How 'bout some weekly updates? How've everybody's practice goals been going? I've been donating old-time practice time this past week to learning songs to play with family and friends this 4th of July. Every year we blow up a couple hundred bucks worth of artillery shells, and this year we're wanting to add music to that scene. Folks are requesting a bunch of rock songs to play, but of course I've managed to sneak clawhammer banjo in there!
So I'm practicing, but taking a break from the routine. How're y'all doing?
7 Comments |
 | laertes22 says:
6/30/2014 9:26:56 AM
Well, I forgot to mention, but I'm on vacay this week and spending the week with my fiancée. Didn't think I was going to have much practice time, but brought my fiddle and banjo just in case. Since she works nights, I usually sneak off for an hour or so to work on some tunes. Working on a slightly fancy version of Angelina Baker on banjo and fiddle. Also working on Blackest Crow for double stop practice. I think my banjo playing is getting cleaner and more consistent. For fiddle, I'm working on some bowing issues, grip issues, and posture issues. I've also practiced sitting down, but found that standing up helps my playing. Also, I'm still doing the yoga. I'm only on like my second week, but the breath control stuff and posture stuff is helping my playing, I think. -Genford
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 | Zischkale says:
7/1/2014 12:04:07 PM
Enjoy it, G, I hope it's a great week!
That Blackest Crow arrangement is a great way to practice double-stops, and it's probably the best sounding thing I can play so far. Still experimenting on when and when not to use double-stops in different keys, and how not to lose that lush feel when you have to play some notes without the harmony.
Glad to hear you're making progress on banjo as well.
I could probably benefit from yoga, my arms and legs are about as stiff as corpse's. Might just help you relax and be in the moment when you play, and find a posture that reduces stress so you can focus.
Keep up the good work!
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 | VioletMoon says:
7/2/2014 8:33:52 AM
Fun to read the updates. I practiced Cluck Old Hen with my dulcimer friends the other day and they kept saying, "Play louder." My nail broke so I've been experimenting with playing with a finger pick. I don't want to like doing it that way, but it seems to have some advantages.
My recent struggle has been learning to play a fast drop thumb without catching the third string (still working on it but there's hope) and my delight has been playing a picked arrangement of Spanish Fandango that is loose enough to allow for some creative experimentation--which occasionally works. : )
A happy holiday to you all!
Cyndy
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| laertes22 says:
7/2/2014 10:31:14 AM
Which finger pick you end up using Cyndy? I was very skeptical about finger picks until I tried the Fred Kelly freedom picks. I hate to admit but I like them a lot. I still prefer my nails, but I do use the freedom picks sometimes.
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| Zischkale says:
7/2/2014 10:48:05 AM
It's pretty easy playing banjo along with guitars, I've been doing that lately. But with dulcimers, maybe the instruments are pitched closely enough it's hard to distinguish some notes. Just a thought, before you worry too much about volume. I'm definitely concerned about volume in some situations--at some jams I can barely hear myself play! Have you found the fingerpick adds any volume? No shame in using a pick, remember--some of the greats did, Kyle Creed to name one.
Regarding drop thumb--I'll always recommend Iverson's drop thumb exercise on his site. Sometimes I'll learn a bad habit I have to slow down to unlearn--maybe if you do some slow drop thumb drills you'll convince your thumb to stop catching that third string (although sometimes you'll want it to!).
I'd like to hear this Spanish Fandango--on banjo??? Are you working off an arrangement, and what's the source recording? Happy Fourth!
Also, I'm hearing a lot of good things about Fred Kelly picks as well. I'm wanting a pick as a backup in case my nail breaks (currently it's gunked up with auto engine oil, which I'm going to pretend is kind of cool). I think I'm going to try my hand (finger?!?) at those John Balch ping pong picks soon.
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| VioletMoon says:
7/2/2014 11:43:31 AM
I'm just using a metal pick that I got at the Old Town School Music shop when I used gift certificate money for a purchase and had $.17 to spare. : )
Clark Buehling has an instructional version of Spanish Fandango on YouTube and there's probably other recordings around. Also, I'm pretty sure I was able to pull up a vintage version for guitar online pretty easily (although I don't play guitar so I didn't look closely at it). I'm experimenting with an arrangement that my teacher shared with me.
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| Zischkale says:
7/7/2014 1:39:48 PM
I'm liking that Spanish Fandango video. Adding to my never ending list of want-to-learns.
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