quote:

---

Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

FWIW, the Johnson Mountain Boys clip of "Long Journey Home" (linked in my comment above) is around 192 BPM. Tom Adams was 29 years old when that was recorded, and playing with a band that toured constantly, so he was young and very much in practice. There was also caffeine involved, so I've been told. ;^)

Watching the video of that entire "Old Schoolhouse" concert, I've noticed that while there are a few real burners like that (e.g. "John Henry" and "Going To Georgia", they're always followed by much slower numbers. Good bands understand the entertainment value of speed, but they also understand pacing over the course of a set.

---

As impressive as Tom's playing is on that song, I'm even more impressed by David McLaughlin's mandolin break at that speed.

Yeah. Makes my hand hurt just to listen to it.

Then there’s this guy:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxwZ-yNWOC4

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Then there’s this guy:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxwZ-yNWOC4

---

Yeah, he's alright... I would have followed him with 16 bars of a single note too, what else can you do?? I took his Artistworks class for a year and I think it really helped my playing but several years later I’m still struggling to understand what any of it meant. He's one of a kind and I'll never stop kicking myself for missing Bela's Bluegrass Camp several years ago(pre covid times.) Bela, Noam, Mike Munford, Allison Brown and (I think) Ron Block were the instructors. 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Then there’s this guy:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxwZ-yNWOC4

---

I count 18 in a half minute times 8 =147 bpm if I am right

another original 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tractor1

another original 

---

Wow!

The inclination of bands to play in excess of 150 bpm is something that I have never understood. There are lots of tunes/songs which are appropriately played at a quick tempo. But what is gained with a speed of 160 or 180 bpm, beyond impressing an audience with raw speed? Is it enjoyable to hear the band members fighting to hang on for 2-3 minutes? Even if everyone can handle the tempo, does the melody come through better, sweeter, is the sound of the instruments improved by playing them at 180 bpm? No, no and no, in my opinion. In my mind, it is just the band saying “Now for this next number, nothing matters except pure raw speed. Don’t look for anything else, just be impressed with how blazing fast we can play our instruments.” I would love to see large numbers of people get up and walk out when that happens—or alternately, no applause at all.

I would walk miles to hear Ron Stewart do all the wonderful, creative things he does with a 5-string. I wouldn’t walk around the corner to hear even the most popular of groups play at breakneck speeds. There is no creativity or subtlety at 180 bpm.

My thoughts exactly!

I'm with Allan & Bruno here. After 50+ years of playing and listening to banjo and bluegrass in general, I ceased to be impressed by excessive speed years ago. The key word here is 'excessive'. Some songs and tunes are meant to be quick, but even they should not be rushed. To my ears, a banjo played excessively fast just becomes a jangle of noise, and any subtlety, taste and tone go out of the window. At more modest speeds, the player can (if he has the skills) produce the optimum tone and execute ornaments and embellishments like slides, pull-offs, chokes and hammer-ons to their fullest effect. Give me a well-played tune at moderate pace any day over a testosterone-fuelled race.

Banjo is no longer an instrument, it is just a light speed machine....congrats speed freaks....Jack

 

---

Originally posted by earlstanleycrowe

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

FWIW, the Johnson Mountain Boys clip of "Long Journey Home" (linked in my comment above) is around 192 BPM. Tom Adams was 29 years old when that was recorded, and playing with a band that toured constantly, so he was young and very much in practice. There was also caffeine involved, so I've been told. ;^)

Watching the video of that entire "Old Schoolhouse" concert, I've noticed that while there are a few real burners like that (e.g. "John Henry" and "Going To Georgia", they're always followed by much slower numbers. Good bands understand the entertainment value of speed, but they also understand pacing over the course of a set.

---

As impressive as Tom's playing is on that song, I'm even more impressed by David McLaughlin's mandolin break at that speed.

 

There is an element of hotrod-ism in other musics as well,, “shredding” on rock guitar, SRV in blues, Paganini in classical music, etc. , , , we wuz all young once, even Earl.

Truer words were never spoken....I have to put an extra surge protector on my Computer for these 4 hundred miles per second gems...HA

once people read the book and understand Earl's licks --they kinda understand his melodies

if it is a rendition of endless but non related phrases that were in the vicinity to be grabbed next --played cleanly at excessive speed--that is what gets the oohs and aahs from the up and coming ---however the actual music is not something to be remembered and hummed --there is no hook besides the dexterity extravaganza--

music offers many other useful and even more useful moods--for example old timey and celtic type fiddle tunes at tempos that let the'' deep tones of a good instrument ''surface -- the sadness in a minor or blues bend  love to linger --a love by the listener also--syncopation comes to life much more when it has time to take effect

not to diss a good barn burner once and a while--but that is not king of the mountain stuff either

my opinion I ask no agreement