My favorite banjo teacher, and I think THE ABSOLUTELY BEST teacher is a humble guy named...

BILL NESBITT

Free Backing Tracks
(Bill Nesbitt is a talented and generous man, and I am very appreciative for his excellent spirit!)

If you want to learn to play the banjo, Bill's YouTube videos are the best way in my humble opinion. And I really like Bill's style of arrangements. In particular, I like his take on "THE BALLAD OF JED CLAMPETT."

Learn To Play Banjo With Bill Nesbitt

Cumberland Gap
(a really fun song to learn and play. I can really get into the feel of this classic bluegrass song)

A good way to remember the standard banjo tuning (from low to high) is: Go Downtown Get Better Dog!

The Secret Of The Banjo's Twang
Revealed By Noble Prize-Winning Physicist

Dave Hum MIDI Files

Helpful Banjo Chords

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Dave Hum's Sound Is In His Hands, Not The Banjo!

Dave uses his 1992 ESS Gibson in nearly all of his YouTube videos, but as you will see in this awesome song, “The Arkansas Traveller (3),” he is using his ODE banjo. Dave's beautiful sound comes from using proper picking TECHNIQUE, not from using any particular banjo brand.

Gotta Love Dave Hum's Music!

Awesome Double C Tuning

I love the Double C tuning on the banjo. It is fun to play and has a cheerful feel to it. Here are some backing tracks I've made for favorites done by Dave Hum in the Double C tuning:

• The Maid Behind The Bar

• Whisky Before Breakfast

• The Merry Blacksmith

• Gaspe Reel

I encourage pedal steel players to play the banjo also (and vise versa). Both instruments require skill with using thumb and finger picks.

Banjo Artist Dave Hum

Cool Banjo Chops

The Banjo is a HAPPY Instrument!

Dave Hum Style Backing Track!
(I made this so you can freely use & share it, enjoy!)

Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife | Fast

(my maple neck RK Elite 85)

My Grandfather's Clock
(In this inspiring classic recording, John Kuhn is using “D Tuners” on strings 2 and 3)

Dave Hum Song Comments

Dave Hum - I Love This Guy!
(I love this beautiful man! He's the world's greatest banjo artist!)

Buy Original Dave Hum Backing Tracks And Tabs
(to help support Dave's family)

Banjo Heaven
(my banjo blog with dozens of free backing tracts I've made)

• Peeler's Jacket | 2 | Basic Tabs
• Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife | 2

Making Your Own Backing Tracks

I have purchased several hundred dollars worth of backing tracks available online, AND MOST ARE WOEFULLY LACKING ANY REAL INSPIRATION. Some tracks I've found are superb (like Jay Buckey), but there's just something about the simplicity of Dave Hum's tracks, with just a bass guitar!

If the backing track doesn't move the player, you're not going to “feel” the music! Dave's tracks are profoundly simple and have a happy energy to them, reflective of Dave himself. In my humble opinion, Band-In-A-Box is lame compared to Dave's tracks. If anyone has ever tried to make your own rhythm tracks, then you know how difficult and time consuming it is, so I wanted to share some helpful ideas.

Songs are generally composed of 16 to 32 bars. The first thing you need to do is find a song's chords. I found a helpful website which provides the chords to hundreds of oldtime songs, many of which Dave plays on YouTube. For example: Here are the chords for a jig titled, “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife.” Here is Dave Hum playing the song (awesome). And here is a backing tract that I made, which you are freely welcome to use and share. By the way, I NEVER sell anything or receive donations. IT'S ALL FREE (as it should be in my humble opinion). All my music is free, and you are encouraged to freely share my backing tracks with others! I am still learning how to make tracks, so I am progressing slowly.

If you'd like to work at making your own backing tracks, as I am doing, you'll need a bass guitar. I bought an inexpensive Fender J-bass from Amazon.com. I'm not much of a bass player, so I have no idea if what I bought is any good. It works for me! If you can play guitar, you can definitely play bass, which is simply the four lowest strings on a guitar! Dave Hum's backing tracks are simple, usually just a bass and perhaps a tambourine or simple percussion. Many songs use only a bass guitar.

