While Peghead Nation’s Clawhammer Banjo instructor Evie Ladin was in the studio recently recording a Will Seeders Dobson Special banjo demo, she took a moment to play a few tunes on that instrument. In this video, she plays Forky Deer/Forked Deer, a mashup of a version that Sidna Myers recorded as “Forky Deer” and the more common version of “Forked Deer” as played at old-time gatherings the world over.
On May 14, Evie is teaching a clawhammer banjo workshop, called “Beyond the Bum Ditty II: Practicing Syncopations.” This live workshop will happen on Zoom on Saturday, May 14, from 10 AM – 11:30 AM Pacific / 1 – 2:30 PM Eastern.
About her plan for the workshop, Evie says: “Pete Seeger coined the onomatopoetic term bum-ditty to get to the unusual right-hand technique particular to clawhammer banjo (and other instruments with a short drone string). Once you’ve mastered that motion, there are myriad ways to open up your rhythmic playing to get more in sync with the more fluid rhythms of the fiddle bow: drop thumb, i-skip, triplets, and more. We’ll go through a number of these skills, and practice them in specific, common old-time tunes to increase fluidity without sacrificing steady rhythm.”
Register now for “Beyond the Bum Ditty II: Practicing Syncopations and join us on May 14 at 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern.
Learn to play Clawhammer Banjo with Evie Ladin on Peghead Nation! Get your first month free with code EvieLand at checkout.
 |
Evie Ladin: “John Brown’s Dream”Peghead Nation Clawhammer Banjo instructor plays a great old-time tune. Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin and Emily Mann: “Icy Mountain”Peghead Nation Clawhammer Banjo teacher plays an old-time favorite with one of the fiddlers who appears on Evie’s album of traditional tunes, “Riding the Rooster.” Read More |
 |
Bruce Molsky and Isa Burke: “Arkansas Traveler”Peghead Nation old-time banjo and fiddle teacher plays an old-time favorite with the fiddler, singer, and songwriter from the band Lula Wiles. Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin: “Got No Honey Babe Now”Peghead Nation’s Clawhammer Banjo teacher plays and sings an old-time song from North Carolina fiddler Frank Blevins. Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin: “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”Peghead Nation’s Clawhammer Banjo teacher plays and sings a Grateful Dead classic, which she also recorded for the Evie Ladin Band’s EP, “Playing Our Hand.” Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin: “Lonesome John”Peghead Nation’s Clawhammer Banjo teacher plays and sings an old-time song from Kentucky fiddler John Salyer. Read More |
|
Evie Ladin and Emily Mann: “Merriweather”Peghead Nation’s Clawhammer Banjo teacher plays a banjo and fiddle version of an old-time favorite with the fiddler and multi-instrumentalist from the folk duo Paper Wings. Read More |
 |
Bruce Molsky: “Peachbottom Creek”Peghead Nation banjo and fiddle instructor plays one of his favorite clawhammer banjo tunes by Wade Ward. Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin: “Polly Put the Kettle On”Peghead Nation Clawhammer Banjo instructor plays a great old-time tune. Read More |
 |
Evie Ladin: “Indian Ate a Woodchuck”Peghead Nation Clawhammer Banjo instructor rocks a great old-time dance tune. Read More |
