Haha! That was great Mike! 
Favorite Video to Play Along With
Came across this one on another forum. There was some discussion about who was playing the guitar. I think they decided it was their mandolin player (Bill Napier). Definately a different sound. I like it.
Too bad itâs not in standard tuning, itâs slightly off. Itâs just a little faster than I can play using my patented Banjo Ben strumming pattern, haha! I think I need to try Bass - Strum - Bass - Strum with just one downstrum. I would love to be able to play that fast. Any advice?
I would have guessed that it was George Shuffler playing guitar, so I did some searching and came up with this:
Recording Date:1959-09-14
Composer:Scott Wiseman; Tannen, BMI
Place:King Studio, Cincinnati, OH
Master:4339
Instruments:Carter Stanley-guitar; Ralph Stanley-banjo; Bill Napier-mandolin; George Shuffler-bass
Vocals:C. Stanley-Lead; R. Stanley-Tenor; B. Napier-Baritone; G. Shuffler-Bass
Good pickinâ no matter who it is. You just have to re-tune to play with 'em, Shawn. 
I was doing that with a Hank Williams song last night. Sounded like he was playing in the C position but his guitar was tuned nearly a half-step down. Guess his electronic tuner was out of batteries that day.
A lot of people were guessing that it was George Shuffler playing. Someone found this interview from Flatpicking Guitar Magazine with George Shuffler:
Q: I heard that the Stanleys began to feature lead guitar on their records at the suggestion of a producer, is that true?
A: It was Sid Nathan. He liked the Delmore Brothers and said that they had made a good showing, so he suggested we use some guitar. Bill Napier was the Stanleyâs mandolin player at the time and he did that first album with them on lead guitar and I played bass on it. He done that âOld Mountain Dewâ with quick wrist mandolin licks on the guitar and that is what Carter wanted me to play when I took over on guitar, but I wouldnât do it because that didnât fit the guitar as far as I was concerned.
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I thought about dialing in the tuning, but I canât touch that speed. Thatâs got to be pushing 300 bpm. I donât hear much strumming at all. Just bouncing around on single notes, man that sounds good.
Well, I guess that settles the guitar mystery (as long as Shufflerâs memory is right). I really didnât think it was Carter, but it seems strange that the most prominent instrument on the track isnât properly credited. Maybe thatâs just because it was Carterâs band and he got to be the âguitar playerâ no matter who was actually playing, or maybe itâs because flatpicking guitar got no respect in the 50âs.
Youâve got me all worked up to give this song a try, now, Shawn. Think Iâll get out my Transcribe! program to slow it down (a lot) and see if I can figure it out.
Classic man, that is greatâŚdoes not get any better than that!
Okay, after 5 minutes of noodling with this song, I 100% agree that itâs a mandolin player doing the guitar work. Itâs actually pretty simple to play once the tremolo picking is worked out. Heâs playing in Bb (capo 3 out of the G postion) and leaning heavily on the G lick. Fun stuff!
Yup, thatâs where I was trying to play it (capo 3) Larry. Sounded a little off to me, what is that a half step or so off, if that? Iâd like to see what ya come up with.
I found one that I can actually play along with. I think the dobro player is dobroman (Roman) from the old board? I donât know, maybe not, but he looks familiar.
Thatâs another nice version, but I like the energy of the Stanley Bros.
I wouldnât say I have that guitar part worked out exacty, but I believe I could fake it at a jam.
Hereâs the closest I could work it out. Now to figure out how to play it at speed.
[attachment=0]Mountain Dew.tef[/attachment]
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Thatâs another nice version, but I like the energy of the Stanley Bros.
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Just wanted to point out in the 2nd video that there was another daâgone banjeer picker that would not give the dobro the room needed to be heard. come on!
It pains me to defend a banjo player, but if the mic is attached to the camera, it may be that the banjo sounds loud just because it is so close to camera. The camera person is pointing straight across the banjo to the dobro.
â Begin quote from "ldpayton"
It pains me to defend a banjo player, but if the mic is attached to the camera, it may be that the banjo sounds loud just because it is so close to camera. The camera person is pointing straight across the banjo to the dobro.
â End quote
I agreeâŚhowever, being how banjer players never know what is going on I can see he didnât know any better. But if he had good practic habits in toning it down a bit when someone was taking a break then it would not have mattered :mrgreen:
Nice Larry! Iâm going to attempt to learn that. Iâve had that in my head all week long. Heard a live version this week on Bluegrass Junction but the guitar wasnât the same.
â Begin quote from "TNTaylor414"
Nice Larry! Iâm going to attempt to learn that. Iâve had that in my head all week long. Heard a live version this week on Bluegrass Junction but the guitar wasnât the same.
â End quote
I worked on it some last week, too. I even played it at last weekendâs jam. Thanks for posting the video.
Playing note-for-note, Iâve managed to work up the intro break to about 210 bpm, but when I switch over to steady tremolo picking and just follow the general pattern with my left hand (rather than note-for-note), I can pick up another 50 bpm or so. Not so fast as the Stanleys, but in the ballpark, at least.
Iâm not really playing along with this, but I wish I could. Tyler Grant is a pretty darn fast.
He makes it look effortless.
Yes! Good stuff Larry.
Iâve been getting into this video lately. I think Thile/Daves is my favorite way for Thile to perform right now. Love those bass runs that Daves adds and the great energy from both guys.