Cripple Creek (Fretless "Minstrel" Banjo)

This was the first tune I learned to play on banjo. I have another version on my channel where I play the standard fretted banjo, check it out if you like this one. I'm playing a Gardner's Dulcimer's Minstrel Banjo.
According to Wikipedia,
""Cripple Creek" is an Appalachian-style old time tune and folk song, often played on the fiddle or banjo, listed as number 3434 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
The lyrics are probably no older than the year 1900, and the tune is of unknown origin. It has become a standard among bluegrass musicians and is often one of the first songs a banjo picker learns.[1]"

[@AngelTheKitsune]

Lyrics: . I got a girl at the head of the creek, Go up to see her in the middle of the week. She's got a kiss just as sweet as any wine, Wraps herself around me like a sweet potato vine. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek goin’ in a whirl. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to see my girl. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek, goin’ in a run. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to have a little fun. I got a girl and she loves me She’s as sweet as sweet can be She’s got eyes of baby blue Makes my gun shoot straight and true. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek, goin’ in a run. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to have a little fun. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek goin’ in a whirl. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to see my girl. Cripple Creek’s wide, and Cripple Creek’s deep, Wade old Cripple Creek b'fore I sleep. Cripple Creek's flat and Cripple Creek's Muddy. And I'm so drunk that I can't stand steady. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek, goin’ in a run. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to have a little fun. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek goin’ in a whirl. Goin’ up to Cripple Creek to see my girl. ((Love your performance of this song so beyond much ~

[@thedirectors2377]

Robert Pattinson from The Lighthouse when he decided it’d be best to stay a logger and pick up the banjo

[@marypalmer00]

the good ending 😂

[@definitelynotniko]

That is a giga-chad mustache

[@knoxmassey6822]

🥸

[@pindebraende]

The tone is so warm you gotta check if your armpits getting sweaty

[@pcossunshine]

Dancing in my kitchen while making Mac and cheese. Wonderful 😀

[@knoxmassey6822]

Perfect mac n cheese making music

[@jip_portfolio]

cheers to this dude that looks like the son of the overly manly man meme

[@tjames6427]

The spirit of America lives on through you! God bless!

[@marypalmer00]

That's what I thought too

[@DrTacoPHD665]

Comparing this version with the first upload, it is so mellow and sweet. The fretless really has a charming character.

[@Desmigalhation]

Man…this sounds awesome. Puts my spirit in the right place!Saúde 🇵🇹 🇳🇱 🇺🇸

[@JRsMind]

The fretless is so smooth sounding. Glad i found your music!

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

It sounds correct.

[@Atownforevilones]

First time I've ever seen a fretless banjo, it's got a cool sound.

[@pantsmasterx]

always loved cripple creek, knew you’d play the hell out of it. how right i was! keep it up, man, you’re killing it!

[@shigella63]

Now that is real music!

[@matzepeng3371]

I just love it, keep up the great work. Grüße aus Deutschland

[@bryancase7541]

This is the best channel on youtube at the moment.

[@MrJballn]

Everytime I hear you man I just feel like the natural extension for Red Dead 3 is Young Dutch in Appalachia et al, finishing out the story of the American West moving backwards through it's rapid expansion. We'd get wild Scottish/Irish backcountry, an early meatpacking Chicago, German settler Ohio, and a true GTA tie in with Algonquin Island the same size as GTA IV but back in it's Gangs of New York era.

[@knoxmassey6822]

That sounds like a great RDR tbh

[@samdraper9248]

Real good, playing the hell outa that thing brother

[@Pancake_Batter]

Fantastic playing and, I must say, an equally fantastic mustache

[@GarThankYall]

Thank you for this.

[@timthetallman6651]

I love your playing and singing! It would be a dream come true to have this studio recorded!

[@YostMusic]

I've never come across a fretless bajo! You play it so well

[@knoxmassey6822]

🫡

[@PigeonThyHobo]

If ya like this guy and wanna listen to more banjo like this look up Clifton Hicks. Both these fellers are amazing

[@whatcookgoodlook]

I love these covers so much, oh my goodness

[@knoxmassey6822]

Thanks!

[@yonimushermusic]

Sounds super cool, really unique vibe. I really like your voice too

[@OwainKorp]

I cant even begin to fathom how truly stellar this is. Great job brother.

[@catherinehobbit3415]

Never heard cripple creek with lyrics, really nice:-D

[@knoxmassey6822]

Thank you!

[@depouillementpersonnel]

Real KZbin, real music, real man. Catcha later mate

[@DylanKDowd]

Awesome god damn voice sir and playing of course!

