I started trying this. Awesome! I'm actually sounding like Boggs! This is what I've been looking for. The Rosenbaum books haven't been much help to me. Maybe I can write a Boggs-eqsue blues song about how much they've vexed me, to the ire of everyone on banjo hangout lol. I don't undersand how Boggs came up with all these irregular tunings though
Thanks, Chris! You really opened up a whole lot more for me to understand about Dock's style of playing. You also presented this very nicely. Plus, it's so cool that someone finally put a Dock Boggs instructional video on UA-cam.
Excellent!!! … I’ve always loved that haunting, dare I say primitive, sound that Dock Boggs seemed to conjure up. I’ve got to say how pleasing it was to have it unlocked and explained in so simple a manner. Absolutely wonderful, thank you for this.
Thanks Chris, I've been listening to Dock for fifteen years and this finally took the mystery out of his style of play. I'm a clawhammer player. Thanks
Nice man! I love to see that very few people. Take the time to teach . And keeping real mountain music goin. Banjo is on my list to learn. Got the guitar down for the last 23 years. So I'm sure i can teach myself the banjo. Thank you very much. And i value your time. Daniel Elliott. Port Royal, Pennsylvania
Great video lesson! Thank you very much! I've been trying to crack the 'Dock Boggs lick' for years, and you got it right. Now I can 'get in the graveyard.' Just a few years ago you couldn't even get anyone to tell what the tunings he used were. There is something about Dock Boggs banjo playing is that so elusive, and yet so simple. His banjo 'ghosted' his voice like the great Delta blues slide players. Thanks for sharing the 'secret.' You really should do a DVD!
Good lesson. I'd never been able to figure out Dock's style before, but I've been working on this piece with the lesson and can just about play it right now.
Thank you for sharing with those who may not be able to attend your (or any) workshops). You have a clear style of teaching that I think I can follow! I'm going to watch and practice more. I'm 55 and just began playing after years of strumming a guitar. It's a much more difficult instrument, this banjo.
Thanks Chris. I started learning this last night and now it's the next morning I'm playing it by lunchtime. Considering I've only been playing Banjo for less than a month, I'm really pleased that I can knock out a little tune by one of my favorite banjo players. Now we need to learn Sugar Baby. :)
Sugar Baby isn't that different, except for the high part. It's played in gDGCD tuning (G modal) but played in the key of D, much like "Danville." Give it a whirl.
@zoozdoggy Old Rub Alcohol is in the same tuning, but on the original record Dock is tuned very, very low. If you can play Danville Girl you can play Rub Alcohol; the main difference is Dock holding the note on the 2nd fret of the third string which is his version of going to the V chord. So the tuning is still f#DGAD, but tuned down to something like d#BEF#B. I would recommend tuning your 4th string down until it matches the record and then tuning accordingly, then try playing along.
Hi Chris, This was excellent-, very clear, thank you. I can just about play this through after a couple of day's practise. I have subscribed, so I am looking forward to any more lessons you do! Thanks again, just brilliant.
From open G tuning gDGBD, you tune the second string down two frets from B to A (it will match the 1st string at the 5th fret) and tune the fifth string down one fret (half a step) to F#. All the notes in the piece are either open strings or the 4th string, 3rd fret; 3rd string, 2nd fret; or 2nd string, third fret. Roscoe Holcomb played with only first finger and thumb, although his style for this tune was quite similar. His rhythm is a little different, but that would take a lot of discussion!
If you can play this tune, you can play "Oh Death." Just tune your 4th string down to C. The melody is different than "Danville Gal" but the technique is the same.
Many (probably most) of them, this one included, are genuine folk songs and would be in the public domain. There might be copyrights on some of them (and sometimes traditional songs get copyrighted, which you can pretty much ignore -- I've seen copyright claims made on "John Henry"). The best place to search for copyright info is online through the Harry Fox Agency, which has a database and also sells mechanical licenses for recording. Just Google them and check it out.
