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Post by roland on Sept 20, 2008 21:14:30 GMT
Hi there. Roland from West Sussex. I'm glad I found the site - traced from Tangier Sound.
After years of playing around with guitar ("playing the guitar" might make it sound as if I'd mastered something!), I wanted a fresh musical challenge. I like old time folk music and it was a toss up between autoharp and banjo, though I think banjo was always going to win (the only time I'd seen a banjo played, live, was about 35 years ago, and the slighly crazy, plunkiness of it made a very long-lasting impression).
So I bought a banjo early this year, and spent the next three months struggling to play like Earl Scruggs. Mistake!... I didn't make progress, didn't like the artificial feel of playing with those wretched finger picks, and the music was not really the type of old time sing-along stuff I really like.
Fortunately I found one of Patrick's worshops on You Tube and it was a complete revelation. Within half an hour I'd made more progress than I had in the previous three months. Frailing had an instant appeal - I find it a much more natural style of playing and it suits the sort of music I like. Patrick's postings are an inspiration, and his website forms a fantastic resource.
It's interesting to see from the folkies' site that plenty of other beginners have the same bugbears...the full D chord is one of mine. I'm working on it.
Is the Sheffield retreat still on for December?
Roland.
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Sooze
Full Member
Posts: 150
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Post by Sooze on Sept 20, 2008 21:15:11 GMT
Nice to see you here Sandra - there aren't many ladies on here yet, so, welcome! :-)
And hello to you too, Roland! I just noticed your introduction appear!
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dick
New Member
Posts: 47
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Post by dick on Sept 21, 2008 9:56:53 GMT
Hi Roland, The Sheffield Retreat is still very much on and there are still spaces.
Dick
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Post by Clangabell on Sept 21, 2008 12:39:15 GMT
Hi sandra welcolme to folkies, nice to see someone else from geordie land, if you are interested in the "Howay the lads Jam" that we are trying to make it a regular thing on the first Monday of each month, you can keep up to date on the Jams section of folkies. Everybodys welcolme, just contack me or Mark Lawson for the details. who knows we might have to change the thread to "Howay the lads and lasses jam" Best regards Colin
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Post by roland on Sept 21, 2008 16:30:30 GMT
Thanks Sooze, and Dick.
Count me in on the Sheffield retreat, please. I'll keep an eye out for further postings about it.
Roland
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Post by granthegardener on Oct 5, 2008 18:09:43 GMT
This is the first time I have ever used a forum of any kind on the internet so I don’t really know the protocol. I have written a little of myself in response to an e-mail “calling all lurkers’. I won’t tell you what I do for a living but the nom de plume is a bit of a giveaway! However due to botrytis, premature ageing, bad joints (I’m not one to moan but), most of my activities these days are in the duties of house-husband, which is O.K. but can sometimes leave me financially challenged (especially when it’s my round). No that’s not strictly true as I’ve not been boozing for 12 months now, gone completely teetotal. My father always told me never to trust a man who didn’t drink or smoke,I gave up nicotine three years ago now the booze, he must be turning in his grave. Just returned to the banjo though, hence my appearance here. I played with a folk group locally some time ago, no you couldn’t call us a group, perhaps an ensemble, erm no a trio, yes there were three of us, but then again perhaps trio isn’t the right word. As the bloke who introduced us at the folk club we went to used to say ‘I’ve followed these lads careers - with a bucket and shovel” It got him a laugh. The best musician in the group (a true musical genius, why he put up with me and the singer I’ll never know), decided early doors, no good a trio with three guitars, we’d look like a set of flamenco players, so he bought a mandolin and said who’s going to play banjo, I said why are you both looking at me. So Granville bought a banjo. At first I made it sound like an advert for a local chinese late night take-away at the pictures, pling plong, but after everybody’s first book on banjo had been skimmed through I had it sounding like a guitar with banjo strings, it would have been quite an accomplishment if my guitar playing had been a bit warmer. We had some quite interesting experiences but eventually we split as a trio which was a shame in a way. It probably did me a favour as I was needing too much ‘dutch courage’ to get up in company(would I get arrested for saying that in America? It’s probably outlawed, like laying the table) I arrived here via you tube, in that one day I saw Patrick’s lesson one in frailing. Frailing is something I’d had a go at from Pete Seegar’s five string banjo book but just couldn’t make sense of. The way Patrick presents the lessons makes it comprehendible. granthegardener
