Darktown Guards..1900..Louis D.Surette
This is catchy and very playable one off march by a composer about whom I could find no information. The score and MP3 will be added to the library later..Steve.See More
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Steve Harrison
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Darktown Guards..1900..Louis D.Surette
Started yesterday
Sweet Baby Blues (Banjo Blues) 1917..Ralph Williams.
Started Sep 6
The Kaiser's Rag (1915)...Clare Mast
Started Sep 3
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Sweet Baby Blues (Banjo Blues) 1917..Ralph Williams.
This is one of the best blues that I've come across for some time. I haven't been able to find the relevance of the alternative title regarding the banjo although it does play well. I've transposed it from F to G and I've added plenty of my annotation. The score and MP3 will be added to the library later..Steve.See More
"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…"
"Hi Marc, I've been using CE heavies on all of my banjos for many years. I've never had a dud and with hands the size of navvies' shovels, they suit my style of playing...Steve."
The Kaiser's Rag (1915)...Clare Mast
This is a very well written, one off, self published rag by a composer about whom I could find no information. It suits the banjo well and is worth a try. The score and midi will be added to the library later..Steve.See More
Ragtime Jim (A Ragtime Oddity)..A.Fred.Phillips
This is another excellent one off rag by a composer about whom little is known. It's my particular favourite of recent arrangements and makes a great banjo rag. This not to be confused with Ragtime Jimmy by Lee Grabbe which can also be found in the library.See More
Fuzzy Ideas.(A ragged Harmony)..1913..C.E.Hoxworth
This is an excellent one off, self published rag. Little is known about the composer other than he came from Waterloo, Iowa. The score and MP3 will be added to the library in due course.See More
"Back in the 1980s, I had the pleasure of spending a day with Bill Ball at his home in Bristol, he played through most of his repertoire and the stand out tune for me was his rendition of Desert Trail. I have one of his CDs on which it's…"
Some Rag.. (A Real Live One)..1910..Willie Eckstein
Eckstein was a child prodigy who started playing piano from the age of three. He was born in Canada and enjoyed a varied musical career. His biography can be found on Wikipedia and is worth a read. This composition 'does what it says on the tin' and is a lively and varied ragtime tune. The score and MP3 will be added to the library...Steve.See More
That Fascinating Ragtime Glide..(1910)..Kerry Mills.
This is a very well written tune by Mills and one that I hadn't heard before. I took some thinking to get it to work on the banjo but I'm pleased with the final result. I've kept it in the original key of C and I've made one or two small amendments and simplified the diminished arpeggios bars 28-29 and 79-80. Some of my suggested fingering leans towards the melodic style. The score and MP3 will be added to the library...Steve.…See More
Encore Rag..1912..Tadfisher
This is a very good rag by a composer about whom I could find no info or other published music.The piano score was in F/Bb but to access the full range of notes on banjo I've arranged it in G. In the 2nd. and 4th. parts, I've changed some of the chords to minor chords and lowered some of it by an octave and set the tempo of the MP3 slightly slower than the recommended 98 bpm. The score and MP3 will be added to the library...Steve.…See More
Wizzle Dozzle (Ragtime march and two stap)..1911..Harry Bell & Lloyd Johnson
This is the last of my trio of rare, one off rags by unknown composers. This one is probably the best of them and I love the title, if anyone knows anything about a Wizzle Dozzle let me know! The piano score is written in Eb/Ab but I find that C/F works better on the banjo. I've also raised some passage by an octave. My suggested LH fingering for the Trio is a bit unconventional but it works for me. The attached score and MP3 will be added to the library...Steve.…See More
Keep Busy (A Ragtime Oddity)..1911..George Hardaway Frazer
This is another very well written and rare one off rag. Little is known of the composer other than he lived all his life in Alabama and was a noted musician. This is the only composition of his that was published. The attached scores and MP3 will be added to the library....Steve. See More
The Dance Of The Hogan's Alley Kid..1897..F.C.Shardlow
This tune was named after The Yellow Kid, an early cartoon character that appeared in the cartoon strip Hogan's Alley which ran between 1896-1898. It's a lively but challenging in parts novelty piece by a composer about whom I could find no information. I spent quite some time trying out numerous different fingerings until I arrived at the final version which is a mix of classic and melodic styles. The original piano score was written in Eb/Bb but I found that F/C worked better on the banjo.…See More
Any Old Rag (1909)..Richard Goosman
I was unable to find out much about the composer of this well written two step. There are a few other compositions by him but in my opinion, this is the best of them. The piano score was written in G but but I've arranged it in C as it better fits the banjo. I've also included very good orchestral MP3 of this tune. The score and mp3 will be added to the library later...Steve.…See More
"So long as the ham isn't green......."
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,
- 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,
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,
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…
- At 8:59am on September 19, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
- 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.
- At 4:23pm on November 30, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
- 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
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