Hi Chris. Really good lesson, thanks. I just posted a video response... a recording of a few seconds of me playing it, recorded right up close with a bullet camera on my picking hand.
Thank for this. I'm having trouble following parts of this (no musical abilities unfortunately; I just know what I like) has anyone seen a tab that is close to this?
Hello, sir! I enjoy these videos immensely, you teach with clarity. However, having two left hands, I cannot quite figure that lick in "Pretty Polly" video from earlier. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I love this song and i love that your helpin us learn it!!! i was wondering 2 things: 1. how do i tune thhis way from a regular G tuning (im brand new to banjo and knon know technical terms)? And, I know its probably obvious to most but not me, might you be willing to just let me know the specific notes for the melody fr the first part (i cant really tell by trial and error cause my tuning is so off)? Thanks again, also, just curious how did roscoe holcombs style differ from this?
And frankly, if you're putting together your own versions of songs for an old-time website (especially if you're not selling anything) I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Chris, What a great lesson! Your playing and teaching is a real inspiration to me. Have you thought of organizing several of your lessons on a DVD (with tab) for sale? I'll be your first customer! Rick
Hey Chris. I've been looking all over trying to find out who has the copyright on Dock Boggs' tunes. I want to include my version of them for an old-time web site I'm building. Can you give me a lead about permissions? Thanks.
Hi. I didn't log out of my girlfriend's account, susi b. Thanks a lot for your answer concerning Lost Love Blues. For the last two years I've been playing this song both in aDAC#E and in eAEG#B, but all that time I've been encountering problems in some parts. For example playing the way you wrote, in eAEG#B, I can hear as if Dock was using a high A note (on the 10th fret), which is impossible in the eAEG#B tuning, because he's plating a bass D at the same time on the 5th fret, playing, as you wrote, x5567. The A note is easily obtained in aDAC#E tuning, but then on the other hand there's no way to reach the low A that appears in the eAEG#B tuning. Also, sometimes it seems to me while playing D chord in eBEG#B, that Dock is alternating between the bass F# and D, but I'm not sure if I'm hearing it right. The riff he's playing would then go like this: x9x67-x5x67-x9x67-x5x67. It seems to me he's playing that way at the beginning of the verse starting with “lost love, lost love, my darling”. Is he playing the G chord in different ways or always in the same way? I'd like to know if he's playing the G on x10'10'11'12 to slide down to x5768 and if he's doing that every time. Sometimes the D chord seems to be played xx10'10'10, too. Please, tell me your opinion on how exactly he's playing this song. Greetings PS. Do you share my belief that Clarence Ashley's House Carpenter is played in dDGCD? I think he uses there the same double thumbing style as employed by Buell Kazee.
You're over complicating it. I'm going to write as if the banjo was tuned standard. He doesn't alternate the bass on the F chord, he just plays the fifth feet of the 4th string over and over. The bit where you hear the high note on the first string is just a B-flat chord. Dock moves the entire chord shape up from 5-5-6-7 to 10-10-11-12 and then back. The C chord is 0-0-1-2. Very simple.
For months I have been dying to play me some Dock Boggs. And then I found this fantastic, crystal clear lesson. I can't thank you enough!
Hi from the U.K. Chris. Thank you so much for this brilliant Boggs lesson, very much appreciated.
Thanks so much for the video and tab. I'd love more Doc boggs tabs if you have any
Great lesson Chris! I noticed that the last comment on this video was me 9 years ago :) but it is still a great lesson!
Cool. I'm going to give this a try this week!
