Frank Hamilton Teaches the Pete Seeger Style of Playing and Singing With the 5-String Banjo - Part 5

Picks, capos, and tunings! | Our co-founder and guiding light: Legendary musician Frank Hamilton (of many genres, including folk) presents Lesson 5 of a teaching series, bringing his experience of many decades of performing and teaching. Watch, listen, and learn as he breaks down this unique style.
Film/Production: Bert Elliott www.bertelliottsound.com/
Introductory photo: Keith May mayphotoanddesign.com/
"After traveling the south in 1953 with Jack Elliott and Guy (the man responsible for introducing the song “We Shall Overcome” to the American Civil Rights Movement), Frank made it to New York’s Washington Square Park for the famous Sunday folk song meetings. (By the way, “We Shall Overcome” is copyrighted in the name of Frank Hamilton, Zilphia Horton, Guy Carawan, and Pete Seeger.)
Along the way, Frank performed and recorded with Seeger, Odetta, The Clancy Brothers, and Bud and Travis, to name just a few, eventually winding up in Chicago where, in 1957, he co-founded the Old Town School of Folk Music. From its humble beginnings in the Swedish Immigrant Bank Building, the school grew into the largest non-profit music school in the country and remains the largest of its kind today with over 7,000 students passing through the doors on a weekly basis.
Frank’s musical history is impressive. In his sixty-year career, which is still going strong, Frank has performed in almost every state in the U.S., from the Gate of Horn in Chicago, the first folk music nightclub, to up and down the east coast with The Weavers in the 1960s... "... read more at frankhamiltonschool.org

[@DougieLink]

Excellent ❤

[@mccypr]

Great stuff! Thanks! 😎

[@frankhamiltonschool]

You're very welcome!

[@lynnglidewell7367]

I know most often Pete Seeger used C tuning and moved his capo for key changes. On a standard size Banjo if you are in C tuning and the capo on second fret you are in D tuning. But when tuned to open G and the capo on second fret is key of A as you pointed out. Yes it is confusing. I'm rather new and don't understand it all yet. A good video might be to show all the keys using capo in C tuning. Then in open G as well.

[@lynnglidewell7367]

I meant to say key of D rather than D tuning. I misspoke.

[@frankhamiltonschool]

@@lynnglidewell7367 Absolutely! And will pass your suggestion on to Frank & Co. :)

[@timtoner1411]

What brand capo are you using in this video.

[@frankhamiltonschool]

@@timtoner1411 checking with Frank - back with you soon!

[@frankhamiltonschool]

@@timtoner1411 here’s Frank’s reply so far: It's a sliding capo that is a piece of metal with a spring in back. I don't know if they're made anymore but there are some good banjo capos out there that replicate
that idea, they're quick and easy. I originally got my capo since that what Pete was using. A friend might be able to inform me if there are these original capos still available. I'll ask him.

[@lonniemcfaul7985]

I have an adms banjo but yours has a much better sound