Since a year ago when I found your version, I’ve been playing this off and on with friends and camp trips. Everyone I’ve played it for has really liked the tune.its defiantly one we all should have in our bag of tricks. ( although some folks have a hard time with the tuning:)
SUBLIME. Wow. I'm a fiddler.... wanting to learn this tune. So much music to 'find' on youtube!! As I was 'grazing' youtube a couple wks ago, I came across a couple of Brad Kolodner's, & other peoples' videos of this tune. And, then I 'found' YOU! Oh, my gosh.... The feelings just flow thru you & come out your banjo!! Magical! That's how music is meant to be! This tune obviously resonates with you through & through. Do you have other tunes that allow you to channel the magic? Wish I could find sheet music for fiddle for Last Chance. Guess I'll just have to keep listening a gazillion times before it will flow out of my fiddle! A fellow fiddler said that this tune is 'Sally Blevins'.... hmmmm. Thank you for sharing your magic! ...and Happy, Safe New Year to you for 2024, tomorrow after midnight!
Ahhh! Thank you sooooo much for this comment!!! I try my best to imagine that every tune has a story to tell, even the ones without lyrics! That helps me a bit to build the emotion. The title of this tunes just screams "desperation", so that's where I took it. I love these trance tunes sooo much. You can really be an impressionist with them. I definitely have more performances on my TH-cam channel. There's a playlist there for folks who want to keep listening: Here's one you might like: th-cam.com/video/MzL49feiXPg/w-d-xo.html Cheers to you in the New Year! Tom
Tom, Thank you so much for your videos. For me, I drop in on them from time to time for skill and inspiration. Very cool stuff! I do wish I still lived in Mass. (grew up in Brookfield) because id love to sit down with you and pick your brain a bit. You’ve presented some nice tunes that I’ve worked on enough that they have shown up at some camp/beach fires. People do love it when you pull out a Banjo and can entertain folks a bit. Ill be following and will drop some coin in your Pateron (sp) bucket when we get home ensembles of sept. ( yes I’ve written myself a note to do this). Thank you! Love the site and the way you present information! Will
@@willmarona-jn9wc looking forward to seeing you on the quest! Make sure you sign into the Discord server when you join. It's becoming quite lively with clawhammer players all over the world sharing tips, tricks, sounds and thoughts.
Tom, this is the most perfect version I have heard. Your playing is exquisite. I in the process of learning it so I have been immersing myself in this video of you playing it!! Blessings.
Loved the rendition and those flattened slides on the bass strings. I am still new to old-time music but already got fond of quite a few songs. Last chance is one of them. Once or twice I heard something like the string snapped or something. A loud, spiky sound - as if a metal thing fell on the ground with loud ringing bang - but those are the effects I liked the most. Somebody commented abut 'pop's below not sure if he is referring to this same thing. Is this an unintentional thing or created on intention with control? For example exactly at 0:28 the 4th string (open I guess) made one of those snappy sound. Loved it!! You increased the tempo suddenly in the end a common feature on Indian Ragas (they switch from adagio/vilambit to allegro/drut). It was a bit unexpected but perhaps the song/lyrics/theme demands it. There is a Bengali folk song very similar melodically with last chance that I tried on the last chance tuning and even fuse it with last chance. May be I will record it someday.
