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The Blackest Crow


This lesson is part of the course Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky.
Get immediate access to this lesson and all of the lessons in this course when you subscribe.
 

About This Course

 

Learn the tunes and techniques of some of the legends of old-time banjo, taught by one of the icons of contemporary old-time music.

 
 
Try a Sample Lesson
Mississippi Sawyer
 
Wade Ward’s solo version of the square dance tune “Mississippi Sawyer” is a little different than the way it would be played for a square dance, in that it drops a beat at the end of each part. It’s played in double-D tuning: aDADE, where the fourth string is D, third string is A, second string is D, first string is E, and fifth string is A. Bruce shows you the tuning, gives you advice on getting in tune. Then he starts showing you the first part of “Mississippi Sawyer,” which starts with a D chord shape at the fifth fret and a simple bum-ditty pattern. Bruce walks you through each phrase slowly, giving you lots of chances to play along with him as you learn the tune. You’ll learn a basic version of the A part of “Mississippi Sawyer” in this video.
 
 
 
The Old-Time Banjo Subscription Includes:
  • 45 in-depth lessons in old-time banjo styles
  • 44 complete tunes as played by old-time banjo legends like Wade Ward, Matokie Slaughter, Hobart Smith, Pete Steele, and Frank Jenkins
  • Detailed tablature for all lessons
  • Play-along tracks, with downloadable MP3s, so you can practice what you’re learning
  • High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action
 
 
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Additional courses only $10/month each!   •   Save 20% with an annual subscription
 
 
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The Blackest Crow  
 
The Blackest Crow  
 
The Blackest Crow
The Blackest Crow
 

The song “The Blackest Crow” is in 3/4 (waltz time), which is an unusual time signature for clawhammer banjo, but it works well for some songs. Bruce plays and sings it in the key of G, using standard G tuning on the banjo. He starts by showing you a right hand pattern for 3/4 time and then shows you how to add in the melody notes.


  "The Blackest Crow" Tab (Available to subscribers)
 
  "The Blackest Crow" Lyrics (Available to subscribers)
 
 
 

Banjo Articles

 
article: Watch Bill Evans’ Workshop | Taking Your Playing to the Next Level
 

Our Beginning Banjo and Bluegrass Banjo instructor gave an engaging and wide-ranging Zoom workshop recently, with tips on improving your playing no matter your level. Watch the video here.

Banjo Videos

 
video: Banjo Extravaganza: “The Train That Carried My Girl from Town”
 

A performance from the 2016 CA Banjo Extravaganza, with Bill Evans, Joe Newberry, and Danny Barnes, and an all-star band of Sharon Gilchrist, Chad Manning, John Reischman, and Jim Nunally.
 
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    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com