Valentina - Posted - 12/16/2010:  13:49:37

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It's so good to see I'm not the only one!

I'm 24 years old, playing the guitar most of my short life and I just bought a Banjo 3 weeks ago!
I bought THE ONLY BANJO there is here in Chile. Believe it! And, because I live here I can´t share my learning, because most of the people that lives in this country have never heard of a banjo! They don't know what it is, what is it for, anything, so it's been very hard. And cause I'm a guitar player, it's being very VERY hard to learn a so different instrument!
That's why I decided to join this webpage, to be able to find anyone in mi situation.

I'm hoping I'll improve in time and will no longer play like a 5 year old!

Valentina - Posted - 12/16/2010:  13:51:17

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I speak Spanish, so I apologize for my very bad english!

Oalbrets - Posted - 12/16/2010:  14:40:06

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Wow Don, they had Banjos way back then? He He

Kennyj - Posted - 12/16/2010:  15:10:56

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quote:

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Originally posted by Valentina

I speak Spanish, so I apologize for my very bad english!

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Your English is better than my Spanish. :)

Bienvenida!

jmann - Posted - 12/16/2010:  15:20:46

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this banjer plain is a up hill battle thats worth every step.i have no one around here to play with right now but i still try to play with the cd player.yall dont give up......jeremi

Valentina - Posted - 12/16/2010:  15:31:31

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Thank you all

chickenbilljones - Posted - 12/16/2010:  20:00:25

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Poco de espaniel

Me encanta mi banjo

peewee - Posted - 12/16/2010:  20:21:15

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quote:

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Originally posted by Vanbanjoboy

I have seen mentioned here a couple of times, a 'Mute'. I think they sound like a great idea and I'd like to get one, but which one is best?
I have seen one that fits over the bridge and this one eaglemusicshop.com/details1.as...ancer.htm(which I thought is a good idea?)

Can anyone help me get the correct one?

Thanks

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Get a "Mikes Mute" he sells them here on the HangOut. I have 2, and they make a huge difference.

Valentina - Posted - 12/17/2010:  11:01:41

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quote:

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Originally posted by chickenbilljones

Poco de espaniel

Me encanta mi banjo

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Good spanish! That's great!

pastyman - Posted - 12/17/2010:  11:34:16

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wow what a great thread, and thank you to chickenbilljones for starting it. although i have had my banjo for nearly a year now i have to admit that i have hardly touched it recently due to work commitments, injury and other projects on the go, but i have made myself a promise to play it in the new year.
so once again thank you for this thread and for giving me a kick up the jacksy to start playing again

rspeer - Posted - 12/17/2010:  19:50:20

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Well, this looks like a logical place for my first post. Been playing guitar for awhile now, but made the leap into banjo this week. It's actually going pretty well. I may take some lessons after the Holidays but, for now, I'm working at it via YouTube and probably will pick up a dvd or two.

