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Banjo beginners

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49 Members, Created 2/16/2014 -

Administrators: jparin (owner)

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From Penlee Joe on 3/21/2014 1:34:00 PM

Hello everyone

My name is Joe and I live in South Devon in the UK. I came back from a road trip in the US just before Christmas and brought back a new found love of all things old time - I have got myself a Goodtime and am learning clawhammer. I'm only a couple months in so far but absolutely love it! It's great to read about other newbies and how we are all progressing - happy playing!!

3 Comments
	Skwerl says: 3/21/2014 7:31:17 PM Hi Joe, Do you have any background with playing an instrument? What songs are you working on? I've been wondering what we can do with this beginners group that would be fun for us. One idea is to chose a few songs that we want to learn, and see what happens. I'm in a new phase with my lessons, starting to learn the chord formations 'up the neck'. In some ways it's easy because there are only a few basic patterns. But so far I am not remembering what chord is on which fret in which formation.
	Skwerl says: 3/21/2014 7:39:57 PM New things I'm doing (or trying), anyone have an opinion or experience? This post is about STRINGS. I'm playing an Ome Single X resonator. I've been using D'Addario "light gauge' strings. A couple of players I know in town encouraged me to try medium gauge and one suggested bronze phosphor. The 4th string is wound with a different metal, and is bronze colored. I had ordered a set (D'Addario medium bronze) but had not put them on. I was concerned they would be really hard on my fingertips. I finally put them on a few days ago....and WOW !!! I LOVE them. My banjo has a lightweight type of tone ring called a "Silverspun", it is not the usual brass tone ring. This makes the banjo lighter in weight, but also lighter in tone. The bronze phosphor mediums give it a richer (and louder) voice. I don't feel any difference in the thickness of strings, but I can feel the difference in the tension of the strings. I guess the heavier gauge string has to be wound tighter to get to the right pitch. Is anyone else trying different strings?
	Penlee Joe says: 3/22/2014 1:49:02 AM Hi Skwerl Thanks for your post; I have never played an instrument in my life before and have dreadful coordination, but I think I'm learning fairly quickly so far and the buzz I get when I get a tune right is amazing!! Currently I'm learning the usual old time favourites - Bile Them Cabbage Down, Cripple Creek, Old Joe Clark etc. what about yourself? Any advice on strings would be great as there are no banjo stores in my part of the country as far as I can see...
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