Waltzing Matilda - Fretless “Minstrel” Banjo

[@marshallkarl7956]

1st MarDiv fight song

[@TheCleesmiester]

Aussie expat living in Germany, longing for home but bloody enjoying listening to your rendition of Waltzing Matilda. Your welcome to share my Billy any day mate. Cheers.

[@musicoftheindy]

I liked as soon as I saw "fretless 'minstrel' banjo". I have no regrets.

[@musicoftheindy]

Also low-key I loved this song as a kid. Thanks for the memories 😊 And if you ever want to do something with a guitar, ukulele, piano, accordion, mandolin, or cello, reach out.

[@knoxmassey6822]

I’ll let you know! I love accordion so I may try to see what works with that

[@musicoftheindy]

@@knoxmassey6822 please do!

[@greatscott175]

Ayyy, been digging your channel lately all the way from Australia. Great voice, great 'stache and great tunes mate~

[@knoxmassey6822]

Cheers mate

[@adventurestech3070]

This has gotta be up there with Slim Dusty's version as one of my favourites. I love your music, keep it up!

[@harrisonwest4476]

men like this encompass less than 0.00000001% of the population. Truly something to be honored. Keep it up.

[@knoxmassey6822]

I'll certainly try to hold myself to such a high standard!

[@coopNbeau]

Loving the deep sound of your voice, really suits your banjo playing! Hoping some day you will release an album of these songs on spotify or some other streaming platform!

[@knoxmassey6822]

If I ever get around to recording, I certainly will

[@gusess5743]

Excellent rendition! Here in Australia I used to hear a similar sped up version played by an old timer with a homemade instant coffee tin Banjo at the local folk festivals.

[@woodybrison]

Good voice dude. The fretless is pleasant to hear. We used to sing this song in school in Califiornia in the 1950's. We didn't know what it meant.

[@mintyfops]

I feel like this instrument can capture some jazzy/funky or vaudeville era sounds. Shine On Harvest Moon or something would be nice!

[@bmint]

This song and your voice is stuck in my head ❤

[@stansfieldmcelroy]

this is totally crunchy brother, jerry would be proud

[@JShortsFR]

It’s not traditional in any sense of the word but the video game Outer Wilds popularized this Space Banjo aesthetic, might be fun to look into with a man of your talents. Cheers.

[@_brayanenriquez]

This was so awesome. Playing it in the background really creates a mood

[@shrodingerscat4191]

Such a hopeful instrument. ❤

[@geodav5700]

Best version ive ever heard and i am aussie

[@evandonalddonnelly]

I had been looking for someone playing a minstrel banjo in an up picking style like that. You're about to convince me to switch to fretless. Sounds great

[@timmyturner327]

Very good performance. I love this song.

[@mrgreeley8500]

impressive style and nice clear sound.

[@BRIAN_IVERSON_20]

your banjo is so awesome. i love the tuning and the unique sound compared to my standard 5 string. fantastic playing too! cheers!

[@knoxmassey6822]

Thank you!

[@BRIAN_IVERSON_20]

@@knoxmassey6822no problem! how do you learn these songs? is it mostly by ear?

[@Epic501]

Gut strings sound great on a banjo, I had no idea they were originally strung this way

[@knoxmassey6822]

Yes. In this, however, I’m using nylon strings meant to replicate gut. There are many other videos out there where people use gut strings. Check out people p Like Aaron Stevens, Clifton Hicks, or Blaine Chappell playing a “Boucher” or “Menzies Banjo” to hear more

[@boredwarlock5216]

One of my favorites! Thanks dude

[@birdvideos9085]

This song was, of course, written by a man called Banjo, Banjo Paterson.

[@seancline8130]

I don't know what you call it but those one finger runs you were picking were super cool. I gotta learn to do that.

[@knoxmassey6822]

I would just call it one finger strum

[@knoxmassey6822]

I can do a video on it but its very simple, basically clawhammer but bum-dit instead of bum-ditty

[@seancline8130]

@@knoxmassey6822 you dont have to do that just for me. I think I already figured it out but it will take some gettin used to. By the way I've only recently discovered your channel and have been trying to watch a few every day to catch up. I like your sound. Keep pickin!

