Trapdoor2
  • Male
  • Little River, SC
  • United States
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Trapdoor2's Friends

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Trapdoor2's Discussions

New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
7 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Harrison on Friday.

The Mosquito's Parade, a Jersey Review...
5 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jody Stecher Nov 15, 2023.

Another Caselli..."Dainty Hussy"

Started Jan 30, 2023

 

Trapdoor2's Page

Latest Activity

Trapdoor2 replied to IAN SALTER's discussion Opinions on how to play this measure.
"Tempo is whatever you want. I felt comfortable playing "Frolic Jig" at 90bpm, FWIW. 100 felt rushed. The F sequence in question: I have no trouble playing the F (at the 5th fret, 4th string) with my ring finger and then jumping quickly to…"
5 hours ago
Steve Harrison replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"Hi Marc, from the dim and distant past when I studded engineering at tech.college Hookes Law on elasticity 'springs' to mind regarding instrument strings. Materials under tension should return to their original length when the tension is…"
Friday
Trapdoor2 replied to Austin 's discussion Different Keys?
"Modulation is quite common, esp in the trio. Most of these are simple modulation, I-V, I-IV and then relative and parallel minors. The most common keys live in the band between 3 sharps and 2 flats...but there's always room for other stuff on…"
Friday
Trapdoor2 replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"I was taught to pull the string sideways into a "Z", about the width of the neck. I have taken them well beyond that (when I was learning) as I am pretty ham handed. I have seen and read about pulling them up...nope, not doing…"
Thursday
Joel Hooks replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"The only complaints I have had about false strings came from stretchers.  I know it is anecdotal evidence, but changing the strings and not stretching solved the problem in both of the two cases. The stretching was done by pinching the strings…"
Thursday
Trapdoor2 replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"I think my hands/fingers just like the extra tension. Probably comes from years of bluegrass playing. These sets were 'mediums', which is what I have preferred over the past 20+ yrs. I bought a set of Chris Sand's 'heavies'…"
Thursday
Trapdoor2 replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"Nope, no label in the package (although I'm a pro at ignoring instruction pamphlets). For some reason, I had to look up the color coding too. You get a lot of voodoo in the music world, IMHO (WWED?, What Would Earl Do?). Stretching strings is…"
Thursday
Joel Hooks replied to Trapdoor2's discussion New strings from Clifford Essex Music, etc...
"Stretching causing false strings is well known in the Spanish "classical" guitar world.  In fact, I just read an interview with Chet Atkins where he warns against stretching. It was a non sequitur in the interview so he felt it was…"
Thursday

Profile Information

MARC SMITH

I was raised by a pack of wolves, deep in the forests of Nawthern Alabama...

Ok, perhaps not. I'm told we were a "normal" family...if having an airplane in your garage (sometimes running the engine in the front yard) is normal. We did finish restoring it (a J-3C Piper Cub) and I soloed in it, etc.

I'm an engineering type, working on spare parts for Helicopter stuff, 8 to 5, weekdays. My wife, the inimitable Miz Diane also works with the Helicopter groups, albeit in the contracting and acquisitions end.

I have been playing the banjo since 1979, when I was taught "Cripple Creek" (Scruggs Style) by my now longtime friend, Patrick Camp. Although I started out on the Bluegrass end of things, one of the first tunes I learnt was an 1877 arrangement of "Spanish Fandango" published in "Banjo Newsletter" in the late 1970's. It was another 10 yrs before I attempted another Classic Banjo tune (or even knew what one was).

In 1992, I attended the "Tennessee Banjo Institute" in Lebanon, TN...meeting the likes of Clarke Buehling, Bill Morris, Chris Sands and Eli Kaufman...and listening to them play Classic Banjo. Their performances (and the cassettes I purchased from them) led me down the crooked path of the Classic banjo from then until now.

I have a lot of hobbies...but most have gone by the wayside for Banjo stuff. I have been collecting Banjo Sheet music since the 1980's and have scads of it stashed in boxes in my "music room", along with quite a few banjos...some vintage, some new, some 4-string, mostly 5-string, some are just banjos I got for a song.

I have been actively procuring the materials and equipment to produce my own banjos when I retire. I recently purchased the estate of a local luthier who specialized in producing somewhat illicit reproductions of a well-known banjo manufacturer. Lots of tools and bits and a huge pile of great wood. I've been woodworking since I was a kid and I've started several banjos...discovering my great talent is not finishing projects. ;-)

I have recently adopted the motto of John Steinbeck: Ad Astra Per Alas Porci. Seems to fit me!