DrG - Posted - 12/18/2010:  07:49:27

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Hello fellow beginners,
Trying to find a place to practice that doesn't bug others that don't appreciate the latent talent of a beginner is difficult sometimes. Our family cat is the only one that doesn't mind where I practice. Wouldn't it be great to have a sound proof room!(of course I would allow our cat with such refined musical taste to enter in). I have just begun playing this last week. As far as rolls go, I expect to practice for three months with just right hand technique. I am patient and look forward to the results when I begin left hand technique. My guitar instructor thinks I need to know guitar for at least 3 years before playing banjo in order to fully appreciate and understand how to put the music together. I am pretty sure he is right, he is an excellent guitar and banjo player and an excellent guitar teacher, however I want to start banjo now. I love the bells and rings of banjo and have only been playing guitar since the middle of summer. I appreciate my guitar teacher's opinion but am trying to find the instrument that I feel I want to dedicate my time to the most. I am 57 years old, have been a physician for 26 years now in private practice (currently a chiropractor/ naturopathic physician/ acupuncturist in Nixa , Mo) and want to develop in other creative ways at this time in my life. I expect to practice at least two hours per day and hope I will be able to jam with others or perform in a few years. I will probably try to jam with others sooner. I had been learning Blackberry Blossum on my guitar, I can play it by memory slowly. It is a beautiful melody .I am looking forward to playing it on banjo. I have much to improve on and the world before me! I do not know my limitations. However I do notice that I have some learning disabilities. When I try to play rolls from a DVD, I can't do them until I read them on banjo tab and carefully make each finger do what they are supposed to do. I was surprised that I could not just learn them directly from DVD. Another problem encountered was breaking strings when trying to restring my banjo. I finally got it right after wasting four sets of strings! Chromatic electronic tuners are awesome! I have started with an inexpensive banjo: 1978-1985 Washburn B12 with a Snuffy Smith compensated bridge, bought for $125.00. A previous patient had kept it in her closet for 13 years hoping to get around to playing it someday after purchasing it from an aspiring musician who needed the money badly years ago. I think it will serve just fine to practice on. I dream of getting a Stelling Staghorn or Stelling Red Fox someday when I am more worthy to play. I think many other makes of banjo sound very nice too. Sincerely, DrG

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Edited by - DrG on 12/18/2010 07:56:50

GHohwald - Posted - 12/19/2010:  10:27:13

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Here is a free beginning lesson for Blackberry Blossom including video and Tab. This consists mainly of a forward and backward roll with the right hand and easy fingering with the left. These were developed to teach middle school kids in Dahlonega, Georgia. Just click on the following link:

freeguitarvideos.com/banjo/Son...free.html j

quote:

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Originally posted by DrG

Hello fellow beginners,
Trying to find a place to practice that doesn't bug others that don't appreciate the latent talent of a beginner is difficult sometimes. Our family cat is the only one that doesn't mind where I practice. Wouldn't it be great to have a sound proof room!(of course I would allow our cat with such refined musical taste to enter in). I have just begun playing this last week. As far as rolls go, I expect to practice for three months with just right hand technique. I am patient and look forward to the results when I begin left hand technique. My guitar instructor thinks I need to know guitar for at least 3 years before playing banjo in order to fully appreciate and understand how to put the music together. I am pretty sure he is right, he is an excellent guitar and banjo player and an excellent guitar teacher, however I want to start banjo now. I love the bells and rings of banjo and have only been playing guitar since the middle of summer. I appreciate my guitar teacher's opinion but am trying to find the instrument that I feel I want to dedicate my time to the most. I am 57 years old, have been a physician for 26 years now in private practice (currently a chiropractor/ naturopathic physician/ acupuncturist in Nixa , Mo) and want to develop in other creative ways at this time in my life. I expect to practice at least two hours per day and hope I will be able to jam with others or perform in a few years. I will probably try to jam with others sooner. I had been learning Blackberry Blossum on my guitar, I can play it by memory slowly. It is a beautiful melody .I am looking forward to playing it on banjo. I have much to improve on and the world before me! I do not know my limitations. However I do notice that I have some learning disabilities. When I try to play rolls from a DVD, I can't do them until I read them on banjo tab and carefully make each finger do what they are supposed to do. I was surprised that I could not just learn them directly from DVD. Another problem encountered was breaking strings when trying to restring my banjo. I finally got it right after wasting four sets of strings! Chromatic electronic tuners are awesome! I have started with an inexpensive banjo: 1978-1985 Washburn B12 with a Snuffy Smith compensated bridge, bought for $125.00. A previous patient had kept it in her closet for 13 years hoping to get around to playing it someday after purchasing it from an aspiring musician who needed the money badly years ago. I think it will serve just fine to practice on. I dream of getting a Stelling Staghorn or Stelling Red Fox someday when I am more worthy to play. I think many other makes of banjo sound very nice too. Sincerely, DrG