I started trying this. Awesome! I'm actually sounding like Boggs! This is what I've been looking for. The Rosenbaum books haven't been much help to me. Maybe I can write a Boggs-eqsue blues song about how much they've vexed me, to the ire of everyone on banjo hangout lol. I don't undersand how Boggs came up with all these irregular tunings though
what a tribute to the song and to Doc...Beautiful
wow---opened this video not expecting to hear that!..WELL DONE...thx
you rock.
keeps it true to the original
Thanks, Chris! You really opened up a whole lot more for me to understand about Dock's style of playing. You also presented this very nicely. Plus, it's so cool that someone finally put a Dock Boggs instructional video on UA-cam.
Excellent!!! …
I’ve always loved that haunting, dare I say primitive, sound that Dock Boggs seemed to conjure up. I’ve got to say how pleasing it was to have it unlocked and explained in so simple a manner.
Absolutely wonderful, thank you for this.
Thanks Chris, I've been listening to Dock for fifteen years and this finally took the mystery out of his style of play. I'm a clawhammer player. Thanks
Nice man! I love to see that very few people. Take the time to teach . And keeping real mountain music goin. Banjo is on my list to learn. Got the guitar down for the last 23 years. So I'm sure i can teach myself the banjo. Thank you very much. And i value your time. Daniel Elliott. Port Royal, Pennsylvania
Thanks Chris, looking forward to your next video!!!
Great video lesson! Thank you very much! I've been trying to crack the 'Dock Boggs lick' for years, and you got it right. Now I can 'get in the graveyard.' Just a few years ago you couldn't even get anyone to tell what the tunings he used were. There is something about Dock Boggs banjo playing is that so elusive, and yet so simple. His banjo 'ghosted' his voice like the great Delta blues slide players. Thanks for sharing the 'secret.' You really should do a DVD!
Thank you!!! You, sir, are an angel for posting this.
Good lesson. I'd never been able to figure out Dock's style before, but I've been working on this piece with the lesson and can just about play it right now.
Thank you for sharing with those who may not be able to attend your (or any) workshops). You have a clear style of teaching that I think I can follow! I'm going to watch and practice more. I'm 55 and just began playing after years of strumming a guitar. It's a much more difficult instrument, this banjo.
Thanks Chris. I started learning this last night and now it's the next morning I'm playing it by lunchtime. Considering I've only been playing Banjo for less than a month, I'm really pleased that I can knock out a little tune by one of my favorite banjo players. Now we need to learn Sugar Baby. :)
Sugar Baby isn't that different, except for the high part. It's played in gDGCD tuning (G modal) but played in the key of D, much like "Danville." Give it a whirl.
I've got sugar baby down now too..thanks again
@zoozdoggy Old Rub Alcohol is in the same tuning, but on the original record Dock is tuned very, very low. If you can play Danville Girl you can play Rub Alcohol; the main difference is Dock holding the note on the 2nd fret of the third string which is his version of going to the V chord. So the tuning is still f#DGAD, but tuned down to something like d#BEF#B. I would recommend tuning your 4th string down until it matches the record and then tuning accordingly, then try playing along.
Hi Chris, This was excellent-, very clear, thank you. I can just about play this through after a couple of day's practise. I have subscribed, so I am looking forward to any more lessons you do! Thanks again, just brilliant.
Thanks! Really fun song to play
From open G tuning gDGBD, you tune the second string down two frets from B to A (it will match the 1st string at the 5th fret) and tune the fifth string down one fret (half a step) to F#. All the notes in the piece are either open strings or the 4th string, 3rd fret; 3rd string, 2nd fret; or 2nd string, third fret. Roscoe Holcomb played with only first finger and thumb, although his style for this tune was quite similar. His rhythm is a little different, but that would take a lot of discussion!
Great video. Thank you.
This is great! Thank you so much. It'd be awesome if you did a lesson on his song "Oh Death"
If you can play this tune, you can play "Oh Death." Just tune your 4th string down to C. The melody is different than "Danville Gal" but the technique is the same.
Many (probably most) of them, this one included, are genuine folk songs and would be in the public domain. There might be copyrights on some of them (and sometimes traditional songs get copyrighted, which you can pretty much ignore -- I've seen copyright claims made on "John Henry"). The best place to search for copyright info is online through the Harry Fox Agency, which has a database and also sells mechanical licenses for recording. Just Google them and check it out.
