This group is for all of us that believe in the Murphy Henry Method banjo lessons. I am having a blast learning.

272 Members, Created 3/7/2011 -

Administrators: Oalbrets (owner)

Murphy's Misfits

From Tam_Zeb on 7/30/2012 1:01:05 AM

Not a lot of Group activity so I thought I'd start the ball rolling and see who kicks in.

I started learning to play banjo just over four years ago. After watching Murphy's YouTube clip of Banjo in the Hollow. no doubt about it. I was hooked.  I rushed out then & there and bought a bottle top banjo.

I only had my bottle top a few weeks and the pip snapped. So I took it back to the shop and traded it up for a Fender FB58 and I haven't put the banjo down since.

I was out of work recovering from a broken arm and hand injury at the time and in the beginning I averaged about 8 - 10 hours study a day.. Call it fate, luck or whatever, who cares I was on a roll and I hadn't had so much fun in years. That broken arm, long spell of unemployment and the Murphy Method sure changed the course of my life forever.

I am now retiried and I have pretty much worked my way through all Murphy's lessons, I have to confess to having digressed a little along the way. I skipped some lessons, things I just didn't connect with, but on the whole stuck religously to the MM for the first 8 - 12 months.

In that time I started to think more positive about myself, I had found a new job and met a teacher who presauded me to buy the Janet Davis books, I struggled with TAB for a long time, things didn't work out with the teacher and we parted company after about six months.

After a while I lost interest in the TAB and put it to one side to really focus on MM. I particularlly like playing tunes in open C, especially Drop C so if you haven't tried these yet your in for a treat. I began adding more MM DVDs to my growing library. Building my skills on what I had learned from MM Beginning 1 & 2.

I wanted to learn some back-up and at that time Murphy hadn't released the Vamping DVD and Casey hadn't gotten round to recording her Fancy backup DVD.

I was also struggling to learn the neck ( those chord charts, road map thingy's really confused the heck out of me) and I turned to Geoff Hohwald for some help and advice. I had been corresponding privately with Geoff on & off for a few months when he brought out his lessons on Chords and Rhythm & BackUp video lessons and later his Improvisation lessons.

I am not sure if my conversations with Geoff helped influence him to do these lessons but I like to think I had some input. I am sure I said to him that I was really confused with Chords and Neck Road Maps and trying to figure out where all these chord fragments fitted on the neck. So be sure to check out Geoff's diagram of the neck hopefully it will help you gain a better understanding of the chord locations along the entire neck.

If like me your a big fan of the Murphy Method I strongly suggest you take a good look at Geoff's Lessons on Chords Rhythm & Backup. 

Although Geoff does use TAB as a reference tool his approach to teaching is very similar to Murphy's just not as detailed. Those lessons I mentioned  really complement the work you have done if you have gone through Murphy's Beginner DVD's1 & 2 and if you include Geoffs lessons as part of your schedule you'll quickly see where Murphy's lessons will take you providing you stick with it and keep up the practice.

By now I was well into my second year of studying banjo when I revisited TAB as a potential learning tool. With the help of a great piece of software TablEdit I began to connect the dot's and cross the T's with TAB. Listening to TAB being played through TablEdit I began to make the connection with Murphy's playing by ear method and that oppened the door to a whole new way of learning to play banjo.

I mention earlier that I had digressed from the path and I have to confess that TAB now play's a big part in my lesson plan. But so does playing by ear..

The reason I struggled with TAB in the first place is because I didn't HEAR the melody, rhythm and phrasing of the music. 

Murphy recognised that very same fact at an earlier stage of her teaching career and chose not to use TAB in her lessons.

Some find it hard to understand when I tell them it was actually Murphy's teaching by ear that helped me overcome the difficulties I had with TAB and later on I began exploring other teaching methods which rely more heavily on using TAB to deliver a lesson.