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DrG - Posted - 12/19/2010:  17:30:04

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Thank you very much GHohwald,
I will try the simple version out. It will be fun trying. Foggy Mountain Breakdown sounds like a really neat song too.I'm going to try to pick the Blackberry Blossum out right now. Thanks again. DrG

chickenbilljones - Posted - 12/19/2010:  19:07:26

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Thanks GHohwald for the link to freebanjolessons.com!

worriedwizard - Posted - 12/20/2010:  00:30:39

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hi all, i'm still new to the whole world of banjo. i bought my banjo for christmas last year & have only really messed about for 12 months trying to find the best way to learn,i spent a lot of time putting off using it until i could find a tutor but i couldn't find one near enough to where i live in the uk, so i then went on to trying to learn from books this really didn't work for me, so i tried some dvd's i have found in the last month the murphy method & i really like that, so for my new year promise i will stop messing around & get down to doing at least half an hour everyday & really work at playing this lovely banjo. also i found this site from the hangout forum which i dip in & out off, you may find it useful.
davidcavage.blogspot.com

Vanbanjoboy - Posted - 12/20/2010:  03:02:12

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quote:

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Originally posted by worriedwizard

hi all, i'm still new to the whole world of banjo. i bought my banjo for christmas last year & have only really messed about for 12 months trying to find the best way to learn,i spent a lot of time putting off using it until i could find a tutor but i couldn't find one near enough to where i live in the uk, so i then went on to trying to learn from books this really didn't work for me, so i tried some dvd's i have found in the last month the murphy method & i really like that, so for my new year promise i will stop messing around & get down to doing at least half an hour everyday & really work at playing this lovely banjo. also i found this site from the hangout forum which i dip in & out off, you may find it useful.
davidcavage.blogspot.com

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I just downloaded The Murphy Method using the Banjohangout video lesson program. I read a few good reviews and had it recommended to me, so let the fun begin

tassie wombat - Posted - 12/20/2010:  03:28:46

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gday,the boss brought me a sx brand 5 string banjo last week as a chrissy bonous,not having much luck getting left hand to work with my right one,and trying to learn out of a book almost makes my eyes pop out from the preasure build up in my head!! might try watching a dvd maybe?

Vanbanjoboy - Posted - 12/20/2010:  03:40:22

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quote:

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Originally posted by tassie wombat

gday,the boss brought me a sx brand 5 string banjo last week as a chrissy bonous,not having much luck getting left hand to work with my right one,and trying to learn out of a book almost makes my eyes pop out from the preasure build up in my head!! might try watching a dvd maybe?

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You could download the murphy method video lessons on here?....I downloaded it last night, looks good

Ken_in_IN - Posted - 12/20/2010:  03:58:50

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quote:

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Originally posted by EggSalad

quote:

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Originally posted by blkfir

I've been attempting to play for a few months now. I believe I do pretty well on rolls. For me, they're very simple to practice slowly all the time and gradually build speed. Changing chords on the other hand is still a problem.

I've taken four lessons now and learned I have an awful time playing in front of even him. Evidently I have quite a set of nerves. Not sure what to do about that.
At any rate I'm having fun. Practice and persevere.

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I'm in a similar boat. I've gotten my rolls down pretty well, but still struggle a lot with the chords. I think it's just going to take time. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

I also take lessons, and while I don't feel like I have nerves, I do tend to over think things when playing in front of my instructor. In my limited musical experience, thinking less, and just playing is a good thing. Everytime I struggle I'm over thinking it.

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I have the same problem. There are times when my playing is pretty good at home, but once I try to start playing for him, my fingers forget what they are supposed to do! I read an article from some one that noted that it happens because you are under a lot of pressure (realized or not) of playing it perfect for them. I'm in my 6th month of lessons and it's getting somewhat easier, but it takes a lot of concentration. I try to just block out the fact that I'm in that little room, and just sitting comfortably at home.

wb4yal - Posted - 12/20/2010:  12:55:35

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It is difficult to play in front of someone that you feel is looking with a critical eye at your playing. I always do better practicing at home. But the thing to remember is that a teacher is there to be a resource to help you find ways to improve your playing that you probably wouldnt realize on your own.

