Pretty poor Polly

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The Practice Group

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

88 Members, Created 11/6/2017 -

Administrators: AndyW (owner) , Boadicea , WayneConrad

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From AndyW on 10/19/2020 8:11:19 AM

Pretty Polly learning took a bit of a hit as any banjo time has been taken up by me getting used to my new fretless.

Here is a few seconds of Pretty Polly on that fretless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDrMmns9bRw

7 Comments
	WayneConrad says: 10/19/2020 8:47:15 AM That's coming along nice! How difficult is it to learn fretless after you've gotten used to frets?
	AndyW says: 10/19/2020 9:14:34 AM As with anything it seems impossible at first, then not quite as difficult. Luckily for me, a lot of tunes I have been learning are from Brad Leftwich's roundpeak book so were transcribed from fretless playing in the first place. Even partial chords are awkward and some of my non roundpeak tunes are awkward. My small hands don't help, but basically if you can get your hand in the right place it's then all about getting the finger stretch feel correct to get all the notes correct. Luckily often the notes don't need to be perfect to sound ok (especially when sliding), but other times you have to consistently get them perfect which is a challenge. I'm finding it more fun to play than the regular banjo, but that might be just because it is new.
	pickn5 says: 10/21/2020 6:26:27 AM Andy that was really good. I admire your dedication to learning the banjo.
	AndyW says: 10/21/2020 12:12:04 PM Thanks Jeff. Not quite as complex as your version though. Hows the return to 3 finger going?
	pickn5 says: 10/25/2020 6:04:26 AM Andy, I was going to give up and went back to 3 finger, but, that old time 2 finger sound in G modal tuning kept calling me. I went back to the Pretty Polly lesson where the instructor played a turnaround, slowed down the video and think I figured it out. Open strings pinch 5 1, then open strings 3 1 5 1. I'm working on timing and smoothing it all out. Hope to post a video soon. Next might be Wayfaring Stranger in triple C tuning?
	AndyW says: 10/26/2020 8:41:09 AM Cool. My advice would be that it would be worth you having a go at index lead at some point then you will have almost all the clawhammer tab repertoire at your disposal. Also I think most folks that play 2 finger tend to swap between thumb lead and index lead as the tune requires so it really would be an extra string to your bow.
	Judith511 says: 11/13/2020 7:09:54 AM Sounds great!
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