Naushad, Yes! I use a technique I call "slap banjo" where I lift the string on an upstroke with the thumb and let it slap the metal frets upon release. That's exactly what you hear at 0:28. I love those pops of texture, and the 4th string is especially nice to use this technique on. I took 2 years of sitar lessons from an amazing sitar player (Veena Chandra), and learned so much about pacing and phrasing from her. I still think often about her lessons, and am an enormous fan of Indian classical music. I've traveled in India extensively, and interned at a tabla maker in Jaipur for a month and learned so much. While traveling there, I met a Bengali singer who I recorded in the top floor of an abandoned building. She was absolutely incredible! I still have the tape somewhere, and during the climax of her piece a flock of doves took off. Bengali folk music is very special, and I see commonalities all the time in the old time repertoire. When I was traveling in India I often thought that Bengali folks music was the worlds most perfect folk music idiom. It moved me deeply (though I didn't understand the words!) Thanks again for your keen ear and lovely comment. Cheers to you and your banjo journey...Tom
@@TomCollinsBanjo Thank you for such a bold affectionate statement about Bengali folk music. It is indeed special. I will send some of my top favorites your way sometime perhaps you can arrange one for clawhammer banjo. I have done quite a few and plan to do many more as I grow in banjo. I wonder what that Bengali singer sang. I am sure it would be a known folk song perhaps one of Lalon or Hasan Raja. If you find it ever, please send me hints of audio of it. If I know it I could share lots of inner details of it to you. That dove flying off in an abandoned building sounds fascinating. Thank you!
The one thing that the banjo excels in is that "pop" sound that no other instrument has. You really make it "pop". No one listening could ever say it is another instrument. It's that "pop" that makes it banjo. It's a banjo-period!!!
Awww...thank you! Just know that I was once a beginner lucky enough to string a couple of phrases together. If I can do it, so can you! Play every day, Tom
Hey Jacob...welcome to the banjo! Thanks so much for your comment. The only thing standing in your way between where you are now and the playing in this video is practice and dedication. Wishing you patience and perseverance in your journey, Tom
Mr. Collins,, you are a really Proficient banjo 🪕 player. You played that with no mistakes.. bravo How many yrs have you been playing sir?? Your fan Harv
@@TomCollinsBanjo Mr. Collins,, God bless you.. Question ❓❓ Do you think it would be ok to learn all types of banjo playing on a steel strings open back banjo..? Thinking of buying the Recording King RK-OT25 as I believe I could learn all types on this banjo, before buying the more expensive R--35 later, if that is what I need to do.. I say this, cause I want to claw hammer first and later play the resonator out busking.. What do you think 🤔 about my thinking sir ?? I want to start with claw hammer. Learn other types and save for the busking banjo, the R-35. Does this sound wrong..?? God bless you, your fan Harv
So beautiful and desperate man!
Ah! Thank you, Benny Bleu! Huge fan of your beautiful playing....thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Cheers! Tom
@@TomCollinsBanjo Likewise!
Thank you, sir, this is magnificent.
Oh my, thank you so much for that comment!
Ok. A year on and I still listen to this. Boy is this good!!
Thank you so much for that, Will!
Since a year ago when I found your version, I’ve been playing this off and on with friends and camp trips. Everyone I’ve played it for has really liked the tune.its defiantly one we all should have in our bag of tricks. ( although some folks have a hard time with the tuning:)
Thanks. Never enough banjo in this world.
Lovely tune and so beautifully rendered. It isn't one that's been overdone and you play it wonderfully.
Thanks so much, Shelly!
I've been playing The Last Chance on my 5-string for many years... but NOWHERE near as good as Tom Collins.
Man...that one just grabs you and won't let go. Absolutely beautiful, and aspirational. Thank you.
Thanks Tom!
SUBLIME. Wow. I'm a fiddler.... wanting to learn this tune. So much music to 'find' on youtube!! As I was 'grazing' youtube a couple wks ago, I came across a couple of Brad Kolodner's, & other peoples' videos of this tune. And, then I 'found' YOU! Oh, my gosh.... The feelings just flow thru you & come out your banjo!! Magical! That's how music is meant to be! This tune obviously resonates with you through & through. Do you have other tunes that allow you to channel the magic? Wish I could find sheet music for fiddle for Last Chance. Guess I'll just have to keep listening a gazillion times before it will flow out of my fiddle! A fellow fiddler said that this tune is 'Sally Blevins'.... hmmmm. Thank you for sharing your magic! ...and Happy, Safe New Year to you for 2024, tomorrow after midnight!