GHohwald - Posted - 12/20/2010:  13:32:18

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Here is a great article by Braid Laird who happens to play Mandolin. This information should also apply to banjo.

On Falling Apart

Question: I play pretty good at home but when I get in a jam session I tend to fall apart. Why does this happen and what can I do to fix the problem?

That feeling of not performing well, whether in a jam session or on stage, is something everyone feels. I know I have! Let me give you some thoughts on this extremely frustrating issue that will hopefully help in some way.
If your public playing doesn’t seem to come up to the level that you are able to achieve at home while practicing or playing there can be many factors at work. Some of them are pretty basic and obvious and some are hard to put a finger on. To identify things that might cause the temporary degradation of playing ability, let’s try to list any environmental, physical, or mental situation that is different from the home practice/playing environment.
One thing that is different is that most of us always practice while seated and then, about 80% of the time, we stand when participating in a jam session or while on stage. The stability of the instrument is not as good when standing. The relative locations of the body, even the visual line of sight on the fingerboard, is all changed from what we are used to. If you suspect this might be part of the cause try these things: 1) Spend a larger amount of time practicing while standing. 2) Practice, at times, with the eyes closed so that you will learn to rely less and less on the visual feedback.
Another thing that is usually different from the home practice environment is the number of distractions. To practice effectively one must eliminate all sources of distraction. But, then we go out into a room full of people, laughing and carrying on, and it is a lot harder to think about what we are doing. Some people learn to “tune out” the distractions. I think it is very hard to do that. Imagine the performance that Sam Bush would give if he had to “tune out” the audience when he performed. That sort of disconnect from the people in the room or the audience would be felt.
We have all seen musicians playing with their head down, staring at their fingers, and utterly ignoring the audience. Focus like that might get your playing to improve, if you learn to do it, but it will not improve your ability to communicate and connect with listeners.
I think a better approach, and perhaps the only reasonable one, is to become “over practiced” at home, expect a diminution of performance in public, and accept the end result. For example, let’s say you learned to play “Snowshoes” and the jammers tend to play it at around 100 beats per minute. If you work on it until you can do it at 100 you might only be able to make 85 cleanly with all those distractions at work. So, the solution is to practice until you can do it at 110. Then when the distractions and other factors do their evil work, you can coast along cleanly and precisely at 100.
You might even want to find out the speeds at which certain tunes are actually being played. In a band, it would be pretty easy to do. Just get a metronome out and compare with the band’s preferred speed and write it all down. In a jam setting you might want to record little snatches on a small cassette recorder. Then go home and study the tape with a metronome handy. But, the concept of practicing to higher level of excellence than is actually required will do the trick. Dieters do a similar thing. I know, I did it. I wanted to lose 25 pounds so I made my goal 35. It worked. I ended up about 26 down I think. The principle is similar.
Another factor at work is plain old nervousness. In a room full of musicians, who we want to impress or at least not reveal how rotten we are, the pressure can be intense. That is hard to simulate in the practice environment. But, I have found a similar experience that feels almost the same and a solution that has worked for me. I have played in front of some pretty large and attentive audiences. I remember being the opening act for Tony Rice or somebody like that once in 1984 or ‘85 and really feeling the jitters... big time! And my performance was off. Nothing felt smooth. I felt like I was constantly screwing up in hundreds of small ways. The room was full of musicians and they all were absolutely silent and watching everything we did. I thought there is no way to simulate that, and become accustomed to the feeling, other than by being up there doing it.
Then came a trip to a recording studio. The fear that gripped me in the studio felt just like the big stage jitters! Recording can create the same feelings of fear and that is something you can do at home. Even a little cassette machine running can increase the anxiety level and the desire to perform “as good as possible.” Now, if nobody ever listens to the tape it wouldn’t be as effective.
I took a piano tuning course a few years back and one of the requirements was to make a series of tapes which had to be submitted for grading. I was already tuning for customers in their homes, but that didn’t come close to the anxiety of making those tapes. My heart rate went up. I couldn’t tune worth a hoot. I felt like a total idiot. Then, I would stop the tape. I would tell myself that I would practice tuning for a few days and try again later. I would be doing great and then try the taping again and just absolutely make a mess of things. Knowing that someone would judge the tape was the fear factor. Even making a little tape to send to your old Uncle Ed in Duluth would simulate the experience somewhat.
I am not saying that we should all sit around inducing nervousness during our practice sessions. But, we do need to learn how to deal with it.
There are two ways of getting beyond the effects of nervousness. The first is to know what you are doing so well that you are truly competent and confident. That eliminates fear. As you continue to improve, things that used to fall apart will stay together more often.
The second way to get beyond fear is to keep putting yourself in fearful situations and you will learn that they are not nearly as fearful as they once were. Take snakes for example. Afraid of snakes? Get one and keep it as a pet. After a few weeks of just watching him, get up the nerve to pick him up. Do it everyday. After a while you might get out your mandolin one day and see old “Mr. Snake” poking his head out of the F-hole and it might not even cause you to stain your drawers.
So, the moral of all that is just keep on. Don’t shy away from the situation. Desensitize yourself by immersion in the situation as often as possible until it becomes “old hat.”
Another way to simulate the pressures of human observation is to sit your family and friends down and perform for them. Work up a little five tune program and put on a “stage show” at home. The pressure level goes up, not to dangerous levels like being called out onto the stage at The Grand Ole Opry, but it does simulate some of the feelings. Make it a formal little thing so everyone is really sitting there listening and watching your every move.
All of those factors could be at work. But, it could also be that you simply haven’t learned it (the tune, the break, the improvising ideas) sufficiently to run on “autopilot”. The act of thinking, in a performance setting, does get in the way of good performance. By that I mean, there is often no time to think, to keep track, to recall, to think ahead. You must have done it enough so that the subconscious mind is able to do most of the work. And that does come with time if you practice correctly.
Allow me to recap the main points. Practice to a higher level in anticipation of some performance failure. (How many race cars running at 6,000 rpm are designed to explode at 6,001? They build them to take a lot more than 6,000 so they can just cruise along for hours without a problem.) Find out what speeds the tunes are really being played at. What might feel “pretty fast” at home, might be way under the ridiculous speed at the jam session. And, work on ways to simulate the experience of pressure.