I recorded my songs using a Zoom R-8 multi-track recorder. Dave used a Zoom H2 handheld recorder (I'll explain more below) and Sonar software on his laptop. I bought my Fender J-bass and Zoom recorder in used condition from Amazon and saved money! I didn't buy these specific items for any certain reason, they just seemed like a good choice to me.

 Jim Reed Banjo Videos

I love this man's simple banjo playing. I downloaded ALL of them using the “4K DOWNLOADER” program.

God's Favorite Chord is: “G sus”!

Banjo Chord Progressions in Standard G Tuning...
(Dave Hum makes extensive use of these musical scales on the 5-string banjo!)

D_______________________________________________________________________________________

B___0__1__3__5__7__8__10__12__13__15__17__19__20__22__24________________________________

G___0__2__4__5__7__9__11__12__14__16__17__19__21__23__24________________________________

D_______________________________________________________________________________________

G_______________________________________________________________________________________

D___0__2__4__5__7__9__10__12__14__16__17__19__21__22__24________________________________

B___0__1__3__5__7__8__10__12__13__15__17__19__20__22__24________________________________

G_______________________________________________________________________________________

D_______________________________________________________________________________________

G_______________________________________________________________________________________

D___2__4__5__7__9__10__12__14__16__17__19__21__22_______________________________________

B_______________________________________________________________________________________

G___0__2__4__5__7__9___11__12__14__16__17__19__20_______________________________________

D_______________________________________________________________________________________

G_______________________________________________________________________________________

A Study Of Dave Hum's Awesome Banjo Style

Banjo Heaven!

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Download All Of Dave Hum's YouTube Videos Before They're Gone, Because You Never Know!
4K DOWNLOADER
(an awesome freeware program)

“I think people who truly can live a life in music are telling the world, ‘You can have my love, you can have my smiles. Forget the bad parts, you don’t need them. Just take the music, the goodness, because it’s the very best, and it’s the part I give most willingly.” ―George Harrison

Banjo Artist Extraordinaire Dave Hum

What a cool guy! I have made it a goal to study and learn as much from Dave Hum's style of music as I can. From the moment I heard him play Ballad of Jed Clampett on the banjo, my heart was knit to Dave's. He plays exactly how I feel in my heart, and the way I want to play.

There's really no mystery surrounding Dave Hum's playing style, he simply follows the chord patterns. Dave first learns the particular song, as it is tabbed or played; and then he adds his own stuff to it, which you can also easily do if you simply learn the scale progressions. I am going to share some of them below, so you can learn how to use them!

I have started transposing all of my banjo songs from G to the key of A, using a wonderful program called MixCraft (I use the Pro version). Dave uses the key of A extensively. The reason why is obvious, because the frets are slightly closer together in A, which makes playing a bit easier. The key of A is a comfortable key to play in. I love it! Plus it gives the same effect as having a Zero Guide Nut (lowering the strings, which makes it easier to play).

Dave Hum On How He Makes His Own Banjo Backing Tracks

       In his own words, here's how Dave makes his own backing tracks...

The album “TRAVELLING LIGHT” is a culmination of 15 years passing. When I have had spare time between teaching, learning, busking and making videos of 5 string banjo tunes , I have recorded original compositions which have more of a unique contemporary approach.

I arrange and play all the instruments and program the beats myself - The software i use is Reason for the midi samples such as basslines, loops and effects - which lets me export as WAV files into a program called Sonar for the audio recordings - i then combine the results in Sonar - to record the actual instruments i use a Zoom H2 straight into my laptop which makes the whole process easy as it has it's own soundcard which Sonar recognises.