[@joshdeane8299]

Absolute gas bro

[@scarecrowjoe3238]

New song to me, played on a fretless banjo (that i didn't know existed) brilliantly. Great song and well played and sung. I keep coming back!

[@red_panda_pl5379]

damn i love when you play music, i can listen it all day long

[@goeyguts]

Bro can't believe you play all these classics! Love your stuff

[@nfarr8627]

awesome sauce

[@flytrap_]

hell yeah man

[@ElizabethMassey-ge4py]

Excellent! Brings me so much joy.

[@AntonioProla]

gonna try and play this on my mandolin

[@knoxmassey6822]

Good luck! You should get it down pretty easy

[@feath3rs]

On top of being an awesome banjo player my guy has HUGE traps

[@knoxmassey6822]

Military press paying off

[@caroljazzdesign2979]

Totally awesome!!

[@ellismanning3163]

Goes absolutely unfathomably hard

[@gangstagangster8362]

It’a cool man🔥.I’m Learn play criple creek blue grass banjo. From Russia 🇷🇺 with love ❤

[@nomms]

Hey man, just discovered your stuff. I love your voice and the tone you get out of that banjo, never heard one as warm as that. I have a request if you're into those. "The Cremation of Sam McGee. It's an old poem by Robert W. Service. It was shorned a bit and turned into a song by Seth Boyer. I think your voice and picking would make for a really nice version. Either way keep it up. You'll blow up here of ya keep at it

[@hamwizzard2079]

Awesome

[@SHAMANA]

Really love this! You rock man

[@knoxmassey6822]

Appreciate it!

[@jmflyer55]

Excellent. Your rhythm is spot on.

[@goticopostrauma]

Amazing, lad!

[@menriquez89]

Killed it

[@brokenst33l]

Practicing banjo player here: show me them fangers! I really like all the short diddys! I want to learn some shorter songs just to start stetching into more complex claw hammer. I'm kind of lost beyond practicing chords since I'm practicing by myself, and there a lot of stuff i want to do, but don't really know how. Love the songs regardless. Thanks for the music, dude!

[@p0zzed]

Very nice

[@cymbolic_space1832]

thank you and god bless! sometimes these wonderful performances make me regret being a drummer as i cant serenade anyone such as this.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Drumming is important though… you could always learn a side instrument and do double tracks

[@cymbolic_space1832]

@@knoxmassey6822its true man 🤠 I was recently gifted a beautiful '71 fender jazz bass, still not quite a serenade instrument but who knows! at the very least it opens the door to the guitar.

[@spekklee]

Awesome man, im learning to play banjo too!

[@davidbukowski3463]

Awesome stuff man

[@DaSolo363]

keep posting man your channel is gonna blow up!!

[@SaintKhaled]

Better than the original

[@kaleemasilon8919]

This is the shit. My freaking heart!

[@landonthomass]

I’ve been on vacation but this was nice to come back too, missed the stomp though haha, another great one!! Love this song glad you did it on the minstrel!

[@herm574]

The headstock and lack of frets are giving me Claypool vibes... stellar work dude!

[@knoxmassey6822]

Thank you sir!

[@ashleycarver9963]

I remember my mamaw singing this song. I thought it was about her, cause I grew up not far from a cripple creek. 😂 all her bf lived on cripple creek.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Haha! well I hope my version was as good as she sang it!

[@donald4627]

ما تحلى الا مع قروب المطانيخ وقت جلسات البلوت

[@AlexanderGrobbe]

Good stuff as always! You inspired me to buy a banjo after playing guitar for a few good years, haven't learned cripple creek yet (hopefully that's not too sacrilegious lol) but I plan on getting around to it!

[@knoxmassey6822]

What kind of banjo did you pick up? Very glad to hear I inspired you to play! Let me know if you want any walkthroughs or tutorials!

[@AlexanderGrobbe]

@@knoxmassey6822 I got a Recording King dirty 30s open back, heard good things about it for a budget beginner option. Thank you! I want to learn “Old folks at home” but I don’t really know how hard it would be as a beginner but if it’s not too much trouble maybe you could do a walk through of that one eventually, thanks again!

[@knoxmassey6822]

@@AlexanderGrobbe That one's not too bad actually. Also, good banjo choice for a beginner one. I'll try to do an old folks at home lesson soon

[@AlexanderGrobbe]

@@knoxmassey6822 Thanks man you’re the best!

