song. The song is done in the key of A, but I've made backing tracks in both keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of G, faster)
• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of G, normal)
• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of G, slower)
• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of A, faster)
• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of A, normal)
• I'm Using My Bible As A Roadmap (key of A, slower)

I used a MIDI bass and piano. I played along with my Cort acoustic guitar and Eastman 505CCTV Mandolin. I used a real audio drum loop with a train type of beat that I think works well.

Dave Hum and The Huckleberries

An Improved Backing Track For “Gaspe Reel”

I wanted to redo the backing track for one of my favorite song, Gaspe Reel. I love this song that Dave Hum recorded in Double C tuning. My original backing tracks used an acoustic guitar and I played bass, but in these new tracks I decided to go with a MIDI bass instead. I added a MIDI organ, and some piano with orchestral strings for padding. I also added some crash cymbals and shakers. I am pleased with the improvements I've made to this backing track, and I humbly think you'll agree. I've made tracks in both the keys of C and D. Enjoy!

• Gaspe's Reel Tablature (TablEdit tabs)
• Gaspe Reel Tablature (.PDF tabs)
• Gaspe Reel (key of C, normal)
• Gaspe Reel (key of C, slower)
• Gaspe Reel (key of C, slow)
• Gaspe Reel (key of C, woodshed)
• Gaspe Reel (key of D, normal)
• Gaspe Reel (key of D, slower)
• Gaspe Reel (key of D, slow)
• Gaspe Reel (key of D, woodshed)

This is a beautiful song to learn and play.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)

A New Backing Track For “Ground Speed”

The classic Bluegrass song, “Ground Speed,” was first released in 1961 by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys. Dave Hum recorded the song in the key of G, which I used as a template. I've made backing tracks in the keys of A and G for your preference. In the following helpful instructional videos, both Jim and Eli teach how to play a classic ending that can be used on hundreds of songs. Enjoy!

• Ground Speed (Jim Pankey explains how to play this song)
• Ground Speed (Eli Gilbert explains how to play this song)
• Ground Speed (key of A, faster)
• Ground Speed (key of A, normal)
• Ground Speed (key of A, slower)
• Ground Speed (key of A, slow)
• Ground Speed (key of A, woodshed)
• Ground Speed (key of G, faster)
• Ground Speed (key of G, normal)
• Ground Speed (key of G, slower)
• Ground Speed (key of G, slow)
• Ground Speed (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for bass, drums and piano. I used a real audio loop for the tambourine and shaker. This was a straightforward easy song to make.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)

A New Backing Track For “Jerusalem Ridge”

Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe (1911-1996) released this nice song, “Jerusalem Ridge,” in 1976. I used Dave Hum's YouTube recording as a template for my backing track. The song is done in G minor Tuning (gDGBbD). It's in the key of A, so you'll need to capo the 2nd fret to play it in the same key as Dave does. I've also made backing tracks in the key of G, for your preference. Enjoy!

• Learn Jerusalem Ridge On 5-String Banjo (by Eddie Collins)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of A, normal)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of A, slower)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of A, slow)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of A, woodshed)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of G, normal)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of G, slower)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of G, slow)
• Jerusalem Ridge (key of G, woodshed)

I used a MIDI bass, piano and drums. I used a real audio djembe. I added a MIDI Rhodes style organ for padding. As always, I use “MicCraft Pro Studio 10.5” to make all my backing tracks. It's very affordable and easy to use.

Dave Hum's Banjo Gear

A New Backing Track For “I'll Fly Away”

This is a Gospel favorite called, "I'll Fly Away" originally done in the Key of G. I used a YouTube recording by the “Backwoods Bluegrass Band” as a template. It's important that you watch the video from which I made the backing track, so that you will know how the song is arranged. They play one verse as the intro, and then repeat the ending, and then they play the first verse of the song. I put a noticeably loud piano chord after the intro, to help you know where the second ending begins, and then the first verse of the tune shortly follows. This is a great Gospel song to jam on the 5-string banjo. I made backing tracks in both the keys of G and A for your preference. Enjoy!

• Learn To Play 'I'll Fly Away' On The 5-String Banjo (by Eddie Collins)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of A, normal)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of A, slower)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of A, slow)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of G, normal)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of G, slower)
• I'll Fly Away (Key of G, slow)

I used MIDI bass, drums and piano. I also added some MIDI Rhodes keyboard padding. There's a real audio loop cymbal at the end, and a real audio loop shaker for each chorus.