[@lordtachanka903]

LYRICS Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he sat and waited till his "Billy" boiled, "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me." Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me, And he sang as he sat and waited till his "Billy" boiled, "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me." Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong, Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me." Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred. Down came the troopers, one, two, three. "Whose is that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag? You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me." Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong. "You'll never catch me alive!" said he And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong: "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me." (Chorus)

[@stephenkissick_]

Sounding fresh man!

[@ieetrgun2620]

everyone seems to be commenting song suggestions so i’ll give one too. i believe it to be modern, but the english folk song “the bedmaking” would sound great on a banjo

[@thehussiteking]

You're finally hitting it big Napoleon 🥲 you've grown up so fast 😭

[@rebeccastanhope3989]

Very nice!

[@HeilSol]

Very well done, like usual. Sticking with the Australian theme? I seem to recall a song about a kookabura.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Hmm no, might play that one if i can find it

[@knoxmassey6822]

You may be thinking of “the cuckoo”, which is a popular banjo song

[@HeilSol]

@@knoxmassey6822 I'll check that song out as well. I was referring to Kookaburra(sits in the old gum tree), the only other Australian folk song I know of. Would work with banjo, to be sure.

[@tommurray-white4890]

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree - merrily merrily life can be - laugh kookaburra laugh - gay (yes gay when it meant happy) your life must be.! Very old aussie tune, children learnt at kindergarten / school. Also the melody line from 'Down under - men at work' which got into legal trouble

[@ant3917]

This sounds awesome!

[@haledunt7165]

impressive work with the accent as well far out

[@HistoryBoy]

BEAUTIFUL. TAB or “how to” video for this tune. PLEASE. Listening on our way to 160th Gettysburg.

[@knoxmassey6822]

You bet! I can barely read tabs, so a how to video shall be in order

[@HistoryBoy]

@@knoxmassey6822amazing. Trying to learn off of this video as we speak. Love it man.

[@knoxmassey6822]

@@HistoryBoy check out my lesson vid for this

[@landonthomass]

Interesting, never heard this one before good job though. I really like this.

[@chouyi007]

Sir, you must be a mind-reader; it is as if you are cherrypicking my favorite songs from across times, genres, and continents. If you were next to play 元禄風花見踊 (a Japanese shamisen piece that I suspect would sound excellent on banjo), I would believe you to be a full-fledged psychic!

[@knoxmassey6822]

Interesting. Is there a transliteration I can search? I dont know how to type those characters

[@chouyi007]

@@knoxmassey6822 Sure thing, partner; it's "Genroku Hanami Odo(ri)," (the "ri" isn't represented by the characters and they tack it on the end when they're writing it). Once you've typed the "genroku" part into youtube, it'll likely sugguest "hanami odori" after it. I bet you could handle that song no problem!

[@solenum1]

I've just learnt this one from your lesson, any chance you have the lyrics down on paper anywhere? cheers edit; im dumb nevermind i found them on google

[@knoxmassey6822]

Alright nice. It’s a fun song. Glad you found them

[@Daddynapalm]

How did you get your banjo? I can’t seem to find a minstrel banjo with the dimensions I want and yours looks perfect.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Check out Gardner’s Dulcimers based out of Ohio. I love it and its reasonably priced with some free custom options

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

Do you know a good place to get one of these fretless jokers? Thanks for the tunes sir.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Yes. Gardner’s Dulcimers is where I got mine. He’s a joy to work with, and i remember it being reasonably priced.

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

@@knoxmassey6822 thanks my man! Glad I found ya channel

[@shadowmanNI]

Great stuff. What tuning is that?

[@knoxmassey6822]

Standard open tuning on this. Refer to my recent videos for the exact tuning, i think its something with Db, Gb and F

[@PietervanLeeuwen-k6e]

I like your music very much. Did you make the arrangement yourselve?

[@knoxmassey6822]

I did. Thank you!

[@MrJballn]

Serious business man, if you have 4 hours in North Phoenix Arizona inside the next couple months say something.

[@knoxmassey6822]

Don’t think I’ll be there within the next couple months, but who knows where my job will take me

[@ap9019]

Give The Wild Colonial Boy a go

[@knoxmassey6822]

Ill listen to it, never heard it before

[@Logjam5]

An old standard.