I am now able to tackle fairly complex lessons by Bill Evans, Alan Munde, Jack Hatfield, John Lawless, Eddie Collins to name a few but I have to stress I could not have begun to tackle these without the help of the Murphy Method. 

If I am ever asked where should a rank beginner start learning to play the 5 string banjo I will always refer newbies to The Murphy Method.

If you learn the fundiments of Scruggs Style from Murphy in time you will be able to go on and tackle more challenging material and understand how TAB works if you should choose to include that as part of your learning curve.

In the past four years I have pretty much tried every teaching method out there in book, cd and dvd format..    

I will repeat that just to make sure you didn't miss what I wrote.      

In the past four years I have pretty much tried every teaching method out there in book, cd and dvd format..  

The Murphy Method ranks number one on my top ten list.

No one explains things more clearly, no one is more in tune with the needs of the rank beginner than Murphy Henry....

Whether you agree with me or not. In my humble opinion Murphy and Casey are Simply the Best.

12 Comments
banjocase says: 7/30/2012 1:30:02 AM I agree with you, Tam, that TAB is not evil, but maybe a necessary one. I'm just finding that out myself. Murphy once said, on one of her VHS tapes, "Later on this will make the other stuff easier." I took it that she was referring to TAB. Case, also, said somewhere in her writings that she. "like us," rewound the tapes and then went on to other things or stuff. Thank you very much for this entry with loads of useful information and encouragement. You're a good man. And, yep, we wouldn't be where we are without the Henry family. Thank you Red, Murphy, Casey and Chris.
	somarmd says: 7/30/2012 5:52:54 AM Great post Tam. I also totally agree. I am very much a newbie. I started this past January after purchasing an open back banjo and messing with claw hammer for a couple of months. I then decided to try bluegrass finger picking style. I found myself (over time) enjoying bluegrass style. However, it was not going well with the tab for me either. I could strike the notes while reading the tab but it wasn't making musical sense. I couldn't hear anything coming from my banjo. Fortunately I came across MM on line, possibly from reading Banjo Hangout posts? I new immediately that I had to give her lesson a try. I couldn't believe how my learning changed! I realized I could now understand (by hearing) how the notes were suppose to sound. Learning is slow and steady but I can see and hear my progress much faster. I have learned the first 5 songs that Murphy recommends learning. It's not the fastest but it sounds pretty clear. I am a little behind on the vamping but working on that too. I am strongly considering (wanting) a resonator banjo but am not sure what to go with. The ones I like the most are very expensive 1K and higher. Lastly, MM is not only teaching me how to play the banjo but I am encouraged to learn to play another instrument. I am also considering the Mandolin. I would not have considered if it were not for MM. I'm thinking if she can tech me banjo, why not Mandolin? I have become a huge bluegrass fan, attending my first bluegrass fest this summer and going to another one in Sept. I guess it's appropriate to say that Murphy Method has introduced me not only to the banjo but a whole genre of music I never knew before, and by the way I'm 47 year old. I agree Murphy and Casey are the best! :)
	mebacon says: 7/30/2012 6:46:28 AM Like I always say, Murphy Henry is an extraordinarily fine banjo player, but she is an even better teacher.
	kingsnake43 says: 7/30/2012 7:57:59 AM I tried for 18 years to learn the banjo, starting just after high school. Every year or so I'd pick up a new book, give it 6-8 weeks and put it down in frustration. Much like you I saw one of Murphy's samples on youtube (a little over a year ago) and thought I'd give it another go. Boy am I glad I did. Evidently, that is the way I needed to learn. I'm pickin' just about every single day and loving every minute of it (and I don't think that is an exaggeration). And yes, I've moved on and can now pick up songs from TAB (struggling mightily) but I have 18 years of experience that tells me I couldn't do it if not for the MM. BBv1 and 2 Misfits Easy Songs for Banjo Slow Jam Soldier's Joy 2 Custom lessons from Casey Geoffrey