New Strings And A Railroad Spike On My Deering Calico

On a different note, I just bought some D'Addario banjo XT strings, medium gauges: 10, 12, 16, 23 wound and 10 (fifth string). I bought this set of strings because D'Addario advertises that they stay in tune 131% better than regular strings, and for a banjo player staying in tune is a continual challenge. I wanted to try the stainless steel 9.5 to .20, but they are unavailable. My Deering banjos seem to sound more resonant with lighter gauge strings, but the thicker strings tend to sound better for single note playing. So, there's a trade off. Personally, I prefer thicker strings, so I compromise by choosing a gauge somewhere in the middle. Dave Hum used heavy gauge strings on his Gibson ESS (low to high: 12, 24, 16, 12, 12).

I felt ambitious this evening, so I got out my Dremel tool and with a 1/32" drill bit I installed a railroad spike on my Calico banjo for the 7th fret of the fifth string. I was a bit nervous drilling a hole into a $4,436 banjo, but it came out well, praise the Lord. The key is to plan your work carefully and go slow. I wrote a blog with some tips on installing spikes, after completing my Deering Golden Era a couple months ago. I took some photos of my finished work on the Calico tonight. ...

I Installed a Railroad Spike on My Deering Calico

A New Backing Track For “Flop Eared Mule”

This is another one of my favorite songs to play on the 5-string banjo, titled: “Flop Eared Mule.” It's a fiddle tune from the United States, popular with dances. I used Dave Hum's YouTube recording as a template for my backing track. Dave recorded the song in the key of A, standard tuning. You'll need to capo the 2nd fret, and the 7th fret on the fifth string. I have also made backing tracks in the key of G for your preference. Enjoy!

• Flop Eared Mule (key of A, normal)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of A, slower)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of A, slow)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of A, woodshed)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of G, normal)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of G, slower)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of G, slow)
• Flop Eared Mule (key of G, woodshed)

I used MIDI for the piano, bass and drums. I used a real audio loop for the shakers and cymbals. I have difficulty playing this song at normal speed. I usually play along with the slow speed track. Once I've spent 30 minutes or so refamiliarizing myself with the song (and warming up my fingers), then I can move to the slower track. The chorus is a bit tricky, jumping quickly to the 4th fret of the 1st string with your left hand, but it gets easier with practice. You're hitting the 5th string in between notes, so that gives you time to move your hand quickly to the 4th fret of the 1st string. You'll see what I mean when you try to play the chorus.

As far as the improvisations that Dave Hum does in the song, wow, I love what he played! He does some great exteneded melodic runs. It's not difficult to play once you've played through it several times slowly. I recommend that you slow the YouTube video down to 25% speed and then follow it note by note to learn the song. I really enjoy playing this song.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)

A New Backing Track For “The Old Home Place”

This is a popular Bluegrass tune, especially for Dobro players. I purchased Jimmy Heffernan's Dobro song lessons, one of which is: “The Old Home Place.” So, I thought I'd make a backing track for it. Jimmy only tabs out and explains how to play the first part of the song, but he doesn't explain how to play the chorus for some reason. I was able to figure it out on my own. I used Ricky Scagg's performance of the song as a template.

I am also a member of the Reso Hangout (Dobro) and the Mando Hangout (mandolin). But those forums are about one twentieth as popular as the Banjo Hangout. That's where I learned about lessons from Jimmy Heffernan (who is a professional Nashvile musician).

Last year I was fortunate to buy a Gold Tone solid mahogany body Dobro with a Nashville pickup installed, which I was very pleased with out of the case. I purchased it directly from Gold Tone. It sounds much nicer than my Gretch Boxcar G9200 Dobro, although that is a fine instrument too for one fourth the price (that's the only Dobro that Patrick Agius plays). Enjoy!

• The Old Home Place (key of A, faster)
• The Old Home Place (key of A, normal)
• The Old Home Place (key of A, slower)
• The Old Home Place (key of A, slow)
• The Old Home Place (key of G, faster)
• The Old Home Place (key of G, normal)
• The Old Home Place (key of G, slower)
• The Old Home Place (key of G, slow)

I used MIDI for bass and drums. I'm playing my Eastman 505CC mandolin and Cort acoustic guitar. I added a real audio loop cymbal at the end. I use MixCraft Studio Pro to record my songs.

Dave Hum (1966-2012)