Ahhh! Thank you sooooo much for this comment!!! I try my best to imagine that every tune has a story to tell, even the ones without lyrics! That helps me a bit to build the emotion. The title of this tunes just screams "desperation", so that's where I took it. I love these trance tunes sooo much. You can really be an impressionist with them. I definitely have more performances on my TH-cam channel. There's a playlist there for folks who want to keep listening: Here's one you might like: th-cam.com/video/MzL49feiXPg/w-d-xo.html
Cheers to you in the New Year!
Tom
That goes straight into my collection of select clawhammer playing. I love that slow meditative start. Speed ain't everything!
Thanks so much for that, Geoff!!
Pray……..also listen to Little Nora Brown play it!
Just found this video a couple days ago. Been working on since. Love this Tune
Thank you, Will!
Tom, Thank you so much for your videos. For me, I drop in on them from time to time for skill and inspiration. Very cool stuff! I do wish I still lived in Mass. (grew up in Brookfield) because id love to sit down with you and pick your brain a bit. You’ve presented some nice tunes that I’ve worked on enough that they have shown up at some camp/beach fires. People do love it when you pull out a Banjo and can entertain folks a bit. Ill be following and will drop some coin in your Pateron (sp) bucket when we get home ensembles of sept. ( yes I’ve written myself a note to do this). Thank you! Love the site and the way you present information! Will
@@willmarona-jn9wc looking forward to seeing you on the quest! Make sure you sign into the Discord server when you join. It's becoming quite lively with clawhammer players all over the world sharing tips, tricks, sounds and thoughts.
Even with the slower start, the groove was incredible. Absolutely awesome.
Glad I decided to check the channel today. A great way to start a hectic week. Looping this for sure so that I can just muscle through work.
Haven't heard from you in awhile, James. Glad you're ok. Peace to you my friend!
Tom, this is the most perfect version I have heard. Your playing is exquisite. I in the process of learning it so I have been immersing myself in this video of you playing it!! Blessings.
Thank you so much for that, Gary! Cheers to you, Tom
Wow, you really left it all on the table, Tom. A fabulous rendition!
Thank you my friend! Cheers, Lucy!
Hey man that sounded awesome. Beautiful instrument too.
Thank you so much!
Beautiful as always Tom.. Can really tell this is one of your fav tunes
Thank you!
What a great tune. Sweet arrangment!
Thank you kindly, David!
Loved the rendition and those flattened slides on the bass strings. I am still new to old-time music but already got fond of quite a few songs. Last chance is one of them. Once or twice I heard something like the string snapped or something. A loud, spiky sound - as if a metal thing fell on the ground with loud ringing bang - but those are the effects I liked the most. Somebody commented abut 'pop's below not sure if he is referring to this same thing. Is this an unintentional thing or created on intention with control? For example exactly at 0:28 the 4th string (open I guess) made one of those snappy sound. Loved it!!
You increased the tempo suddenly in the end a common feature on Indian Ragas (they switch from adagio/vilambit to allegro/drut). It was a bit unexpected but perhaps the song/lyrics/theme demands it.
There is a Bengali folk song very similar melodically with last chance that I tried on the last chance tuning and even fuse it with last chance. May be I will record it someday.
