bkdraft - Posted - 03/30/2012:  09:04:27

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I tried several different types of finger picks but now have settled on the Acri picks. They have a nice wide band so they stay in place with less pressure and are more comfortable.

darlo - Posted - 03/30/2012:  10:47:31

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well ladies and gentlemen would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the wealth of advice and knowledge out there as for myself can not wait to get started learning to practice the rock bottom basics ie rolls etc ,working away from home initially had been the problem ie carriage on planes etc i didnt buy a banjo to have it as a piece of furniture left at home so got a good quality case and all being well commence my education in the art of banjo playing from the 6th of april when i go home on leave and returningwith banjo in tow i even bought a mute as i have to share an apartment i am hoping to have a couple of lessons in the uk prior to returning overseas any other advice would be greatly appreciated once again many thanks
darlo

chickenbilljones - Posted - 03/30/2012:  21:36:26

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 I know I have a long way to go, but with the help of Banjo Hangout, I plan to succeed.  retiredsam gave me this web-link  http://www.jsutergraphix.com/LOTW/ it really looks like a great one. If you have any as good as this, I'd sure like to know about it.

nashbanjo - Posted - 04/02/2012:  11:17:43

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That is a great link... thank you for posting it chickenbilljones!

Nashvillesugapie - Posted - 04/02/2012:  15:55:56

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Hey everyone! I have always wanted to play the banjo, but my dear parents (love 'em to death) decided THEY wanted me to play the piano intsead. So, I spent years playing an instrument that I honestly had no interest in. So, I finally decided to get myself a banjo for my birthday this year. :-) I'm having a blast with it so far. I feel that maybe piano lessons might have helped me some, as far as being able to move my fingers and doing the rolls and "hearing" the right (or wrong) notes. It hasn't been as hard as I expected to learn to read tablature, chords, etc. but then again, I'm still VERY new. I'm just going slow and trying to build good habits. I try to practice every day, and the great thing is-it's because I WANT to practice, not because I HAVE to practice. I actually look forward to it, and only stop once my fingers or arms are just too sore to play my song with good form. lol. I am really enjoying BHO so far-lots of great advice and talent! Good luck to all my fellow new-comers, I look forward to seeing everyone's progress! :-)

chickenbilljones - Posted - 04/02/2012:  22:24:46

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We are so happy for you. Welcome to the Hangout. I know what you mean, playing the banjo is just so much fun. Always remember this and don't get frustrated when difficult licks get you down. I would say that your parent piano lessons will continue to be a great help to your musical journey. I know you didn't want to take them, but don't get bitter over it, but rather thank them as you continue to hit those hot licks on the banjo!

BJD - Posted - 04/03/2012:  15:27:11

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This is a Great forum! I'm new to BHO. I started playing bluegrass banjo 8 months ago and I'm still having fun. I love practicing, but one of my biggest frustrations is learning so many songs in a short period of time. I take a lesson every week with my banjo teacher. After a while he had me learning a new song every week. It was getting a little overwhelming as I was feeling I wasn't getting enough time to learn the more complicated song arrangements before the next lesson. So...I have been going back to songs I know better and asking my teacher to listen to me play and help refine them. For me, this slow down has been good. We have corrected some bad habits. It's encouraging to play some of those simpler tunes I haven't played in a while and realize I can play them competently. Does wonders for confidence. Anyway. Thanks for the opportunity to read and share.

chickenbilljones - Posted - 04/03/2012:  19:39:12

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Great! I'm so glad it's working out for you. If you have a teacher, usually your paying them. You have the right to slow down if thats what you need. I would suggest getting the lessons on video and downloading them to your computer so you can go back over them if your not already.

Jazz Country - Posted - 04/04/2012:  05:12:29

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quote:

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Originally posted by chickenbilljones

 I know I have a long way to go, but with the help of Banjo Hangout, I plan to succeed.  retiredsam gave me this web-link  http://www.jsutergraphix.com/LOTW/ it really looks like a great one. If you have any as good as this, I'd sure like to know about it.

