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

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Another Milestone

From Tam_Zeb on 3/12/2013 3:37:02 AM

Hi Guy's,

Just completed another milestone in my quest to master the 5 string.

Over the weekend I started work on Casey's Polka on the Banjo custom lesson in Drop C and last night I pretty much had it nailed. I got up this morning and revisited the 4th phrase which is quite long and tricky.

Although not as difficult as I anticipated this lesson is classified by Casey as Advanced.

If like me you love playing in drop C tuning you may care to check this one out. It's a lot of fun to learn.

In the ending phrase theres a part where Casey say's pick the first string fretted at the second fret then play "1 5 fill in" before she moves to the 2-3 slide on the 3rd.

I think Casey meant to say "5 1 (open) Fill in" because 1 5 doesn't feel or sound right to my ear with the lick that follows.

Also at the end after the slide from 2 - 4 on the 4th string Casey gives you the option to pick the 1st string or not.  I tried both but I didn't really like either so I tried picking the open 3rd after the slide then played open 4th followed by a strum of the C Chord which seems to give a richer fuller sound to the ending. I also tried leaving out the 4th string and went straight to the C Chord strum and that sounded good too.

Does this mean I am an Advanced Level Student?

NO it does not, I still consider myself as a novice. What this does tell me is that I am making good progress. All the stuff that Murphy taught me in Beginner 1 & 2 provided me the foundational skills on which build.

Over the past five years I have monitored my development. Things I struggled with early on are second nature to me now.

If you feel at times that your struggling to progress, take heart and keep practicing. From personal experience chances are you are a lot better than you think you are. Every now and then we all hit a wall and progress seems to stand still for a while.

I purchased Polka on a Banjo back in August last year, I have tried several times to learn this tune but I never got past the first phrase. Now after only three days I have it nailed.

Yes - The Murphy Method really does work guy's... But you need to work at it to progress. Just watching the DVD won't turn you into a banjo player, you need to study the lessons carefully and keep practicing. Remember what Murphy tells you, take it slow.

Happy Pickin     

5 Comments
	maplebridge48 says: 3/12/2013 3:51:30 AM Good work! That's a fine tune, and not many people play it. Keep picking!
	Peanutscreams says: 3/12/2013 4:54:15 AM Know the feeling Tam. Excitement still in the air from just learning "Two Dollar Bill" Their DVD's are really great. Congratulations on your new achievement. Butch B.
	caseyhenry says: 3/12/2013 6:05:11 AM Yeah, I am 100% sure I meant to say 5-1 fill in!
	caseyhenry says: 3/12/2013 6:05:25 AM Glad you've had such luck with it. I love that tune!
banjocase says: 3/15/2013 4:29:07 AM Silence is golden.
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