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| quote: Any banjo players here?
I tried several times long ago. Despite having learned a handful of other instruments, I failed miserably on banjo. Get a really good teacher, practice daily, or you may be given the same advise as my piano teacher finally advised when she jettisoned me: you can probably find a more productive way to spend your time, sir. Have the decency to not waste mine! I've had some banjo friends who are amazed I flunked out of banjo class when they found it so invigorating. Good luck. |
| Posts: 9882 | Location: sunny Orygun | Registered: September 27, 2009 |
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Green grass and high tides
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Nosce te ipsum
| You buy the banjo, tune it up, put on your favorite banjo record, and start making noise. Yer musical interests will dictate your style.
Melodic banjo is hardest, I think. In the end, it's like the master chess player who refuses to play checkers with the old checker pro. Just like the blues, the simpler you make it, the harder it is to copy. |
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| If I’m ever in Clayton, GA I may have to look up Billy Redden, if he’s still working at the Walmart. I rewatched Deliverance the other month with the son.
The creator of ‘dueling banjos’ sued the movie for using the theme without throwing some $$ his way, won as I recall. |
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אַרְיֵה
| Search YouTube, or country music record shops, for any recordings by Red, White, and Blue(Grass). Listen to Dale Whitcomb's banjo. Whoo-hoo! Also, Ginger Boatwright, who fronted the Red, White, and Blue(Grass), did some recordings with the late Doug Dillard (you might remember him from the Andy Griffith show). These are worth a listen, for great banjo work.
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים |
| Posts: 31833 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010 |
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Optimistic Cynic
| quote: Originally posted by techguy: I’m looking to learn but can’t make my mind up if I want to learn clawhammer or Scruggs style.
Doesn't his depend on how many teeth you have lost? |
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| I've played guitar for a long time and a few years ago I started playing around with a banjo. Scruggs style sounds impressive and its a must if you want to sit in with bluegrass players but it can be harder to learn. Its an advanced style and takes awhile to build up speed and accuracy. The various old time music styles were definitely easier to learn for me. A two finger, thumb and index finger style is the most intuitive way to get started making some noise. There's a guy on YouTube named Clifton Hicks who does a good job of demonstrating old time styles.
No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
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Partial dichotomy
| I don't play banjo, but I'll certainly echo the play everyday....even if only for a few minutes.
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| Posts: 39588 | Location: SC Lowcountry/Cape Cod | Registered: November 22, 2002 |
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Little ray of sunshine
| It has been my impression that clawhammer is easier. I play a little mandolin and guitar, but I am not a banjo player. So, my impression may be all washed up. I enjoy both styles. Good luck and have fun.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. |
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| There is an Earl Scruggs 'learn the banjo' book that I used when I wanted to learn banjo picking.
I thought it was a very good tutorial book. It starts off with the basic stuff of notes, the strings, how to pick, etc. I would strongly recommend it.
I got all the way to Cripple Creek but I didn't make it to Foggy Mountain Breakdown when that darn Navy thing kept me too busy. The other posters are correct in saying you have to practice a little bit every day. |
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| Don't play it, always wanted to. |
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