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Thanks for this Darren - what a great website. Banjophobic is da man!

Larry

chickenbilljones - Posted - 04/05/2012:  06:07:59

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Your welcome! It's great isn't it. I'm glad you liked it.

jackhatfield - Posted - 04/05/2012:  06:40:26

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BJD:

Teachers have a quandry. MOST students feel they need something new every week or they get bored. Many who are not yet hooked quit when they don't get a new song almost every week Unfortunately, sometimes it takes several weeks to master a lesson, especially if the teacher overestimated the student's capacity. Therefore, many teachers get in the habit of assigning new material every week just to keep the checks flowing. The experienced teachers will either give the student something new that has NO new techniques in it, maybe something that has a problem lick in it so the student gets the practice he really needs without having to learn new material...or will explain to the student adding too much new material is detrimental. Most students just don't realize until a year or to into lessons (some NEVER do) how much repetition it actually takes to master a technique or an arrangement. It takes a huge amount of discipline, that's why well over half of new students don't make it past six months. A really good teacher will let the student know where he stands and what it will take. A really good student will trust the teacher's judgement and just do the work assigned. There are WAY too few good teachers and good students. Some teachers, (mainly guitar specialists who know just enough banjo to take your money) who intentionally don't move the student along after a certain point because that would mean THEY have to learn new material or lose the students income if they quit because of stagnation. They give new songs every week with the exact same licks, even after the student has mastered these licks. (WAY to many of these guys out there!) Some teachers fail to tell the students it's OK to retire old songs to make room for new songs. In fact, unless the student can add a few minutes to his practice schedule every week ad infinitum, this HAS to happen or he will never gain any speed, and will never play any tunes with 100% accuracy. It is better to play ten songs perfectly than to play fifty songs with errors. You have the rest of your life to learn new songs. If you learn too many songs too fast your technique will never improve and nobody will want to jam with you or listen to you. Don't worry that you will forget an arrangement. It is easier than you think to reclaim it later on, and in fact you may even add your own ideas because you do not remember it exactly. That is not "making a mistake", it is the first step to playing by ear and arranging your own solos. Maintain five or six "classics" like Cripple Creek and Cumberland Gap and Old Joe Clark and Fireball Mail. Play them every day at the end of your practice session, for fun. THIS is where your speed will improve. These are also the tunes you will call upon when you are ready to start jamming. Don't choose a lot of obscure tunes that nobody else knows as your daily keepers, maybe just one or two that really excite you, for your own enjoyment.

BJD - Posted - 04/05/2012:  10:38:52

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Jack,

Great advice. I talk to my teacher alot, so we are on the same page. What I didn't think of was that moving on to the new material continuously builds on techniques already learned. Huh...makes sense. I have also noticed that the lesson book arrangments for songs such as Cripple Creek and Sunnyvale Breakdown, from the first few weeks of learning, aren't the full versions. I've gone back this week and learned the "full" versions of Cripple Creek and others with all the embellishments I hear on the radio/CD's.

bazron - Posted - 04/10/2012:  03:34:07

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just wondering what speed you all learn your new songs at? i was told 85bpm but found it a bit fast. i think 70bpm is better IMHO anyway.



p.s its hard typing with finger picks on..  :P



Aaron..

somarmd - Posted - 04/10/2012:  04:30:09

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Wow, that seems fast to me. The direction I'm following is to play nice and slow. Accuracy is much more important than speed in the beginning. The speed will come over time. I'm currently learning the "Murphy Method". I have gotten this advice from many of other readings too. Good luck, happy picking....:)
Dave

Bertie Wooster - Posted - 04/10/2012:  06:05:05

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I've had my first banjo for 7 days today, and I love it. I've just posted elsewhere, I can do a decent job of strumming four basic songs, and I had a bit of an epipheny the day before yesterday when I was able to (badly) forward roll over Skip to my Lou. It went quite well yesterday, but it's all gone to pot today, my fingers would just not obey me. I persevered for an hour, and it still wasn't happening, so I've had a bit of a break. Gonna pick up the banjo now and have another go.