I enjoy many styles of music and feel that the banjo is capable of being more than a bluegrass, Celtic, ragtime or classic style instrument. Essentially, a lot of the techniques used in the Travelling Light album on the banjo are the same as the aforementioned but by giving the banjo, and mandolin for that matter, more of a contemporary rhythm and backing so to speak i think they can be used to play most styles of music if sympathetic to the emotion of the tune. —Dave Hum (from his website)

Here's the newer Zoom H2 model. There are also more advanced models of the Zoom unit, reasonably priced, that have guitar inputs. It appears that Dave recorded his musical instruments live, and not directly into the recorder. A lot of people are fascinated with Dave Hum and his banjo music, myself included. I had read in the Banjo Hangout Online (BHO) forum that Dave made his backing tracks using Reason software, so in my ignorance I went and tried it for free for 30 days at their website. It turns out that Dave only used Reason for his MIDI portion of his recordings, and nothing else! So the BHO gives INACCURATE advice to people! In fact, Dave recorded his instruments with a Zoom H2 personal recorder into his laptop, using Sonar software! I'm sure a lot of people have been frustrated trying to figure out how to use Reason to make Dave Hum's style of backing tracks. Now you know the whole story!

By the way, the word “travelling” is not spelled wrong by Dave, in England they spell certain words different than in the United States. For example: “Arkansas Traveller”. I am very thankful to Dave and his family for sharing this information with others. I pray for Dave's family often, as I know that is what he would want, and am glad that God made Dave Hum! END

Something Really Cool - Using Only MIDI To Make Backing Tracks

      I had no idea that I could use my MixCraft program to piece together backing tracks using MIDI bass and drums. It is so awesome! Here's how to do it...

1. Right mouse click on any audio track and choose “Insert Track,” and then select “Virtual Instrument Track.”
2. Double left mouse click anywhere on the new track (in the white area). This will create an Instrument Track to edit.
3. Click on the picture of the piano keys under the name of the track. Here you can select the MIDI instrument you want. I se bass (electric) and “Percussion - Drum Kits” and choose “Drum Machine Kit 1.” There's a nice kick drum in there that sounds like the one Dave Hum uses. This is how Dave Hum made his drum lines, but he used Reason instead of MixCraft. Reason, to me, is MUCH more complicated! I made this backing track for My Grandfather's Clock in the Key of G, Dave Hum style, but it is not done yet. I am still learning how to get the timing right. The process is simple, and does not even require using a bass guitar at all! The track you just heard is strict MIDI instruments from my computer's sound card, that I made into an MP3 to share.

There are two things to remember that I have learned:

1. Make your drum track first and then use that as a guide to lay down your bass beats (synced with).

2. You can get a human feel to your backing track by adjusting the duration of certain bass beats, to give it rhythm and a bounce feel at times. In other words, I tried to make my bass beats sound like Dave Hum's playing. Dave is actually playing a bass I believe, but he is definitely using a MIDI tambourine and kick drum (his two favorite percussion instruments).

Also, in the lower portion of your MixCraft screen, in the MIDI editing area, I set mine to “Snap 1/16.” This allows you to set your beats at 1/16 beats. If you want even more precision, choose “Snap 1/32” or even “1/64.” If you get good at your timing, you can create backing tracks that sound VERY realistic. It took my a few hours to make my track, but it was my first one, so I think it came out really good. Cool huh? END

Dave Hum's Banjos

Dave Hum's main banjo is a Gibson ESS (Earl Scruggs Standard) banjo, a reissue of the original Gibson classic.

Gibson ESS (Earl Scruggs Standard) 1992

SET UP:

• Head - Remo
• Tailpiece - Fults 1934
• Tuners - Keith D (strings 2 and 3) and Scruggs
• Strings - D'Addario
• Gauges - 12,12,16,24,12
• Bridge - Snuffy Smith 5/8
• All other parts standard Gibson.
• Made in Nashville, USA

Baldwin Ode Model D '70's

SET UP:

• Head - Renaissance
• Tailpiece - Fults 1934
• Tuners - Keith D/Scruggs
• Strings - D'Addario
• Gauges - 10,12,16,24,10
• Bridge - Moon Lightweight 1/2
• All other parts standard.
• Made in Arkansas, USA

