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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Yarney's Ideal..1910..(Negro Sketch)..F.W.Stimson

This tune sounds to me as if it was based on, or is a copy of, an early stroke style banjo tune. I could find no information about the composer. It's a good one and makes a good banjo solo. I've rewritten some parts of the trio and set the key in G/C from the original which was in F/Bb...Steve.See More
Sunday
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Irish Foxtrot..1915..Paul Biese aka Percy Hawthorn Sudborough.

This is a well written compilation of a variety of Irish melodies given the ragtime/foxtrot treatment.  Biese was a prolific composer of popular music and songs between 1913 and 1924. I wasn't keen on the original trio so I rewrote bars 30 to 39. My suggested fingering leans strongly towards melodic style....Steve.See More
Saturday
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Royal Rag..1899..Tom North

This is a very good early example of ragtime. It's the only known composition by Tom North. All that is known about him is that he was born in Middle Town, Ohio in 1875, he married in 1896 and both he and his wife were pianists. He made a living as a jobbing musician playing mainly ragtime music.The piano score was written in F/Dmin/Ab but I have arranged it in D/Bmin/F as it better fits the banjo. The unconventional change of key from D to F in the trio gives the tune a nice lift...Steve.…See More
May 9
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

"Cleanin' Up" In Georgia..1899..Cake-Walk Patrol Or Two-Step..Harry P.Guy

This is another excellent early cake-walk from H.P.Guy. The piano score was written in F/Dmin/Bb but I've arranged it in C/Amin/F as it better fits the banjo. I've made one or two minor amendments and rewrites to make it more banjo friendly. My suggested fingering includes melodic style.I'd put it on my highly recommended list!..Steve.See More
May 6
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Silver Heels..1905..An Indian Intermezzo..Neil Moret aka Chas.N.Daniels

I first arranged this some years ago, this is a much improved arrangement to my original. It's a well written composition and was part of the repertoire of the Wallace Hartley Band that played on the Titanic and this tune would have been played to the passengers. The piano score was written in D/G but I've arranged it in F/Bb as it better suited the bass solo in the third part...Steve.  …See More
Apr 27
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Steve Harrison replied to David Gillespie's discussion Question on Whistling Rufus
"Hi David, if you like WR, have you had a listen to Kerry mill's Red Wing. I've written an arrangement for it which is available in the music library. It's one of my favourite arrangements and isn't too much of a challenge to…"
Apr 25
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Shuffling Coon..1897..John Rastus Topp

Stylistically, especially from bar 41 onward, this tune sounds very much like a stroke style banjo tune that Monroe Rosenfeld may have heard played and then transcribed. I could find no info on the composer. He could I suppose  have been the banjo player or the name could have been made up by the music publishers. It is a speculative assumption but I guess unless any info comes to light about Topp, we'll never know for sure. The piano score was written in Eb but I've arranged it in G for ease…See More
Apr 19
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Possum Patrol..1892..Theodore Havermeyer Northrup.

Another good tune by Northrup that could have been written for banjo. The piano score was written Bb/Eb but C/F fitted the banjo much better. In the second part, my suggested fingering leans towards melodic style as I found it the easiest way to play the rapid triplets. If you liked my three Northrup tunes, have a look and listen to Louisiana Rag in the library, an arrangement I wrote some years back...Steve.…See More
Apr 14
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

A Night On the Levee (An original Louisiana dance in ragtime rhythm)..Theodore Havermeyer Northrup

My arrangement of this tune doesn't follow the the usual  ragtime structure. I've removed most of the chords leaving the majority of it played with single notes. It has a staccato syncopation achieved by  using semiquaver (1/16th) rests and in parts is played behind the beat. It's tricky to play but sounds OK when you get it right. I'd recommend that use is made of the MP3 before attempting to play it.…See More
Apr 11
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Two happy Coons..Schottische..Theodore Havermeyer Northrup.