 

Do others find that walking away for a bit generally helps if it's not going well, or do folks find it better to plough on?

somarmd - Posted - 04/10/2012:  10:01:28

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Bertie, I have absolutely found that taking a break is important. My guess is it's different for people. We all have our ways we like to learn. I didn't know what my way to learn was going to be until I started. I now Know to keep it short if I'm tired (or don't start at all) and when I feel the way you have I take a break until the next day. It's amazing how it comes to you over time. I would not believe it if not for experiencing it myself. I started in January and trust me I'm not good but so much better than I was in January....:) Breaks are good, just a matter of trial error to see how long of break is best.........happy picking!
Dave

jackhatfield - Posted - 04/10/2012:  10:45:43

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Play at whatever tempo you can play it PERFECTLY. It won't be the same for everybody, and it won't even be the same for you every day. Practicing a new song is like entering data into your computer. If the data goes in corrupted, it will come out corrupted. It takes a HUGE amount of dedication and concentration and patience to do it right every time, and you will be impatient that it is SO slow it doesn't sound like the records yet, or even like the melody until you build a certain amount of speed...but in the LONG RUN you will reach your goals faster because you won't be spending 30-50%% of your time correcting ingrained errors.

trock - Posted - 04/10/2012:  15:21:12

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Howdy, Its been a while since I have given an update. I cant believe how far I've come so far. I'm getting some songs down, better at changing chords, and am going to shoot for my first jam session sunday. I dont really feel like I'm ready but by teacher has talked me into going just to sit there and roll a little and to get a feel for what its like to jam with others. I know when he picks up the guitar to play along with me it gets a little confusing.
Guess thats it for now, wish me luck!

Larry121047 - Posted - 04/10/2012:  15:48:33

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Bazron, Jack is so right. Play it perfectly and the speed will come. Once you memorize the song, and can play it perfectly from memory, you will notice a big difference in the speed and the musical sound of the song. Nothing like finally getting a song to sound like music. Great feeling. Enjoy yourself.

chickenbilljones - Posted - 04/10/2012:  21:00:21

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Great advice ya'll! Take your time and do it right. If it ain't worth doing right, it ain't worth doing it at all.

courgettelawn - Posted - 04/11/2012:  02:28:27

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A quick HELLO AGAIN fellow banjo beginners. It has been months since I put my Goodtime Crow into the boot of my car and journeyed to the far west of Britain for a new life and what with moving in and all of that it has been languishing in a corner. But since Easter I have taken it up again. I was surprised that I could carry on where I left off. I am still persevering with Janet Davis's tutorials and I still have the desire to get things perfect so I can record them and feel some achievement. I am therefore going back to Bile Dem Cabbage Down and Cripple Creek, although I am dabbling further ahead with the G Lick and endings.

When I make my first successful recording, i.e. something that doesn't make we wince when I hear it, I will try some more clawhammer as I was loving that too over Christmas. I do find the advice of playing slower but more tunefully and in time is better than giving it too much welly.

All the best, and look forward to being back with my banjo pals,

Tehmina (courgettelawn)

jackhatfield - Posted - 04/11/2012:  10:24:19

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"welly"???

Jazz Country - Posted - 04/11/2012:  10:34:02

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Hey Tehmina - welcome back. Good to see you're back to Boiling The Cabbage without losing your touch. With your perseverance and enthusiasm you'll be making progress in no time.

I'll be the second one task what "welly" means.

 

Larry

oldlefty - Posted - 04/11/2012:  11:48:58

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"Q From Jennie Booth, Australia: I came across the phrase with some welly in a BBC report today. I’ve not seen it before and am curious about its meaning. Can you help?

