MeFi Music

Usually heard as 'Charleston Gals' in old-time circles these days, this was originally a minstrel-era song. [more inside]
posted by usonian on Aug 13, 2015 - 2 comments

One more 1865 banjo tune for the city songs challenge trifecta! This is another Frank B. Converse composition. Fretless banjo and tambourine, a bit of reverb for extra stateliness.
posted by usonian on Jul 29, 2015 - 1 comment

Not the old-time tune you may be thinking of. Fretless banjo with a percussion loop. (As it happens, Garageband's Jazz drum kit instrument has a rattle that sounds a lot like a jawbone.) [more inside]
posted by usonian on Apr 19, 2014 - 1 comment

More fretless minstrel banjo, with tambourine and marginally played bones. This one is from Phil Rice's 1858 Method for Banjo With or Without A Master.
posted by usonian on Apr 5, 2014 - 3 comments

A quick multitrack with fretless tackhead banjo, tambourine and bones. From James Buckley's "Buckley's New Banjo Method", 1860. [more inside]
posted by usonian on Jul 11, 2013 - 3 comments

Minor variation on an old minstrel tune. Fretless tackhead banjo, marginally played tambourine and bones. [more inside]
posted by usonian on Feb 27, 2013 - 3 comments

Stroke style arrangement of an old minstrel tune, taken from "Briggs' Banjo Instructor" book of 1855. Tackhead banjo and tambourine.
posted by usonian on Sep 10, 2011 - 4 comments