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Edited by - GHohwald on 12/21/2010 11:00:20

Ridgerunner - Posted - 12/22/2010:  02:35:30

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quote:

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Originally posted by Vanbanjoboy

quote:

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Originally posted by worriedwizard

hi all, i'm still new to the whole world of banjo. i bought my banjo for christmas last year & have only really messed about for 12 months trying to find the best way to learn,i spent a lot of time putting off using it until i could find a tutor but i couldn't find one near enough to where i live in the uk, so i then went on to trying to learn from books this really didn't work for me, so i tried some dvd's i have found in the last month the murphy method & i really like that, so for my new year promise i will stop messing around & get down to doing at least half an hour everyday & really work at playing this lovely banjo. also i found this site from the hangout forum which i dip in & out off, you may find it useful.
davidcavage.blogspot.com

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I just downloaded The Murphy Method using the Banjohangout video lesson program. I read a few good reviews and had it recommended to me, so let the fun begin

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The Murphy Method has worked very well for me. If you look on the Murphy Method webpage you will find a section of FAQ's. In the FAQ's you will find a link for the sequence to go through the songs for beginners and them intermediates. Murphy and Casey have learned over the years how to better sequence learning the songs. You should look over their webpage. Contact Murphy if you have questions about the lessons. She considers everyone working on her DVD's to be her personal students.