A It’s a fine bit of British English slang, usually in the form give it some welly. This instruction, often shouted to a person as encouragement or criticism, asks for more effort to be put into whatever he or she is doing.

It dates from the 1970s. The last word in the phrase is a common British abbreviation for the equally British term wellington boots (“It’s wet in the garden — best wear your wellies”), these being waterproof rubber boots named after the First Duke of Wellington. The slang sense seems to have come about through mental links with various senses of boot or foot — one of the earliest appearances was in motor racing, in which the reference was putting the foot more firmly on the accelerator; another was in football, for a powerful kick. There doesn’t seem to be a direct association of ideas with the minor British sport of welly-throwing, but you never know.

I always hear it mentally with a Glasgow accent, perhaps because the Big Yin, the comedian Billy Connolly, was one of those who popularised it."

courgettelawn - Posted - 04/11/2012:  13:37:33

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Welly ;-)

= oomph, gusto, strength, force. 

I don't buy the welly throwing origins, though.

chickenbilljones - Posted - 04/11/2012:  20:04:33

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You just don't know what you learn on here do ya?

Welly!!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta love it!

BJD - Posted - 04/11/2012:  22:28:02

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Bertie,



For some a break is good. For others like me pressing on is good. Sometimes "difficult" -- yes. "Bad" -- never.



Your banjo needs a hug every day...And if you haven't named it, yet, by all means do so. That way you will never neglect her/him. If you give it a name, I guarantee the next time you look at your banjo you will play it. You'll have a pal for life. 



...yes, my wife thinks I have a screw loose...



Brad (Banjo Nut)

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Edited by - BJD on 04/11/2012 22:30:43

Bertie Wooster - Posted - 04/11/2012:  23:31:12

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Could I just say thanks you very much for all the words of wisdom from all the posters above, much appreciated! I'm trying to get my right hand position sorted, which I realise may take some time, but it's coming together.

 

With regards to wellingtons, welly throwing is also known as "welly wanging". 

A couple of other British favourites are the world conker championships held near Northampton, and worm charming...

darlo - Posted - 04/13/2012:  16:30:06

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quote:

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Originally posted by Bertie Wooster

Could I just say thanks you very much for all the words of wisdom from all the posters above, much appreciated! I'm trying to get my right hand position sorted, which I realise may take some time, but it's coming together.

 

With regards to wellingtons, welly throwing is also known as "welly wanging". 

A couple of other British favourites are the world conker championships held near Northampton, and worm charming...

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darlo - Posted - 04/13/2012:  16:36:57

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quote:

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Originally posted by Bertie Wooster

Could I just say thanks you very much for all the words of wisdom from all the posters above, much appreciated! I'm trying to get my right hand position sorted, which I realise may take some time, but it's coming together.

 

With regards to wellingtons, welly throwing is also known as "welly wanging". 

A couple of other British favourites are the world conker championships held near Northampton, and worm charming...

cant fault you mate in coming here to this site my fingers are sore and feeling stiff as hell but am enjoying every minute of my learning  and the advice is invaluable and me from red rose county  absolutely agree with giving it plenty of welly if ever yourself or any of these good people are near manchester and fancy a pint will get you one no problem

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sam-i-am - Posted - 04/16/2012:  05:54:56

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We have a really great asset in this forum with Jack Hatfield joining in. I use his Beginning Banjo instruction book with CD and DVD. His advice should be taken seriously. Thanks, Jack, for helping me to learn the banjo your way.

Sam Stitcher

Mayfield, KY

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 04/16/2012:  06:40:45

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quote:

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Originally posted by sam-i-am

We have a really great asset in this forum with Jack Hatfield joining in. I use his Beginning Banjo instruction book with CD and DVD. His advice should be taken seriously. Thanks, Jack, for helping me to learn the banjo your way.

Sam Stitcher

Mayfield, KY

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Yes, out of all the written materials Jack's by far were the most to the point and helped me the most.

