Have you ever really danced a polka?  They're fun.  Your feet move in this special, happy rhythm and -- as it said in a classic old movie -- "on a bright cloud of music shall we fly!"  This week's tune is a Pennsylvania dance tune, kept alive by fiddler and banjo player Carl Baron, who heard and then played it in the 70's, shared it in the 80's and a long time later has now resurrected it for us to learn.  A totally enjoyable, modulating tune is this TOTW, 4/8/22/Upper Lehigh.

West Virginia dreamin' Billy Kearney has chosen a lively dance tune whose B part sounds like you're singing the long title.  A source recording goes back to the performing Walter family in the 1930's.  Billy says that the tune is a variant of another tune which has the opposite feel in terms of both theme and tuning -- Little Rose is Gone.  I like them both and am happy to give this happier one a try this week:  TOTW, 4-15-22, That's my Rabbit, My Dog Caught It.

Our faithful presenter, Rick Hocutt, did a lot of research and you'll be sure to find something new in his presentation of an old "anti-hero classic" by Woodie Guthrie.  Rick also sings the whole ballad and performs "one of the first two finger thumb lead songs I worked out about 45 years ago, based on Ramblin' Jack Elliot's and the Byrd's versions."   Studying his banjo playing and figuring out what he's done from so long ago will be an education in itself.  Enjoy our TOTW, 4/22/22, Pretty Boy Floyd.

One of our regular presenters never fails to offer interesting, fun and useful tunes to study on Tune of the Week.  This week Mtngoat gives us one whose recordings go all the way back to the original Al Hopkins and his Hillbillies.  It's a rag, performed by many in the past,  and still played today.  Give a listen to and try of the new TOTW, 4/29/22, Stone's Rag.

Dance tunes are fun and joyful to hear. They're not overly complex, yet each one is unique and a good challenge to learn. Adam Schweigert has chosen a tune with a cute title, recorded by the popular West Virginia fiddler Melvin Wine. Come join in on our TOTW, 5/6/22, Greenback Dolly O. 

Diligent, talented clawhammerist Stephen Rapp again offers us a tune found in  The Fiddle Book, an extensive collection by Marion Thede.  Along with partner Paul Kirk, Jr., they have learned and recorded more Marion Thede tunes than anyone.  Marion published her book in 1967, having listened to and carefully transcribed many fiddlers, especially from Oklahoma and surrounding areas. In reverse order, the various titles tell their own story -- Old Lady Tucker, Too Young to Marry and TOTW, 5/13/22, Love Somebody.

Many of us know this week's Tune of the Week as on old Irish reel.  Today Jan Olov Sundqvist invites us to hear it as an old-time tune recorded at the same time and place as Jimmie Rodgers in Texas by Okeh Record's giant music promoter Ralph Peer. I hear in it a simpler version of the tune I learned from Francis O'Neill's Music of Ireland, so I'm happy to give it a try, as the original one was so tough it needed simplifying!  Thanks, Jan, for the tab and for TOTW, 5/20/22, Leather Breeches.

John D describe this newest Tune of the Week as catchy ear worm material. It is a more recent composition performed by the group Contratopia, written by their mandolin player John Goodin, who passed away just last year. Listen for the modulation or mode change in the tune and look for a place on the neck or the best tuning to play it in. Join in on the discussion and attempts to play this TOTW, 5/27/22, Too Many Goats (and venture to explain the title, too, please).

I've chosen an enchanting tune heard from a finalist in the recent Online Old Time Banjo Contest.  The meter is unusual with its 7-measure A part.  The tuning fDGCD gives it a haunting feel. The 3/4 timing makes the tune flow and want to repeat.  So, give it a listen and perhaps an attempt to play this newest Tune of the Week -- a tune which appears to be older, but whose story is not yet told: TOTW, 6/3/22, Wolves in the Woods.

Whoever knew blues could be so invigorating?  Mtngoat has given us a tune to keep us hopping with its 12+ measures in each of the A, B and C parts.  The fiddler who wrote it -- Tommy Magness -- and the fiddler who popularized it -- Benton Flippen -- gave us an appealing tune with some fancy amendments, yet which still feel familiar.  See if you'll be inspired to give a try on this TOTW, 6/20/22, Polecat Blues, or just watch and hear several excellent players show what they can do.

Think I’ll dust the old banjo off and give this a go

We have a tune this week from West Virginia Lee Triplett, with samples to hear from favorite players of Appalachian old-time fiddle tunes, plus the banjo recording of the popular Pat Lyons, our volunteer presenter.  We know from the title that the tune may have old roots because its subject is sailing on the ocean.  I can't wait to give a try to this week's TOTW, 6/17/22, Sailing Over England.

This week we can learn a tune that circulated in North Carolina and re-surfaced in Seattle, Washington to be recorded and brought back to North Carolina after the older fiddlers had passed on and the tune had nearly been lost.  It's a treat when Andy Alexis, who was himself a Piney Creek Weasel, brings us one of the tunes associated with the group's history.  One of the Sacramento Weasels, Rick Abrams, was enamored with it and in his memory we have this rather obscure and lively tune. TOTW, 6/24/22, Wild Goose.