Vanbanjoboy - Posted - 12/22/2010:  02:49:37

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ridgerunner

quote:

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Originally posted by Vanbanjoboy

quote:

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Originally posted by worriedwizard

hi all, i'm still new to the whole world of banjo. i bought my banjo for christmas last year & have only really messed about for 12 months trying to find the best way to learn,i spent a lot of time putting off using it until i could find a tutor but i couldn't find one near enough to where i live in the uk, so i then went on to trying to learn from books this really didn't work for me, so i tried some dvd's i have found in the last month the murphy method & i really like that, so for my new year promise i will stop messing around & get down to doing at least half an hour everyday & really work at playing this lovely banjo. also i found this site from the hangout forum which i dip in & out off, you may find it useful.
davidcavage.blogspot.com

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I just downloaded The Murphy Method using the Banjohangout video lesson program. I read a few good reviews and had it recommended to me, so let the fun begin

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The Murphy Method has worked very well for me. If you look on the Murphy Method webpage you will find a section of FAQ's. In the FAQ's you will find a link for the sequence to go through the songs for beginners and them intermediates. Murphy and Casey have learned over the years how to better sequence learning the songs. You should look over their webpage. Contact Murphy if you have questions about the lessons. She considers everyone working on her DVD's to be her personal students.

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Thanks for that Ridgerunner, very helpfull

diagonally - Posted - 12/22/2010:  08:12:46

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You should ask the moderators to make this separate forum under playing the banjo.

BarbieSue - Posted - 12/22/2010:  14:50:05

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Thanks for the info on the Murphy Method and for the link on the free Blackberry Blossom video. I am off for the next 4 days, and although I will have family over, I do intend to stay up late with my banjo in front of my puter tryin to learn some stuff. :) Hopefully by Monday I will have accomplished something! Thanks again for the thread and all the posts! Merry Christmas!

Magolli - Posted - 12/22/2010:  15:00:31

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Hi There,

Ok, l am a newbie too, playing since August and after reading a lot in this forum, yesterday I started to record myself to see how I was doing. Here is my first atempt in a short version of Bile Them Cabbage Down! I don`t know what to think of it , but here I am, posting my playing and ready for anyone who wants to advice, correct or cover his/her ears!

Cheers!

Vanbanjoboy - Posted - 12/22/2010:  15:06:13

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Good stuff!...

BarbieSue - Posted - 12/22/2010:  18:11:08

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I like it! Very good. :)

Richard Dress - Posted - 12/22/2010:  18:31:28

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Sounds like you already have a musical background. That's a lot of progress in a few months.

rsmsr - Posted - 12/22/2010:  20:00:02

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I've been hanging out, just reading. I have already learned a lot from everyone's input. Thanks.
At the end of August, I purchased a used Fender FB54 for my first banjo. I practiced just long enough to realize it wasn't sounding quite right. I have no experience with banjo setup and was uncomfortable attempting to correct it myself and so contacted a local music teacher. He did a nice job fixing it. It plays and sounds so much better. So, I'm back to it, enjoying and looking forward to learning and improving.

phb - Posted - 12/23/2010:  01:27:47

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I think you have done everything right. The rhythm and syncoption are correct, the notes are clean, speed will come after that.

Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  05:30:52

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

Sounds like you already have a musical background. That's a lot of progress in a few months.

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Thanks! and yes I play bass too, mainly blues and 60-70´s rock. In the afternoon I will post two more recordings, any advice will be great!!

Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  05:32:45

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quote:

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Originally posted by phb


I think you have done everything right. The rhythm and syncoption are correct, the notes are clean, speed will come after that.

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Thanks! and I agree, sometimes I try to speed up a little bit and it sounds more or less the same. I have found that 120 bmp is a good speed for my habilities.
Stay tuned for the next recordings!

Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  05:33:18

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quote:

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Originally posted by BarbieSue

I like it! Very good. :)

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Thanks, I appreciate that you like it!

Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  05:33:34

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quote:

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Originally posted by Vanbanjoboy

Good stuff!...

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Glad you like it mate!

GHohwald - Posted - 12/23/2010:  10:08:01

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Here are some play along tracks by Curtis Jones to play Boil Them Cabbage with at different speeds. Curtis has done a lot of studio work with Dan Tyminski, Allison Brown and Tim Stafford and did these to give stduents something of high quality to jam with.

quote:

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Originally posted by Magolli

Hi There,

Ok, l am a newbie too, playing since August and after reading a lot in this forum, yesterday I started to record myself to see how I was doing. Here is my first atempt in a short version of Bile Them Cabbage Down! I don`t know what to think of it , but here I am, posting my playing and ready for anyone who wants to advice, correct or cover his/her ears!

Cheers!

---

Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  10:23:48

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quote:

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Originally posted by GHohwald

Here are some play along tracks by Curtis Jones to play Boil Them Cabbage with at different speeds. Curtis has done a lot of studio work with Dan Tyminski, Allison Brown and Tim Stafford and did these to give stduents something of high quality to jam with.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Magolli

Hi There,

Ok, l am a newbie too, playing since August and after reading a lot in this forum, yesterday I started to record myself to see how I was doing. Here is my first atempt in a short version of Bile Them Cabbage Down! I don`t know what to think of it , but here I am, posting my playing and ready for anyone who wants to advice, correct or cover his/her ears!

Cheers!

Thanks I really appreciate this!!! I will save them in my computer and will try to jam with them....

---

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GHohwald - Posted - 12/23/2010:  11:24:08

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I forgot to mention that the tracks are in the Key of A so you will have to use a capo.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Magolli

quote:

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Originally posted by GHohwald

Here are some play along tracks by Curtis Jones to play Boil Them Cabbage with at different speeds. Curtis has done a lot of studio work with Dan Tyminski, Allison Brown and Tim Stafford and did these to give stduents something of high quality to jam with.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Magolli

Hi There,

Ok, l am a newbie too, playing since August and after reading a lot in this forum, yesterday I started to record myself to see how I was doing. Here is my first atempt in a short version of Bile Them Cabbage Down! I don`t know what to think of it , but here I am, posting my playing and ready for anyone who wants to advice, correct or cover his/her ears!

Cheers!

Thanks I really appreciate this!!! I will save them in my computer and will try to jam with them....

---

---

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Magolli - Posted - 12/23/2010:  13:53:18

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Hi There,

Here again with another tune for you to listen. Any comments / advice or suggestion is welcomed! This is me playing Worried Life Blues.

telegooner - Posted - 12/23/2010:  15:17:04

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Another relatively new member here. I've been "playing" since May on an old beat up loaner banjo from a dear friend. I sacked up and got myself a brand new jo for Christmas and it has breathed new energy into my playing. It helps to have a properly set up banjo when you're trying to make things sound good and to keep motivation up.

Anyway, another question for all the newbs out there. I have a terrible time making the D shape...any advice from anyone on how to get it down. I have pretty big hands / long fingers so that isn't the problem. Any drills or anything to help?

Magolli - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:15:33

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Hi There,

Here again posting another recording of me playing cripple creek. I added an ending that`s not part of the song, but since it`s the only ending I know and I like to have fun while I play, so I have added it.

All comments are welcomed!

Magolli

Richard Dress - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:27:25

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Everyone should take advantage of the backup tracks that GHowald posted. That's really nice.

As for the D-shape, it's just the F-shape but switching the I and M fingers. Those fingers can only really fit in two places: one combo is the F-shape and the other combo is the D-shape.

PS: Magoli, you have learned enough banjo technique for now. Listen to as much bluegrass as you can and choose some songs to play along with. Take advantage of your vocal abilities and sing, it will help your banjo. Stop the lessons and start picking. You could be a pro in a year.