Ken

jackhatfield - Posted - 04/16/2012:  09:08:24

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yer welcum.come to my banjo camp in three weeks and learn tons more from the top pros! See ad at the top of this page.

jackhatfieldworkshops.com/work...smba2012/

vernh - Posted - 04/19/2012:  09:51:26

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Hello all,
Another new guy here and glad to find this forum. I have had a guitar most of my life. I now have two guitars and a banjo and, until recently, mostly played the radio. I have always admired the banjo and Earl Scruggs, Roy Clark, Ricky Scaggs and JD Crowe, to name a few, are my favorite "pickers."
I am really enjoying picking again and I have made some progress. I am an instructor by trade so I understand the role motivation plays in learning anything so I am going to keep the fire burning with your help.

Thanks in advance,
Vern

morris - Posted - 04/21/2012:  04:36:27

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the inspiration to play banjo to me is persomal satisfaction and a desire to play blue grass gospel at the age of 61. also the insperation comes from the heart, faith and a loving wife and family . it's been a year now and i can play about 20 songe earl scruggs style .i have a wonderful teacher charles wood who has more patience than god i think. dont get me wrong it's a test every time i learn something new but the end result is worth the pain and fustration . so never say never put those fingures to work every chance you have and enjoy it.

mudlakesandy - Posted - 04/29/2012:  08:22:33

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Here, here on a patient instructor! Only comment I can share is get an instructor the sooner the better to avoid lots of possible bad habits-first month was spent getting rid of 6 months of poor habits-only then will you yourself start to notice real concrete progress. What I am finding is that with weekly lessons I am really about 3 weeks behind all the time and the instructor just keeps on pushing, which is ok as if I hang in there it always does come eventually. In addition to acquiring "good tools" for me anyway the instructor has been the trick to really starting to enjoy the progress.
-S

AnnieGreenleaf - Posted - 04/30/2012:  18:13:36

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Me too. Hard thing is finding someone else t play with. I'm in month five and s till can't form a group of intermediate beginners to just get together and play, and yes, I have checked my breath. Over the summer I think it will get easier because I won't be teaching and there are some open jams in the area. I'm nervouse about playing iwth others but my desire is greater than my fear.

WalrusAmongUs - Posted - 05/01/2012:  21:01:41

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I just got my first banjo today, and this is my first to the hangout. I've been playing guitar for about 6 years or so, and decided I'd love to try something new. Woo!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 05/02/2012:  04:06:05

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quote:

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Originally posted by AnnieGreenleaf

Me too. Hard thing is finding someone else t play with. I'm in month five and s till can't form a group of intermediate beginners to just get together and play, and yes, I have checked my breath. Over the summer I think it will get easier because I won't be teaching and there are some open jams in the area. I'm nervouse about playing iwth others but my desire is greater than my fear.

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Amazing Slowdowner is great to play with. You can play any song you have in your computer and play at a speed that is comfortable for you.

ken

JimboJambo - Posted - 05/04/2012:  17:07:18

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Greetings everyone,just found this site and cant tell you how refreshing it is to know your not the only noobie out there thats got his or her fingers tied in knots.Ive just started my fourth month and am having a blast,its been agravating at times but on those rare occasions i actually make a sound that sounds like banjo musicic its worth every second.I have a good friend who is also just getting started,and we have the same instructor which is nice,we get together quite often and make noise which is what the wives call it,but we are getting better and they are starting to take notice.Anyway hello to all i sure appreciate all the helpful advice,keep on a pickin. 

OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/05/2012:  22:19:25

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quote:

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Originally posted by BJD

Bertie,



For some a break is good. For others like me pressing on is good. Sometimes "difficult" -- yes. "Bad" -- never.



Your banjo needs a hug every day...And if you haven't named it, yet, by all means do so. That way you will never neglect her/him. If you give it a name, I guarantee the next time you look at your banjo you will play it. You'll have a pal for life. 



...yes, my wife thinks I have a screw loose...




