Banjer bodger living and working in the foothills of the Lowly Mountains. Ask me about making you a fully custom mountain, gourd, or open-back banjo. www.lowlymountainbanjos.com
Standard scale. Flat-wound classics guitar strings. The warmth comes from everything; gourd, skin, soundhole, strings, neck. I’ve dialed in this tone after several years of tweaking the design. Thanks for the kind words.
Sounds great. I like the bugs in the back. Reminds me of when I lived in a cave turned stone cabin above a rock quarry. Banjos and fiddles sound great in these kinds of places. This song is one of the first I sang with my brother and sister back in the early 1960s. When we got ukuleles we played it with our Dad (Mandolin) and Mom (Guitar or Banjo). Your banjo tone is great and your singing is on point. Thank you so much.
amazing performance, i found you a year back or so and i always find myself coming back to this one. Your baritone gourd banjo had inspired me to make my own some day and ive had some experience making gourd banjos so im hoping this one goes well haha. also, what kind of gourd did you use for the body? ive never seen one like it! asking for a friend…
Great to hear! I get all my gourds from a local farm. I get to hand pick each one, but they are mostly all cross-pollinated so I’m not sure what the variety would be.
Yeah sort of an index lead two-finger, but still with some clawhammer thrown in. Pull-offs on the drop thumb, open string pull-offs, two strings tuned to E. Makes for a magical sound for sure. Thanks for the kind words.
I just finished talking with a talented young priest Qes Haile Iyesus on this Good Friday about how the Ethiopian Kerar doesn’t sound all that foreign since the Gourd Banjo is a foundational African-American folk instrument and with its bowlback it has a very similar timbre to Ethiopian lyres like the Kerar and Begena, which are central to Ethiopian Orthodox Church hymns. The ‘Young Orthodox Church’ has a selection of hymns translated into English that you might find interesting, and don’t be surprised if someday an Ethiopian comes your way with a worn-out Kerar or Begena in need of some TLC.
I love finding obscure hymns like that. If you could direct me towards those that you mentioned I’d be very grateful. Especially if there are Christmas hymns because I’m thinking of putting together a collection on an album this year. The other information you mentioned is very interesting. Thank you.
I would love a baritone gourd banjo like this. Maybe if its possible to make one fretless that would be a plus. Your instruments are such beautiful creations
I was a stupid boy and rejected the traditional music beloved y my elders. Today, I just wish I could listen it with them. Foegive me Father, for I sinned.
Absolutely gorgeous! "Glory Bound" is one of my all-time favorite Wailin' Jennys songs, and your playing and the banjo really bring the song to life. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world!
