I'm a closet picker and have only played for family with a few postings here on BHO. My initial goals were to learn lead breaks of tunes so I could busk or play at an open mic and learn backup to play with others in a jam. At 68, and with so much to learn, I'm thinking I should concentrate my practicing in only one of those directions. Being a well rounded picker and able to do both would also be great. Hence, the dilemma. What do y'all think? Any comments are appreciated.
7 Comments |
 | WayneConrad says:
11/27/2017 8:16:36 AM
I wouldn't try to learn just backup banjo, because I want to be able to entertain myself when there's nobody else around. But playing a song and playing backup compliment each other--there's a lot of overlap in skills. For example, for playing backup, it helps to be able to make full chords anywhere on the neck. But that helps when playing a song, too. Basic music theory is helpful to either. Good timing is essential to either. Improvising helps backup, but also adds interest to a solo song. And so on. So learning one will help the other.
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 | barrybush says:
11/27/2017 8:36:38 AM
Having a realistic learning plan is incredibly important. I bought a banjo many years ago and a book. I learned Foggy Mt Breakdown and Earls Breakdown. There was not much available in the early 70's. My learning has been sporadic. I wished I had had a logical step by step plan to learn to be a well rounded banjo player back then. Going it alone rarely seems to work. Some make it but I think many more like me are still searching and trying with little progress.
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 | n1wr says:
11/27/2017 10:03:48 AM
Jeff: I'm a bit ahead of where you are, but have also the same dilemma. I would respond by saying that you need to do both.
First - you should have a list of the tunes you know. spread the list out over a weeks time and play a couple of them each day. focus on accuracy and speed.
Second you should have a list of the next six tunes you would like to learn. Work them one at a time until you have them memorized. You might not realize it, but while you do this you are learning the pieces and parts of backup. For each tune you learn - learn the chords and play along with whatever tool you're using - TABs on TablEdit, Youtube, iTunes - whatever tool you have to play the tune and allow you to play backup. Even if you are just playing vamps - that's OK at this point. Eventually work up to playing rolls.
The idea is to put both elements together. It takes time. Don't be in a hurry. It will probably take you a month +/- to learn a tune. Once you have one learned (don't try to perfect it) start another. Always have two tunes in the mill.
This is a process and requires a bit of discipline. That's what you have taken on, not having a teacher.
Hope this helps.
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 | StuartJohn says:
11/27/2017 11:14:55 AM
Don't forget to go back over the songs you've commited to memory and hone them over and over. It's no use learning them and not having them nailed down for tone, accuracy and speed.
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 | pickn5 says:
11/29/2017 6:51:45 AM
I must have had a moment of feeling overwhelmed when I made this post. Thank you all @WayneConrad, @barrybush, @n1wr, @Stuartjohn for your constructive comments. Having BHO and The Practice Group for support is great. I will continue on with the my banjo journey as I really enjoy it. Practice currently consists of learning backup using Geoff Hohwald's Banjo Rythm and Backup 101, and The Murphy Method Vamping: Beginning Banjo Backup. Those lessons are teaching me the chord positions up and down the neck using all the chord shapes. I also practice the tunes I know by playing a couple each day. All need work to improve timing, tone, taste, and speed along with learning the backup vamping for now. Two of the tunes actually need work to start sounding like the tune is supposed to sound. Again, thank you for your support.
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| WayneConrad says:
11/29/2017 8:10:38 AM
Helping us learners with feelings of being overwhelmed is for me a big part of what the Practice Group can do. Entries like yours can help others, too, by showing that the feeling is not unique.
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Deleteme says:
11/29/2017 9:23:59 AM
I like all of these thoughts. I feel successes are important. Having an idea of a plan and making steps towards it keep us inspired to keep creating the plan for our future learning and moving towards it. Everyday when you practice you are putting some talent into your personal bank.
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