Ha ha ha - I've nicknamed mine "My Best Friend", and we like to dance to the light of the moon... another newbie here, and nope, I'm as sane as you guys, it's the rest of the world that's missing out - keep on pickin' and don't ever put it down!!!
Brad (Banjo Nut)

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OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/05/2012:  22:27:50

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That's me at the end of Banjo Nut's message - threw that comment in via cell phone & now can't correct it, oh well, yup, I'm a newbie:-)

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Edited by - OldTimeGal on 05/05/2012 22:29:17

Peanutscreams - Posted - 05/10/2012:  08:00:40

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I purchased a really nice Maple Blossom a few months ago from a good friend. We dropped in to see him yesterday and I mentioned that I had read here on the BHO that perhaps I should name my banjo.

He informed me that she had a name already.

Her name is simply Blossom. I like that. I think he misses her.

Butch B.

OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/11/2012:  20:35:51

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Yes, 'My Best Friend' open back is currently in the shop undergoing upgrade repair work, and I miss it.  I nicknamed my Washburn banjo "Florence" as she came from a store in Florence, Kentucky.

DrBobNeon - Posted - 05/12/2012:  13:22:52

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I am a newbie, taking lessons for less than a year. I bought a new banjo less than 4 months ago. I did not know I was to name my new banjo. Sure is fun to play. It is a Gold Tine Orange Blossom 250. Is the name supposed to be a female name? Suggestions?

Peanutscreams - Posted - 05/13/2012:  09:38:54

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OldTimeGal - Really like that name Florence for your banjo. Spent many a summer as a kid running around Florence and Erlanger areas..

DrBob - Since I am new at the banjo naming myself, my only suggestion as to the gender of naming your banjo would depend first upon your own gender. :-)

I never looked at OldTimeGal's profile but I assume she is female, and Florence could be either a male or female name, so you could go with something along those lines.. Good luck, let us know what you come up with.

Butch B.

Logtown - Posted - 05/13/2012:  18:19:06

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I've been playing fiddle/mandolin professionally for decades and have my first banjo, an Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe, being shipped now. I am so excited to start learning a new instrument. I hope I can pick it up "by ear" since that's the way I play the other instruments. I think the internet is such a wealth of information for beginners like me now. Used to if you couldn't figure it out you had to find someone to show you how to do it. Now you just log in!

God Bless.

somarmd - Posted - 05/13/2012:  18:31:34

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quote:

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Originally posted by Logtown

I've been playing fiddle/mandolin professionally for decades and have my first banjo, an Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe, being shipped now. I am so excited to start learning a new instrument. I hope I can pick it up "by ear" since that's the way I play the other instruments. I think the internet is such a wealth of information for beginners like me now. Used to if you couldn't figure it out you had to find someone to show you how to do it. Now you just log in!



God Bless.

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Congratulations, I'm sure you will do great!  If you like to learn by ear, you might take a look at the "Murphy Method" It's working well for me...:)

OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/13/2012:  22:31:16

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quote:

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Originally posted by Peanutscreams

OldTimeGal - Really like that name Florence for your banjo. Spent many a summer as a kid running around Florence and Erlanger areas..

DrBob - Since I am new at the banjo naming myself, my only suggestion as to the gender of naming your banjo would depend first upon your own gender. :-)

I never looked at OldTimeGal's profile but I assume she is female, and Florence could be either a male or female name, so you could go with something along those lines.. Good luck, let us know what you come up with.

Butch B.

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Yep, I'm a gal alright - as a sculptor, I tend to think of objects as having personalities...My old banjo "My Best Friend" is in the shop undergoing repairs, and was purchased in poor condition from a store aptly called 'Peter's Oldies but Goodies Furniture'. I was walking past the store one day, and saw the banjo sitting on top of a dresser. The banjo head had been busted in, but I picked the banjo up in my arms and said, yes sir, this is the one for me, it felt like I had just found a long lost old friend - can't wait til it gets back.