Hi all. This is my first post. I am brand spankin' new to the banjo. I have always wanted to play the banjo and just decided now's the time. I play the piano, flute and piccolo and assumed I could pick up any instrument in no time. Never assume.
I love it and will keep practicing but am having a heck of a time making the chords. I can make an almost clean C but the D7 is an ellusive bugger for me. Forget anything else.
I am short, 5'1" and have small hands. This is going to sound like a dumb question but here goes. Would a wider fret board make it easier? I have an Epihpne MB-100 and the fretboard at the neck seems awfully narrow to me.
12 Comments |
lg9455 says:
1/22/2012 2:02:54 PM
Cherbr,
I have the dame problem, I am 5'4" and have short stubby fingers, Try a modified D7 until you can attack the strings at a 90 degree angle. it is much harder with short fingers but can be done.
|
 | cherbr says:
1/22/2012 2:19:30 PM
Thanks, I will. I am bound and determined to do it. :o)
|
lg9455 says:
1/22/2012 5:07:54 PM
What are you using to learn from ie: lesson books, tab, dvd?
what style are you working on?
If you use the basic chords at first, normally two or three notes then as you grow you can add to the chords. I am still in the basic chord mode, but starting to add the full chord.
I play three finger (Scruggs Style) which is a bit easier to use the modified chords than Clawhammer. I still buzz some of the strings and mute others which is a hazard of short,fat fingers. The most important thing is to have fun learning.
|
| cherbr says:
1/22/2012 5:18:20 PM
I am using downloaded videos from Homespun Harbor and online with The Acadamy of Bluegrass. I love bluegrass and am starting with three finger style and want to learn clawhammer as well. It all sounds good to me.
I am not really buzzing the strings, I am muting the heck out of them. I have to learn to be patient as I think I should have it down by now. Picking seems to be easier for me.
You are right about having fun learning. Picking is fun for me right now, chording, not so much. When I can make a clean unmuted chord, it will be 100% more fun as I can get down to the business of learning technique and making music. It's fun now and when I learn to do it properly, I probably won't put the banjo down. :o)
I appreciate your response as it's good to know there are others with the same issue that are overcoming it. :o)
|
lg9455 says:
1/22/2012 6:09:55 PM
That is what this group is for, incouragement and learning that you are not the only one having a problem. Good luck and keep me intouch with your progress.
|
 | edhanzel says:
1/26/2012 6:48:59 PM
Wow....glad to see that i am not the only one who ones the MB-100.
I too found the strings very close together and I ordered a few different bridges to play with the night of the strings and also tried to spread them out. I did go with a slightly larger bridge and it helped spread the strings just a little bit. I was told that as I got better, I might want to go back to it since it might help me to pick faster.....who knows.....
|
 | somarmd says:
1/28/2012 10:23:04 AM
Hi, another newbie here. Almost two weeks in and have found learning to be both fun and challenging. I too am taking lessons from the Blue grass academy. I am up to learning the D chord....quite challenging on day one. It's so much fun though. Cherbr....I will have to check out Homespun Harbor....:) Good luck everyone!
|
| somarmd says:
1/28/2012 10:24:26 AM
Hi, another newbie here. Almost two weeks in and have found learning to be both fun and challenging. I too am taking lessons from the Blue grass academy. I am up to learning the D chord....quite challenging on day one. It's so much fun though. Cherbr....I will have to check out Homespun Harbor....:) Good luck everyone!
|
| cherbr says:
1/29/2012 6:49:04 AM
Thanks for the tip, Ed. I have been wondering about the bridge and have been reading up on them. What kind og bridge did you go with?
|
| cherbr says:
1/29/2012 6:51:19 AM
Hi Dave. You are so right, learning is both fun and challenging! The chords are slowly getting better for me. I am truly addicted. :o) Good luck to you too!
|
| edhanzel says:
1/29/2012 9:37:57 PM
Cheryl,
I purchased two Grover banjo bridges....it spread the strings out quite a bit. I tried uploading pics from my iPad, but the ste does not let me upload. I will try to upload them from my laptop tomorrow
|
| cherbr says:
1/30/2012 6:45:19 AM
Thanks so much, Ed.
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
