Si Bheag Si Mhor | Clawhammer Banjo

My version of "Si Bheag Si Mhor" by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). January 2024. gCGCD tuning.

[@edwardhanson3664]

I've played this song many times when jamming with a contra dance group of musicians. I never got to it when I picked up clawhammer banjo. It's a perfect clawhammer song.

[@yourcelebrant]

Great Job. I'm just starting out and you inspire me to keep trying.

[@StanleyWaltsBanjo]

I love your arrangement! That has got to be one of the prettiest triple time clawhammer tunes I've heard!

[@josephrosser4609]

Well played with a beautiful sound. At my age, I have a much better appreciation for the slower paced Clawhammer pieces.

[@adammorkus]

Beautiful!

[@librandy77]

Very very cool…🪕🪕🪕

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

This has such a strong Appalachian vibe to it.

[@edwardhanson3664]

It's popular for contra dances, which has Appalachian roots.

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

@@edwardhanson3664 I've never heard of those.

[@marijenkins2674]

Super. I'm inspired. Thank you.❤

[@ScottBirnie-vg2ky]

Lovely, thank you

[@hamnhock]

That was perfect!

[@rob.taylor]

Loved it!

[@F_later]

Nice !

[@johnsayles4316]

Very pleasant!

[@IzZyRaWr]

Very chill. (:

[@Chikinbokbok]

3 finger player here. Still can’t wrap my head around clawhammer except for the fact that it sounds awesome

[@rwitch80]

I like both styles, but, for getting a "full sound" by yourself, clawhammer is hard to beat.

[@magdalenacassel1097]

Wow, I love your arrangement! Just beautiful. (Let us know if you ever write out tabs 😄)

[@richh1576]

Nice arpeggio-ed triplets !!!!!

[@zeppelfahrt127]

Your Goodtime Classic is the first one that I have seen in a very long time - other than my own. Where did you get yours? Very nicely played, thanks for sharing.

[@rwitch80]

Thanks! I got mine off of craiglist 10 years ago. I love it. It's a nicer banjo than the price point (back in 2014, anyway) would suggest.

[@matthenson3472]

Very nicely done! Can you talk about why you chose that tuning?

[@rwitch80]

Thanks! In my experience, everyone plays this tune in the key of D. While I could have played it in whatever key I wanted for a solo video, I don't like having too many different versions of tunes bouncing around in my head. Double-C tuning/capo 2 is the way most clawhammer players approach D tunes. It gives you more key-appropriate open strings to ring out--a big part of the clawhammer sound!