Tune of the Week is always an adventure. This week we go to the Southwest for a modern cowboy ballad (1960's anyway) written by a prominent, but drunk, musician, who didn't remember it the day after. Presenter Carl Baron offers us his banjo solo and sings the ballad, too, giving it all much appeal in modal tuning. This is something different with a tall tale to tell for TOTW, 7/1/22, Me and My Uncle.

Stalwart presenter RG gives us a write-up worth reading and hearing to honor an old classic he calls funny and poignant.  With classic recordings artists such as Roscoe Holcomb, the Carter Family, Doc Watson, Cousin Emmy and more, we have the opportunity to dig deeper into the roots of old-time and country music.  Listen to the many lyrics and see if you've ever related to any of the singer's complaints -- another good TOTW, 7/8/22, Single Girl.

This week we're treated to an old favorite, including some in-depth background you may not have known.  The song was included in the Lomax collections and its popularity is still enormous.  With lyrics that vary from a girl you'd like to marry versus one you'd like to be rid of, you can simply enjoy the intricate and fun clawhammer performance by our presenter, Andy McGuire.  There must not be a person in this whole BHO forum who has never heard of our TOTW, 7/15/22, Cindy!

The Canote Brothers are a delightful duo whose music has been presented previously as Tunes of the Week.  Billy Kearney has offered one this week and played it in a pleasing band setting.  Besides Billy's and the Canote's, there's not another example to share yet.  Let's learn the tune, which is said to be fun, interesting, and not difficult, and thus add to the repository of recordings for TOTW, 7/29/22, Hickory Smith, and on the side, we can add to the list of other tunes with a "hickory theme", as per contributor Tom Clunie.

This week we venture to learn from an Alabama fiddler, Sam McCracken, posted by the intrepid Mtngoat who continues to uncover gem after gem.  Though he was from Alabama, Sam is known as the "father of the Tennessee Valley Old-Time Fiddlers Association."  Through such on-going associations we continue to explore source fiddlers and uncover tunes we have yet to enjoy.  Dig in to this tune in the key of G --  TOTW, 8/5/22, Chuck a Luck.

Another Dear Old Illinois tune is most welcome this week, though the source fiddle, "Pete" Priest, came originally from Kentucky.  One will wonder about the title (at least me, since I was reminded of my cat with that name), but definitely enjoy the tune and its arrangement as played by our presenter, Mark T, for his teacher, Adam Hurt.  It's nice to read your thoughts and contributions on the TOTW, 8/12/22, Run Down Boot

From across the pond comes a tune of the 1930s, written in the North East of England by Tom Clough, for Northumbrian small pipes. Named after his wife, it happens to resemble another tune called Fair Mountain Hornpipe. We appreciate this second contribution of volunteer banjo enthusiast Andy Taylor, also from across the pond.  Enjoy the lilting melody of TOTW, 8/19/22, Nancy Clough's Tune.

A very old Irish composition by Turlough O'Carolan is now featured on Tune of the Week and you can read of its fanciful origins. The first TOTW for volunteer mandobanjolibrarian, he has managed to choose my favorite of all O'Carolan's 200+ extant tunes. Having lived in the late 1600's and early 1700's and having composed it as a young man, this tune is truly old. O'Carolan has been called "Ireland's national harper" -- no small achievement!  Enjoy our TOTW, 9/2/22, Sheebeg, Sheemore.

Apologies for failing to announce last week's tune -- the title must have scared me.  :)  Thanks to Mtngoat for coming through when our volunteer was unable to post.  The tune sources back to the early recordings of the 20's and isn't as ominous sounding as the title.  Hope you enjoyed this one last week and if not, you can still check it out:  TOTW, 8/26/22, Man Eater.

In honor of Art Rosenbaum's passing, long-time volunteer from Sweden, Jan Olov Sundqvist, prepared a lengthy detailing of his musical legacy.  As we will see, many of us were influenced by Art's voluminous contributions. This Tune of the Week is a fun one to play, so let's here you on the TOTW, 9/9/22, Spanish Fandango.

Stephen Rapp has a done another nice job presenting a TOTW with his fiddling partner Paul Kirk, Jr. playing along in their video.  We also read of the tune's history, meaning and source recording from Jim Bowles (1903 - 1993), Kentucky fiddler. (Many fiddlers lead long lives, don't they!) The tune has a quirky, bluesy feel and goes by another name, Want to Go to Meeting and Got No Shoes.  The fiddle tuning is the same as the tune's name:  TOTW, 9/16/22, Calico.

If you were to study the collection of Samuel Bayard of south central Pennsylvania in the first half of the 1900's, you'd have a lifetime of study.  The tunes we've more recently been introduced to are delightful, including this week's tune presented by Adam Schweigert of Pennsylvania.  Adam heard it played at Clifftop this year and researched it via the Bayard book and some videos he has shared. He also offers a good tab with several variations and his accompanying video.  A fun and interesting tune, originally recorded on fife, is our TOTW, 9-23-22, The Home Town Band.