===Marc

 

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Sylvester L. Ossman info

Somehow, I cannot post a .pdf file to the ongoing discussion, so I'll post it here.

This is the US Census record for Sylvester Ossman, Musician, for 1910. It shows the full family at the time, including Sylvester Jr.

They were living in Palisades Park, New Jersey.

Ossman Census record 1910

Posted on December 6, 2015 at 18:44

"Carry On" by Alfred Kirby, MIDI and TAB

Here's the MIDI and TAB for "Carry On", complete with Mike's "Intro".

"Carry On" MIDI

"Carry On" TAB

Ian, please put these in their proper place...should you be inclined to do so.

 

===Marc

Posted on September 3, 2012 at 22:41 — 2 Comments

1880's/1890's banjo sheet music "in da house"

I nicked a box full of crumbly old sheet music offa ebay a week or so ago. Paid about $0.80 ea with shipping. See attached list for the titles, etc.

All of this stuff is American, pre 1900 and in A notation. Amazingly, not many duplicates (whew!) for me. Sure, some obvious ones like Darkey's Awakening, On The Mill Dam, Queen of the Forest, etc. However, there are a couple of previously unknown publishers (two female!) and nearly the entire output of a previously unknown (to me) New…

Continue

Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:54 — 4 Comments

TAB for Jumbo Rag...

Posted on April 28, 2012 at 5:00 — 1 Comment

A shot rang out...!

Yesterday, I drove 2.5 hrs up to the Nashville, TN area for BUW (Breaking Up Winter). BUW is an Old-Time festival that has been held the first weekend in March for the past 15 or so years at a small State Park in Lebanon, TN (Cedars Of Lebanon State Park, no less).

This "festival" (it is really just an excuse to gather OT players and have an extended jam) is one of those places where you meet old friends, play a lot of music and unwind. I usually take a pile of banjos and spend a bit…

Continue

Posted on March 4, 2012 at 16:04 — 2 Comments

Comment Wall (26 comments)

At 23:13 on January 2, 2009, Carl Anderton said…
Glad you joined, Marc. Mighty impressive lookin' line-up of banjars there.
At 22:06 on January 7, 2009, Carl Anderton said…
Did I see that you have a tab for Heliotrope Bouquet? I'd LOVE to take a crack at that!
At 21:09 on February 15, 2009, Ray Jones said…
Hi Marc.
We didn't record that track during the heat wave. As a matter of fact I found it in the attic! ( would you believe )
Regards Ray
At 15:09 on April 6, 2009, Eric STEFANELLI said…
Hi Marc !
Good to know you're in this web bjo group!
My friends Marc D. and Ray J. told me about it.
I was not dead but very busy and moved to another country, i've time now for sharing goodle bjo music on the web again, i had some news from you here and there. I've many clips to put on this site, but a little time to do that, i will try to put some next weeks.
At 6:11 on May 12, 2009, Ray Jones said…
Thanks for pointing that out Marc, I enjoyed listening to it. May I add my congrats to Gavin on his rendition. Beautifully done, and with picks if I'm not mistaken. This puts you up there with the best of 'em Gavin. Keep at it.
At 23:46 on May 12, 2009, Adam said…
Hi Marc ... I really like your video of Sunflower Dance ... Can you point me in the direction for finding the sheet music for that tune? Tab would work too.

Thanks very much,
Best,
Adam
At 5:06 on May 13, 2009, Adam said…
Thanks very much!
At 5:16 on September 27, 2009, Ray Jones said…
I have a couple of Mandolin Solos. Ninon by Ellis. Manhattan Cakewalk by Ellis and The Stars and Stripes Forever by you know who. Ray
At 8:43 on October 15, 2009, Ray Jones said…
Calm down mate, you'll have a siezure if you are not careful. You may be surprised to learn that there could have been as many as 5 or 6 blokes named Ernest Jones living in Wales at the time, and a few Ernest Smith's as well, I shouldn't wonder.
At 20:24 on October 15, 2009, Ray Jones said…
Oh, I see!!! I didn't realise that you were talking about " THE " John Smith, that's a different thing altogether. Best Wishes to thee.

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