For/to help beginners/improvers indulging in deliberate practice to improve their banjo playing. An open group.

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Practice through learning tunes...

From AndyW on 3/17/2019 11:04:33 PM

Ever since I attended a beginners banjo workshop with Dan Levenson my practice has focussed simply on learning new tunes, and trying to engage my ear. 

I set a 'goal' of four tunes per month.  In December an opportunity to attend a monthly session (jam) opened up local to myself.  That session came with a list of 'tunes likely to come up', so that is the tune list I have been concentrating on.

So, over the last 3 1/2 months I have learned Big Scioti, Colored Aristocracy, Leather Britches, Kitchen Girl, Little Billy Wilson, Johnny Don't Get Drunk, Tippin Back The Corn,  Western Country/Susanna Gal, Nail That Catfish to a Tree, Cider/Stillhouse, Backstep Cindy, Fall on my Knees, julianne Johnson, Roscoe, Possum on a Rail, Sailaway Ladies, Maysville.

So I've made my '4 per' month.  The tune where I engaged my ear most was Leather Britches. I learned that from Benton Flippen on youtube without any tablature.  Apart from that tune I have used tablature to varying degrees.  On some tunes I have used it as a check, on others I have almost followed it note by note.

Learning all these tunes combined with playing in the session has definitely improved my playing.  My overall basic speed has gone up. My finger deftness has had to adapt to quick changes in the likes of Nail that Catfish and Possum On a Rail.  I've improved my ear a bit, but to be honest I've used tablature more than i'd like, mainly to be learning tunes quicker so as to be able to play in the session rather than sitting around only listening.

My way ahead now will be for the next few months continue to learn session tunes in the same manner.  Once I have near exhausted the session 'list' I shall slow down and attempt to bin the tablature and concentrate on my ear. I might revisit something like 'Banjo Blitz' to try a concentrate on technique.

5 Comments
	AndyW says: 3/19/2019 2:21:55 AM Forgot to add. The other thing I have just started is trialling out using my index finger instead of my middle. It has proved surprisingly easy to make the adjustment, and although the tone doesn't sound quite as 'nice' to my ear it's certainly louder and perhaps a touch clearer. The tone might well just be a case of 'different', I certainly remember that was the case when I started 'unstuffing' my banjo. There is a thing called the 'exposure principle' which makes you predisposed to that which you know well, a basic survival instinct. So I will perservere, and my hope is I will have a clearer and more controllable sound on completion. At worst I will easily be able to change if(or when) my middle nail wipes out at some point.
	pickn5 says: 3/21/2019 6:52:30 AM @AndyW, your great at setting goals and accomplishing them. I've set a goal of improving the tunes I know and my backup vamping by the time the warm weather gets here so I can try busking and attending a local open mic/jam. In addition, I'm learning to play the harmonica.
Deleteme says: 4/5/2019 4:11:26 PM You are making good progress toward your goals.
	AndyW says: 4/5/2019 10:58:10 PM I've not had that much of a chance to practice over the last couple of weeks. So any playing I have done has concentrated on playing the tunes I already know, but with my index finger instead of my middle. I've got used to the tone being different now, and I think the fact the volume is much louder than my middle will possibly help me attempt to loosen up my wrist even more. The adjustment to the tone is weird. It's definitely 'exposure principle'. At first my index sounded harsh and bright compared to my genteel sounding middle. Now my index sounds bold and clear compared to a rather muddy middle. The great thing is it proved pretty easy to make the change. No more worries about nails breaking. So any clawhammerers who can only frail with one finger give it a go with your other.
Deleteme says: 4/27/2019 7:37:14 PM It must have been interesting to go to the teaching/learning session.
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