Hi Chris. Really good lesson, thanks. I just posted a video response... a recording of a few seconds of me playing it, recorded right up close with a bullet camera on my picking hand.
f#DGAD. It's in the description of the video, too.
@banjochris thanks so much! I'll try that
just kidding, i figured it out, thanks for this lesson!
Thanks for the video. I would love some tablature if anyone has any.
dock boggs is my great great great great uncle
Thank for this. I'm having trouble following parts of this (no musical abilities unfortunately; I just know what I like) has anyone seen a tab that is close to this?
Hey Chris! Could you possible try to do a video with my all time favorite Boggs song, "New Prisoner Song"? Thank you kindly.
Hello, sir! I enjoy these videos immensely, you teach with clarity. However, having two left hands, I cannot quite figure that lick in "Pretty Polly" video from earlier. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I love this song and i love that your helpin us learn it!!! i was wondering 2 things: 1. how do i tune thhis way from a regular G tuning (im brand new to banjo and knon know technical terms)? And, I know its probably obvious to most but not me, might you be willing to just let me know the specific notes for the melody fr the first part (i cant really tell by trial and error cause my tuning is so off)? Thanks again, also, just curious how did roscoe holcombs style differ from this?
And frankly, if you're putting together your own versions of songs for an old-time website (especially if you're not selling anything) I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Is old rub alchohol blues in the same tuning? it would be awesome if you could post a video on that!
Chris,
What a great lesson! Your playing and teaching is a real inspiration to me. Have you thought of organizing several of your lessons on a DVD (with tab) for sale? I'll be your first customer!
Rick
Good lesson - Best way to sing like ole Dock is to fill both cheeks up with chaw tobaccy
Hey Chris. I've been looking all over trying to find out who has the copyright on Dock Boggs' tunes. I want to include my version of them for an old-time web site I'm building. Can you give me a lead about permissions? Thanks.
coud you by chance tab this out please?
I guess many have asked already but what's your banjo tuning for this? Thanks
Hi. I didn't log out of my girlfriend's account, susi b. Thanks a lot for your answer concerning Lost Love Blues. For the last two years I've been playing this song both in aDAC#E and in eAEG#B, but all that time I've been encountering problems in some parts. For example playing the way you wrote, in eAEG#B, I can hear as if Dock was using a high A note (on the 10th fret), which is impossible in the eAEG#B tuning, because he's plating a bass D at the same time on the 5th fret, playing, as you wrote, x5567. The A note is easily obtained in aDAC#E tuning, but then on the other hand there's no way to reach the low A that appears in the eAEG#B tuning.
Also, sometimes it seems to me while playing D chord in eBEG#B, that Dock is alternating between the bass F# and D, but I'm not sure if I'm hearing it right. The riff he's playing would then go like this: x9x67-x5x67-x9x67-x5x67. It seems to me he's playing that way at the beginning of the verse starting with “lost love, lost love, my darling”. Is he playing the G chord in different ways or always in the same way? I'd like to know if he's playing the G on x10'10'11'12 to slide down to x5768 and if he's doing that every time.
Sometimes the D chord seems to be played xx10'10'10, too. Please, tell me your opinion on how exactly he's playing this song.
Greetings
PS. Do you share my belief that Clarence Ashley's House Carpenter is played in dDGCD? I think he uses there the same double thumbing style as employed by Buell Kazee.
You're over complicating it. I'm going to write as if the banjo was tuned standard. He doesn't alternate the bass on the F chord, he just plays the fifth feet of the 4th string over and over. The bit where you hear the high note on the first string is just a B-flat chord. Dock moves the entire chord shape up from 5-5-6-7 to 10-10-11-12 and then back. The C chord is 0-0-1-2. Very simple.