Epiphone MB250 '90's

SET UP:

• Head - Five Star
• Tailpiece - Fults 1934
• Tuners - Keith D
• Strings - D'Addario
• Gauges - 10,12,16,24,10
• Bridge - Snuffy Smith 5/8
• All other parts standard Ode.
• Made in China

Dave uses a Compact 60 AER rechargeable acoustic amplifier, which runs roughly $1,000. The amp plugs into the wall to recharge (no replaceable battery). I just run my MP3 player through my JBL Xtreme speaker using Bluetooth, and don't mic the banjo. There's really no right or wrong equipment set up, whatever is available and works is fine with me.

Dave mics his banjo using a Shure Beta 98D mic with A98D bracket clamp. What NOT to buy...

NOTE: I bought a “Feather” Goose pickup for $199 and hate it. It whines continually from feedback, and has wires all over, ripping off when I forget they're attached by clip to my waist. The item comes with umpteen parts that you have to assemble, and it is not easy. Please don't waste your money on it! Amazon sells some inexpensive Piezo pickups for $10.

Music truly does make the world a better place.

Dave Hum's Banjo Tunings

Standard - gDGBD
Double C - gCGCD
G Modal - gDGCD
G Minor - gDG(Bb)D
Open D - aDF#AD
D Minor - aDFAD
Other D - aDGBD

*Dave Hum shines on whatever tuning he plays, but I really enjoy his work on the Double C tuning (e.g., Maid Behind The Bar, Gaspe' Reel and Coleman's March.)

Dave says: “I like to set up my three main banjos so I can get a compromise between a dry snapping tight head sound associated with the Bluegrass sound and a mellower warmer tone for the Celtic, oldtime and ragtime tunes. I have found that some condensed foam inside the pot helps and a combination of medium strings and a not too tight head with the tailpiece parallel to the head helps me to achieve the tone I like. Each banjo has its own character and tone and I am forever tinkering with them to see what gives - which is half the fun!” (quoted from his website)

My banjo is a Recording King Elite 85 with a maple neck. It has a longer than standard neck, at 27 3/8" verses the standard 26 1/4" neck, which I really like. It is built to exact Prewar Gibson specifications. It has a great tone! I've learned that much of the tone comes from the player's hands, and not the particular banjo brand that is being played (to an extent). Dave Hum's awesome sound comes from his skilled hands. Dave controls the banjo, masterfully, he doesn't allow the banjo to control him.

I did try the things which Dave mentioned above, like loosening my banjo head, putting a block of foam inside my banjo, setting my tailpiece parallel to the head, and putting on some heavier gauge strings (12,12,16,24,12). The result, after 3 months of playing it that way, is that I very much liked the foam inside, because without it I get overtones that throw off my ears while playing. The foam trick is brilliant, I think. I prefer my head tight, so I went back up to between an F# and a G# (when you tap on the head you'll get a pitch to tune the rightness by). On my Recording King, it seems that F# is as high as I can safely get without risking over tightening the head. I kept the tailpiece parallel. My string action is as close as I can get without an annoying buzz. I actually have a very slight buzz (at times), that I don't mind, having the strings nice and close to the neck.

I am learning to pick the strings more firmly, like Dave Hum does, which makes a BIG difference in my tone overall while playing! It is important not to try to play just like Dave Hum; but rather, learn TECHNIQUES from him, and apply those skills to your own playing, and you will become more like Dave that way, than merely trying to copy him. One thing that I have notice is that Dave KNOWS the songs he is trying to play. It is easy to wing through a song without really buckling down and getting into the nitty-gritty of the tablature, which is a mistake. Learn slow, and then work up your speed playing accurately. YouTube is an awesome tool, which allows you to slow down the speed of any video, so you can see what is going on. For many of Dave's songs, like Mason's Apron, I am still playing it at 3/4 speed, because I cannot keep up with him...lol. Enjoy!