Naushad, Yes! I use a technique I call "slap banjo" where I lift the string on an upstroke with the thumb and let it slap the metal frets upon release. That's exactly what you hear at 0:28. I love those pops of texture, and the 4th string is especially nice to use this technique on. I took 2 years of sitar lessons from an amazing sitar player (Veena Chandra), and learned so much about pacing and phrasing from her. I still think often about her lessons, and am an enormous fan of Indian classical music. I've traveled in India extensively, and interned at a tabla maker in Jaipur for a month and learned so much. While traveling there, I met a Bengali singer who I recorded in the top floor of an abandoned building. She was absolutely incredible! I still have the tape somewhere, and during the climax of her piece a flock of doves took off. Bengali folk music is very special, and I see commonalities all the time in the old time repertoire. When I was traveling in India I often thought that Bengali folks music was the worlds most perfect folk music idiom. It moved me deeply (though I didn't understand the words!) Thanks again for your keen ear and lovely comment. Cheers to you and your banjo journey...Tom
@@TomCollinsBanjo Thank you for such a bold affectionate statement about Bengali folk music. It is indeed special. I will send some of my top favorites your way sometime perhaps you can arrange one for clawhammer banjo. I have done quite a few and plan to do many more as I grow in banjo. I wonder what that Bengali singer sang. I am sure it would be a known folk song perhaps one of Lalon or Hasan Raja. If you find it ever, please send me hints of audio of it. If I know it I could share lots of inner details of it to you. That dove flying off in an abandoned building sounds fascinating. Thank you!
Glad there's more folks out there who appreciate both the music of india and old time appalachian music :)
Recommend Naushad's YT channel.
The one thing that the banjo excels in is that "pop" sound that no other instrument has. You really make it "pop". No one listening could ever say it is another instrument. It's that "pop" that makes it banjo. It's a banjo-period!!!
I love that, Alexander! I agree about the "pop". Nothing quite like that sound. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Wow! That was truly memorable. Great arrangement and musicianship, Tom!
Many thanks, Brian!
Right now at clawhammering this beauty.
But this sounds so sweet and perfect. You rule.
Wow, thank you Josh! Much love, Tom.
Now that's how to play clawhammer, wow 👏
Wooohooo! Thanks Paul!
Thanks Tom!!!
Love your playing, you helped me start my day off the right way. Keep strumming that banjo 👍
Awesome, Kendyl! Thanks for watching!
Well now I know why I play clawhammer. Gawd that was good. Just hope to be half that good some day.
Awww...thank you! Just know that I was once a beginner lucky enough to string a couple of phrases together. If I can do it, so can you! Play every day, Tom
This is great, cheers Tom... Damn! I need to practice more.
Thanks, Colin! I'll be teaching this tune on BQ this winter. We'll get you up to speed!
Beautiful rendition Tom!
Thank you!!!!
That was wonderful Tom.
Thanks for watching, William!
Brilliant, Tom! Really brilliant!!!!!!
Thank you, my friend. Cheers to you! Tom
Im new here and new to banjo. This was incredible, I would love to someday be able to play something even half as good as that
Hey Jacob...welcome to the banjo! Thanks so much for your comment. The only thing standing in your way between where you are now and the playing in this video is practice and dedication. Wishing you patience and perseverance in your journey, Tom
Fabulous.
Thank you, Michael!
Nice work Tom. Clearly your own version.
Thanks for listening, banjo544. Best to you!
sublime
Thank you!
Mr. Collins,, you are a really
Proficient banjo 🪕 player.
You played that with no mistakes.. bravo
How many yrs have you been playing sir??
Your fan Harv
Hey Harv Dog, Thanks so much! I've been playing banjo for 23 years, and I feel like I'm just getting started! Thanks for the comment!
@@TomCollinsBanjo Mr. Collins,, God bless you..
Question ❓❓ Do you think it would be ok to learn all types of banjo playing on a steel strings open back banjo..? Thinking of buying the Recording King RK-OT25 as I believe I could learn all types on this banjo, before buying the more expensive R--35 later, if that is what I need to do..
I say this, cause I want to claw hammer first and later play the resonator out busking..
What do you think 🤔 about my thinking sir ??
I want to start with claw hammer. Learn other types and save for the busking banjo, the R-35. Does this sound wrong..??
God bless you, your fan Harv
Nice one!
Thank you! Cheers!
Stunning Tom
'Want to learn it... what tuning are you in?
Nice man :-)
Thanks!
BANJO GOD
Hahahahha! Glad you liked!
Clarity -pure - standard tuning?
Thanks, Jeffrey! I'm using an fCFCD tuning for Last Chance.