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Edited by - Richard Dress on 12/27/2010 17:34:28

Magolli - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:41:24

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

Everyone should take advantage of the backup tracks that GHowald posted. That's really nice.

As for the D-shape, it's just the F-shape but switching the I and M fingers. Those fingers can only really fit in two places: one combo is the F-shape and the other combo is the D-shape.

PS: Magoli, you have learned enough banjo technique for now. Listen to as much bluegrass as you can and choose some songs to play along with. Take advantage of your vocal abilities and sing, it will help your banjo. Stop the lessons and start picking. You could be a pro in a year.

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Richard, thanks for your kind words, I have been practicing a lot these last weeks and I think I should play along with some tunes to get more familiar with the bluegrass sound. Can you reccomend me a couple of easy songs to play along with?
And in regards to singing.....well, I will give it a try although I sing very bad, hahaha

Magolli - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:46:51

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

Everyone should take advantage of the backup tracks that GHowald posted. That's really nice.

As for the D-shape, it's just the F-shape but switching the I and M fingers. Those fingers can only really fit in two places: one combo is the F-shape and the other combo is the D-shape.

PS: Magoli, you have learned enough banjo technique for now. Listen to as much bluegrass as you can and choose some songs to play along with. Take advantage of your vocal abilities and sing, it will help your banjo. Stop the lessons and start picking. You could be a pro in a year.

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Richard, thanks for your kind words, I have been practicing a lot these last weeks and I think I should play along with some tunes to get more familiar with the bluegrass sound. Can you reccomend me a couple of easy songs to play along with?
And in regards to singing.....well, I will give it a try although I sing very bad, hahaha

Richard Dress - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:57:17

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Check some of the recent threads on popular jam tunes. Make a list and find versions by Flatt & Scruggs or Bill Monroe in the iTunes Store.

You should be playing music on the banjo and to get there you need repertoire more than lessons. There's tons of free stuff in some of those LP blogs, allensarchiveofearlyoldcountry...spot.com/

guync5 - Posted - 12/27/2010:  17:57:38

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Hi everyone I just found this web site today and happy I did. I started playing guitar in 1969. After about a year I started finger picking on the guitar. It sounded so good from then on that is all I played. When I got to be about 47 I had to put my guitar down because my artiest in my hands had become so bad I couldn’t pick anymore. I have not picked up a guitar in about 8 years. Over the years and medication, I can now move my fingers to where I will be able to pick again. I no longer have a guitar, and I always liked bluegrass and the way a five string banjo sounds. So I am going to start taking lessons on the banjo. I thing the biggest problem I am going to have is using picks. All the years I played the guitar, I never used picks.

Jim T - Posted - 12/27/2010:  19:07:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by guync5

Hi everyone I just found this web site today and happy I did. I started playing guitar in 1969. After about a year I started finger picking on the guitar. It sounded so good from then on that is all I played. When I got to be about 47 I had to put my guitar down because my artiest in my hands had become so bad I couldn’t pick anymore. I have not picked up a guitar in about 8 years. Over the years and medication, I can now move my fingers to where I will be able to pick again. I no longer have a guitar, and I always liked bluegrass and the way a five string banjo sounds. So I am going to start taking lessons on the banjo. I thing the biggest problem I am going to have is using picks. All the years I played the guitar, I never used picks.

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Just stick with the picks and go slow and easy. I think you'll be surprised how fast you adapt. Good luck and have fun.

Jim

PS: Don't hesitate to bend the picks to your liking. That can make a big difference.

RC Smith - Posted - 12/27/2010:  19:29:19

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Hey y'all. I've wanted to play the banjo for about a year or so, and just got one for Christmas. Right now I have "Banjo for Dummies" and I'm busy working through the basics. I found this website from startingstrength.com and have read a lot of good information so far. Looking forward to learning the banjo with all of you.