Josie-O - Clawhammer Banjo

I love this tune. Aaron Lipp showed it to me on the fiddle when we were getting the Mt. Pleasant Stringband together. I first got into Art Stamper's take, and there are many great banjo versions, notably Adam Hurt and Ryan McAuley (from the Dublin group, Alfi). It's the May 2021 #clawhammerrulesTOTM (tune of the month), and here I am enjoying some beautious May weather getting my Josie-O on. Also knows as Josie Gal, or Josie Girl.
H.C. Dobson #banjo circa 1890 tuned gDGBD. #clawhammerbanjo
Benny Bleu is on:
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Bandcamp: bennybleu.band...
Website: bennybleu.com/

[@trentroth6717]

This is amazing! I think this might be my favorite version so far

[@librandy77]

Sweet melody frailing love it

[@KorbyLenker]

Very smooth and groovin hard!

[@BennyBleu]

You know it!

[@johnmulgrew9426]

Fantastic, thank you!

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks!

[@benjaminsvejgaard3214]

Absolutely amazing. I love the off beat punctuations - it sounds like you are palm muting?

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks very much Benjamin! Maybe a little palm muting, but also that old dobson with the nylon strings definitely has that warm plunky sound.

[@ranzamaceanruig]

Boy, oh boy. The world needs a lot more of this. Thanks so much!

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks for listening, glad to do my part!

[@joseluispardocaminero3284]

Que afinacion tiene gracias por esos videos maravilla pero si no sabemos la afirmación no se puede hacer gracias

[@BennyBleu]

I usually put the tuning in the video description for those who want to play along. As you can see, this one is gDGBD, regular G tuning. Thanks for listening!

[@keithwigley1256]

Fine sounding banjo and play..

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks Keith!

[@davidfrenzel1852]

Nice

[@ebb1501]

Benny, any chance you’d be willing to post a quick tutorial? Your version is the best.

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks a lot! I hope to post a tutorial of this sometime this year!

[@JasonAschMyHomeTeam]

@@BennyBleu@BennyBleu Yes, please, your version is awesome! Would love to pay for a tab if you have it.

[@JasonAschMyHomeTeam]

@@BennyBleu Yes please, really digging your playing online. Thanks for all the vids.

[@BakerBaker1-9]

This was so fun and cool to watch and listen... Sub from KY -pick on or C hammer on ..... God bless

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks very much Baker Baker! Claw on

[@bethcarr4405]

One of my favorite G tunes

[@BennyBleu]

Hey Beth - good to know. We should play it together this summer... !

[@bigbluehouseband4331]

That is such a pleasant nostalgic tune!

[@myoung4997]

Lovely rendition of a lovely tune.

[@BennyBleu]

Thank you

[@vance7274]

"I love this tune." As do I, and all the better coming from a well-played banjo in the hands of a master.

[@BennyBleu]

Hey thanks a lot for saying that and for listening, Galen!

[@williamgrahamiii3840]

I have been playing banjo (Bluegrass and Clawhammer) since 1972. I played in several bands and ran a banjo store for ten years. This picker makes it look so easy and sound so great! I also own the same banjo and have played it a lot.

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks for watching William and for a lifetime of supporting folk music. They don't make banjos like that any more!

[@keithwigley1256]

What make and kind of banjo is it..

[@RandyBanjo]

Lovely stuff!

[@BennyBleu]

Thanks, Guy!

[@leighcecil3322]

Nylon strings?

[@johnlink]

Love this! But how are you getting such a clear 'A' on the and-of 3 in the third measure (assuming the repeated phrase is 4 measures)? It looks like you're playing the 'B' right before it on the open 2nd string, but I don't see a drop thumb to articulate the 'A'. Is it left hand only?

[@johnlink]

Got an answer on Banjo Hangout: alternate string hammer-on. So yeah, LH only.

[@BennyBleu]

Hey John! Sorry I'm so slow on these comments... yes, you got it, alternate string hammer on. Not every banjo makes those so clear, but luckily this one does. You could drop thumb it though too!

[@keithwigley1256]

Excellent play and tone...what make of banjo is it..

[@BennyBleu]

That's a HC Dobson from the 1890s!

[@keithwigley1256]

@@BennyBleu thanks..has a great tone ...keep your fine style of play acoming..

[@dirmoarmstrong3864]

Gorgeous, fancy doing a lesson on it?

[@stevesadownpicker1519]

Yes! Great idea!

[@BennyBleu]

Absolutely. I have some info on my website about lessons, check it out and feel free to get in touch there, or follow the link to book a lesson. I'd love to breakdown Josie-O, there are a lot of cool things to think about with this tune. bennybleu.com/banjo/

[@jeetray11]

Loved it bro! Seems like a small scale. 22"? 11" pot? Can you give some details of your banjo specs. Love the sound.