Newbies and Lurkers - Start Here

[Danny]

Hi Mac, welcome aboard Mate :-)

I've dealt with Andy a few times, I'm sure your Goldtone will be great.

Check out Patrick Costello's books & video's, he's the best teacher I've found by far.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[ned]

May be my memory playing tricks, but I believe we had someone from your area looking for a practice mate.
Could just be my poor memory, but may be worth a trawl through the archives, or maybe not.
Pete

[adie]

Hi All
Another rookie here. I found this site mentioned in one of Patrick Costello's you tube videos, so here I am.

My name is Adrian and I am 46 living near Portsmouth. Unfortunately for me in October 2010 I was T-boned by a car whilst I was on my motorcycle and my ankle and knee were severely damaged. 8 long, boring, disillusioned months down the road I am now just starting proper rehab on the knee after it being put back together with my future still unsure regarding the quality of the knee. The accident has taken any hope of returning to motorcycling and maybe even my job so the last 8 months have been a struggle deciding what I will do to amuse myself for the future.....then the penny dropped......I'll learn to play an instrument.
I have always loved the Saxophone but being an ex-smoker never had the puff, I have always loved the Banjo as well and a particular fav being the classic duelling Banjo scene from Deliverance. So I have decided to challenge myself to learn the Banjo. Now this is more of a challenged as I have no knowledge of playing instruments or music at all..not even the recorder....hmm. I have watched some of Patrick Costello's lessons on the net and like his style and teaching manner, my problem is that my internet connection does not stream videos very well. I have considered purchasing Patrick's Learn to Freil package from his web site but being 8 months now out of work without pay means money is very tight, so unless it is going to cover a lot of what I have seen he has on You Tube it might not be worth the money for me. If anybody has this package I would appreciate your opinion on its content, I am not being tight either ;-)

I have decided to learn the CH style as whilst I like the Duelling Banjos my intention is learn to play for my own enjoyment and I think the more Old Time sounds appeal more. I wish I had thought of this 8 months ago or even 8 years, I really am quite excited about this, the first time I have been that enthusiastic about anything in the last 8 months. Well I that will do for now

laters.

Adie

[John]

Jun 14, 2011 21:36:17 GMT adie said:

I have watched some of Patrick Costello's lessons on the net and like his style and teaching manner, my problem is that my internet connection does not stream videos very well. I have considered purchasing Patrick's Learn to Freil package from his web site but being 8 months now out of work without pay means money is very tight, so unless it is going to cover a lot of what I have seen he has on You Tube it might not be worth the money for me.

Hello,
A lot of Patrick's stuff is available on archive.org . You can download the vids and watch them at your convenience.
Here is a link to his first four vids. Scroll down to the "Individual Files" section, right click on the file that you want, and choose "save as" or "save link as" or what ever is appropriate. I recommend the regular mpeg4's as they are the smallest download.
If you like them... some time in the future you can buy a DVD, a book, or something.

If you are on Windows and can't watch the vids, you can install the Xvid codec which should allow Media Player to play any .avi that comes down the pike.

Happy Banjo-ing!
John

[ned]

Hi Adie, and welcome to the gang.
Good choice of insrument to learn, there is lots of help available, so get stuck in and enjoy.
Once you master the basics you can get a very similar sound to Scruggs style ( Check out Patricks version of Foggy Mountain Fakedown ).
Good luck with the healing process! Don't give up on motorcycling though. I have had a great deal of fun both solo and with a sidecar attached. There are also the big twist and go thingy's to consider.
Hope you enjoy our company.

Pete

[adie]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I really appreciate the link to those files but was still interested on how much is on Patricks disk as downloads are slow for me and what with band width limits I have to careful how much I can download or video stream...my BB is in the dark ages :-(

I use a Apple Mac laptop so I will down load one of the files linked too and see how it works.

Pete..with regard to motorcycling they are not sure I will be able to bend the knee enough for getting on a foot peg although this is not insurmountable the psychological impact the accident has had on the family is the biggest hurdle..the wife never wants to see me near another motorcycle..I suppose what she/wehave been through I don't blame her and should honour her wishes, I do like he rugged lines of the Ural sidecar outfits though.

Cheers

Adie

[alanf]

Hi Danny and everyone

I just signed up and thought I would introduce myself. I'm Alan, based in Reading, Berkshire (don't laugh - someone has to be!). I have been playing 5string banjo (mostly bluegrass, but with a bit of frailing thrown in (doncha just love the Costello's?) having fiddled with the uke before that. Also just starting thumbpicking guitar having bought meself a little V300.

If anyone is in my neck of the woods (particularly if you have been to Sorefingers camp or Gary Paine's jam sessions) please do drop me a line.

all the best

Al

[Danny]

Hi Alan,

Welcome aboard mate, don't worry, we very rarely bite, and yeah, PAt & PAtrick are both great.

I've heard good things about the V300, I fancy one of the all mahogany ones myself. (I do love a bit of mahogany me, oh err missus)

Dig in to the site mate, and feel free to post instrument reviews in the review section and check out our plans for a meet up in Kent soon.

Danny

[ned]

Cant laugh at Reading Al, my Dear Old Dad came from there.
Welcome to the mob, hope you enjoy our company.
Pete

[iana]

Hi Al,
Nothing at all wrong with Reading, as long as you keep it 120 miles away!!

Welcome aboard.

Ian

[1910]

After 17 pages does anyone get this far? In case the odd person has escaped the net . I am over 21 and past my sell by date ! live the better side of the river opposite Kent in Leigh-0n-mud. Play tenor banjo/Five string/ guitar/harmonica(well o.k. mouthorgan),Latin American percussion...Yes Folks !I have my very own One Man Band . I play every day and its all worthy of a chuckle.

[ecsplace]

I only joined today so will keep this short. Being 60 yrs young it takes me sometime to work my way round some sites. So bear with me and I'll be back soon.
Phil

[iana]

17 pages, just warming up!! We only have that grotty sand stuff over this side!

Phil, that seems to be around the average age in these parts. Welcome aboard to both of you.

Ian

[ned]

Wow! lots of new folk to welcome. Welcome to you all, and thanks for joining in.
Got to remind Ian that the sand is so big in Deal that we renamed it pebbles.
Cheers all
Pete

[iana]

Yes Pete, you have pebbles, but then again, you are around the corner (I said corner, not bend) and 1910 is talking about the Thames Estuary, which doesn't start 'til you get to Broadstairs and 'round the Foreland'.

Look straight out from your 'beach' and you are looking at France, not the mud of Essex!!