This early composition is one of those tunes that could have been written for the banjo. The structure of the tune is such that Northrup could well have been influenced by banjo players that he'd heard at the time. It's not too challenging and is worth a try...Steve.See More
Apr 10
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Steve Harrison posted discussions
Apr 8
Steve Harrison replied to Malcolm's discussion Notation question
"Hi Malcolm, My system of notation is non standard but there is a method to it.. I'm not a great lover of tab and my annotation is a compromise if you will. The numbers that are written above the notes are the frets on which the note is played.…"
Apr 6
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Who's That Knockin'..1922..Roy Stapleton

I couldn't find any info about the composer of this fun piece of music, described as a two step. The music was published in London so I presume Stapleton to be British. At various points on the piano score there are instructions to 'knock' (on the piano?), I've tried  tapping the banjo velum but it didn't work very well so I've omitted them on my arrangement. It took some thinking about to get it to work on the banjo but I'm pleased with the result and it's well worth a listen/play...Steve.…See More
Mar 30
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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Weird Rag..1911..Phil Schwartz

A good medium paced rag that suits the banjo. The piano score was written in C/F however I've arranged it in F/Bb as it fits the banjo more easily. I've been a bit inventive with the way I've annotated the intro but it works...Steve. See More
Mar 27
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Steve Harrison posted discussions
Mar 25
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Cry baby..Jazz Fox Trot..1918..Tom Brown & Ernie Erdman

This is an early jazz tune and one of the composers, Tom Brown, was a Canadian saxophonist and leader of a six saxophone group called the Six Brown Brothers who used to perform regularly in Vaudeville and on Broadway. It's another arrangements of music not usually associated with Classic Banjo. Some of my suggested fingering leans towards the melodic style....Steve. See More
Mar 23
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Profile Information

Steve Harrison

Hi all, Just a bit about myself. I live in the beautiful town of Malvern in Worcestershire, England. I have been playing classic and melodic style banjo for more years than I care to recall. I play an Alfred Weaver banjo made around 1903 and a Windsor popular made 1914ish. As well as banjo, my other instrument is piano accordion, not very fashionable these days but great for playing tradtional music, my main passion. I play occasionally for local Morris Dance sides arround Malvern. Having reached the grand old age of 60, I am semi retired which leaves me more time for my music and my other love, my two grandchildren. I'm about to start teaching my 7 year old grandson the Uke as an entry into greater things. If there are any other players in or near my location, please make contact...Steve.

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Comment Wall (15 comments)

At 6:35 on December 29, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve, I'm a bit nearer to you than Rob, but still a longish way away , I'm on the Isle of Wight.    Was interested to read that you played for Morris. I am a member of the local Oyster Girls Ladies Morris team.  Might just bump into you at one of the Folk Festivals , don't yet know which ones we are doing this year though.   All the Best.  Sylvia.
At 8:57 on December 30, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve,the oyster girls were at Upton last year. I am only a beginner at Banjo and have found this site very helpful. I have also had a few lessons with Rob over the internet, great stuff this new technology. Will look out for you at any Festivals I go to. I have heard Rochester mentioned for this coming year. All the best. Sylvia
At 17:49 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

hi Steve ,ive just had my clifford essex frets redressed and set up .it sounds lovely and so much easier to play .ive got medium gauge strings .ive been playing about a year .would i be ready for a heavier set ,and would this change the action .how often sould change them i practice every day' regards Alan

At 17:56 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

how often should i change strings i practice every day regards Alan

At 20:13 on March 4, 2012, Tim Walsh said…

Hi Steve,

 

I've only recently been made aware of Classic Banjo through meeting another member David Greenwood.

I've only been playing a relatively short while and have been learning bluegrass.

I'm looking to broaden my playing skills in to claw hammer and Classic styles and from what I've seen of the tutorials on this site so far I think I'm in the right place.

 

 

 

 

 

At 7:31 on May 21, 2012, Mike Redman said…

Hi Steve, have you thought about transposing/arranging A Ragtime Dance (Scott Joplin) for the banjo, I was listening to it the other day, now can't get the tune off of my mind!

At 10:35 on June 20, 2012, Alan Sims said…

thanks for the tip Steve, that makes sence.three lines above .E. cheers.

At 11:13am on August 28, 2012, Alan Sims gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Red Ribbon
Thanks Steve.It sounds great.
From the Gift Store
At 8:59am on September 19, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Frosty Mug of Beer
I would personally like to thank Steve for all the work he has done on producing new arrangements for Classic Banjo and making them available for us all. Check out all his scores in the MUSIC LIBRARY.
From the Gift Store
At 4:23pm on November 30, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Birthday Balloons
Thank you to Steve for all the arrangements and contributions. I can't say how old he is as I can't count that high :-) HAPPY BIRTHDAY
From the Gift Store

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