[@nomms]

@@AlexanderGrobbe seems your request have been fulfilled. Seems knox is on his way to being the goat

[@shrodingerscat4191]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@marypalmer00]

I love this 😭 Also youre cute 👍

[@robigreen1236]

This goes so fucking hard

[@guavaj3lly953]

I love cripple creek this so soo cool :)) How’d u learn banjo? It looks like something I’d wanna get into after I get more guitar basics down 😅

[@knoxmassey6822]

I learned off of youtube mostly, its not very hard to get some basics down. There’s plenty of stuff on here for different styles but I can recommend people like Banjolemonade, Clawhammer Banjo, or Clifton Hicks for beginners

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

You have a new fan, me lol. Curious though, you in NC?

[@knoxmassey6822]

I was for a while, in GA now

[@mybrainmelted]

this thing just sounds like it was recorded in the 20's

[@SeanSidious]

Could you please do a tutorial please Knox?

[@Fattedtimtamman]

You have got to record some of these properly and get them out there. Versions that sound like this are hard to find.

[@MultiMiles21]

Love your videos Where do I find a fretless banjo?!!

[@knoxmassey6822]

Many places. I got mine from Gardner’s Dulcimers but there are all sorts of people who can make custom ones for you, like Gourd Banjos (Bob Menzies), Mountain Banjos - A LOT of people, including Clifton Hicks and Kyle wood (just the two people I know well enough to recommend them) - so there are a lot of different kinds and makers. I’d say theyre always really nice and allow good slides and tone

[@designator7402]

You're really making me want to get a Banjo.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Do your research first! I might make a video about that places to get banjos/what to look for

[@rodeofrancisco6130]

Sweet song. Do you know the cuckoo bird song by chance?

[@knoxmassey6822]

I do. I want to record it soon

[@D4NISTAN]

Love the content! Any chance you could include your right hand in videos?

[@knoxmassey6822]

I try to normally, this was just a recording mistake on my part

[@Luke-dj3ry]

i love this! what would this type of string be called and can you put it on any banjo?

[@knoxmassey6822]

Nylon strings - they can go on any banjo, however this one is designed with thicker (lower tuned) strings in mind

[@Luke-dj3ry]

@@knoxmassey6822 thanks for the reply dude, I'm gonna pick some up 👍

[@KelleyGreenEcstasy]

bump

[@gravy3858]

What advice would you give yourself when you first started playing the banjo ?

[@knoxmassey6822]

I had to think about this a bit - I would say first, don’t expect to be able to hear something that you like and play it soon afterwards. It takes work but its worth it. Second: don’t be afraid to try different styles according to what you like. And third: sometimes simpler is better, especially with singing.

[@andrew3606]

Stop releasing cool videos you're going to make me spend more money on instruments I wont play

[@fitz37]

When did you start playing the banjo? and did you teach yourself?

[@CaIypso5150]

Wow you are so freakin good. You are super inspiring. Im gonna keep practicing. Thanks for the song 🙏

[@KrisHammes]

how hard is it to learn on a fretless as a first banjo (and instrument). I really like how they sound but am I setting myself for a really tough time with it. I have seen some with marks on the fingerboard to help.

[@jnm92]

Completely unrelated but have you ever listened to Michael Hurley? For some reason you remind me of his music. You should try learning his tune “hog of the forsaken”

[@knoxmassey6822]

I'll take a listen

[@mspaint3164]

Where does one get a fretless minstrel banjo?

[@jamesguschke9338]

What strings are them?

[@blc6464]

B .U.T. E ful

[@Ньорд]

Again?

[@knoxmassey6822]

Yes

[@Ньорд]

@@knoxmassey6822 I'm glad to hear that. Keep up the good work

[@knoxmassey6822]

@@Ньорд thanks. I try to keep a good variety, but i will play songs again from time to time

[@Ньорд]

​@@knoxmassey6822 Wonderful, will be waiting for new videos

[@Honthefup]

Hey Knox, greetings from across the pond. This is phenomenal stuff. Sincerely hope you record some of this to put out as a tracks on music services for your growing fanbase. The likes of John Fahey and Blaze Foley have very raw recordings that are cherished; so studio shmoodio. Hope you consider it, and by extension I hope you go travelling with your banjo so folks can buy tickets to a gig.

[@knoxmassey6822]

soon enough. When I get about 6 songs ready I'll try to put something on Spotify

[@gangstagangster8362]

It’a cool man🔥.I’m Learn play criple creek blue grass banjo. From Russia 🇷🇺 with love ❤

[@knoxmassey6822]

Спасибо за просмотр! Желаем удачи в изучении банджо!