	mebacon says: 8/1/2012 12:39:39 PM Murphy can read tab and musical notation. I believe her position would be that in the context of bluegrass which is improvisational in nature that good ear training beats having to read off a sheet of music and not being able to "hear" what you are playing or what others are playing.
	buckholler says: 8/9/2012 9:51:44 AM I tried to learn the banjo (from a book) 15 or so years ago. It was a no go. I sold the banjo and got a new (used) one last Oct. After a couple weeks of fiddling around with it I found the Murphy Method. I've been playing ever since. I started to take some lessons twice a month, and stay on track with with Murphy's lessons. I still try to stay to one song per month. I took advantage of one of the recent sales they had and have every video for the beginner and intermediate. Should be years of fun.
banjocase says: 8/9/2012 5:43:07 PM Now that the dust has settled down a bit, I'd like to add that TAB is also musical notation. It's older than standard notation. Like standard notaion, TAB is also a musical tool. It has its place and it's necessary. You'll eventually have to use TAB as a referennce and/or a supplement. And, you don't have to play or practice with TAB sheets in front of you. You can memorize and internalize (make mental notes of) portions and go from there. I can't think of a group or band of musicians who play with TAB sheets in front of them, though, they might use the same standard notation in studio recordings. Here in Japan TAB and standard notation are taught in school. Both notations begin in elementary school. My children read both. For those of us who didn't pay attention in our jr. and sr. high music classes, TMM is the best way to learn to play the banjo and learn to recognize licks and musical terminology, etc. you see in TAB. I'm sure Ma'dam would never tell anyone to stay away from TAB their entire life. And, I'm sure she not only reads standard notation, but also composes her tunes in "standard notation." And maybe in TAB as well, 'cause TAB is not evil.
	buckholler says: 8/16/2012 2:50:27 AM Like I said before I use MM and take lessons. My instructor uses tab. Its not evil but just a way to show you how to play a song.
	Oalbrets says: 8/20/2012 7:58:12 AM If you have a good ear then you don't need tab. I think that all tab does is help you get it in your head. TMM does that while you learn the song and its a lot more fun. Plus you can listen to the song overe and over again and get it in your head.
banjocase says: 8/21/2012 2:33:32 AM Right, and like I said, "TAB is not evil and let's not make it out to be." And too, let's not bash another man's way of teaching music. That's what I'm hearing. Those who write in TAB are good people and they're writing music, that's all. I'm not advocating the use of TAB. It's a good referrence though when you want to take a look at a new lick. When you're learning to play the banjo, in my opinion, TMM is the best way to go. It's been so for me. And, I'm not aiming fighting words at you, Oalbrets, or anyone else, so don't mock me with my own words and that'll be a mutual agreement. I was just supporting my friend Tam who seemed to be fretting over this subject. If he wants to use it, then he should feel at ease to do so. (Tam, this group page is not the place to mention those three dreadful letters.) Afterall TMM is not a cult. So, just be respectful to those who use it. Also, they're those who can just look at musical notation and hear it "in their head" and sing it. Also, I initially understood TMM to be for folks, like myself, who couldn't grasp how to interpret or use TAB and became frustrated trying to learn to placy the banjo. This subject is put to rest (plus it's boring). Don't forget, TMM was born from TAB.
Tam_Zeb says: 8/21/2012 2:46:52 PM Come on guy's let's not turn this topic/group into a feud about TAB. Enough fighting goes on elsewhere on the BHO. That's the main reason these groups were set up in the first place. We are all Murphy fans here.. If we weren't we wouldn't be here. I kicked off this topic with the idea that you may care to share your banjo journey with us. How you got started playing banjo and how you came to discover the Murphy Method. Maybe share what lessons you have worked through, any difficulties you have come across, what your planning to do next. I have just placed an order today for three of Casey's advanced custom lessons.
banjocase says: 8/21/2012 3:09:32 PM Touche'
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