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Post by craftsman on Oct 5, 2008 18:25:43 GMT
Welcome Gran, pull up an armchair and make yourself at home! Andrew
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Post by Danny on Oct 5, 2008 18:37:45 GMT
Welcome aboard Gran(ville?) I can certainly relate to some of your problems. me and my mum are both disabled, me emotionally (depression sucks) and my mum physically (arthritis) so I certainly know what you mean about it being hard when it's your round (harder for me, I never gave up the booze, although I never have smoked) You're certainly welcome here mate, we're a rather informal bunch, the only real 'rules' are speak like you wanna be spoken too (i.e. no swearing) apart from that, dig in and enjoy yourself
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Post by Clangabell on Oct 5, 2008 22:44:37 GMT
Welcome Gran yet another person who tried frailing from Pete Seegars book, and give it up as a bad job. I tried it about ten years ago, give up, went to bluegrass, then found Patricks site, and picked up frailing. I,m now looking at the Pete Seegar book again, it's probably a good guide but not very user friendly for starters. Anyway you didn't say what part of the country you are from, so just in case you are anywhere near York, a few of us are meeting up there tomorrow night (Monday), check out the York Jam on the jams section. bye for now Colin
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Post by dave69 on Oct 14, 2008 13:19:46 GMT
Hi , The name is dave and I live in plymouth uk. I started the banjo a couple of weeks ago after seeing patricks way of teaching and a few others on you tube . I have played ( or tried to ) guitar for about 25 years and never really felt right with it as I mainly just strum and pick a few notes .. but after getting the banjo I wish I had started it way back then . My main regret with the banjo I got is that I got a cheapy in case I didnt get on with it to well ... but now wish I had a nicer one after just a couple of weeks ... so my main aim - now that I am addicted is to get a nicer one . But that wont be till early next year because of a hospital op on my ankle from a leg break last year that hasnt healed properly that is setting me back a few months from work etc... anyway ... looks like a great site and some nice people . Looking forward to gaining from it . Good luck to you all .
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Post by craftsman on Oct 14, 2008 14:22:07 GMT
Hi , The name is dave and I live in plymouth uk. I started the banjo a couple of weeks ago after seeing patricks way of teaching and a few others on you tube . I have played ( or tried to ) guitar for about 25 years and never really felt right with it as I mainly just strum and pick a few notes .. but after getting the banjo I wish I had started it way back then . My main regret with the banjo I got is that I got a cheapy in case I didnt get on with it to well ... but now wish I had a nicer one after just a couple of weeks ... so my main aim - now that I am addicted is to get a nicer one . But that wont be till early next year because of a hospital op on my ankle from a leg break last year that hasnt healed properly that is setting me back a few months from work etc... anyway ... looks like a great site and some nice people . Looking forward to gaining from it . Good luck to you all . Hi Dave and welcome to the group. Yeah.. its difficult knowing where to start getting the right banjo isnt it. My dad wants one now so that we can play together, but I find it difficult knowing what to advise. I guess get a 'mid range' priced one (if you can afford it) It should keep its value for a while if you dont get on with it. By the way, did you see that our leader (Danny) set up a selling category here in case you want to flog your old one at some point? Cheers Dave, Andrew
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Post by dave69 on Oct 15, 2008 8:46:51 GMT
Hi Andrew, yep , your right about getting a mid range one and keeping the value on it a bit .... I should have learned from many years of buying guitars that its best to buy once - but there again I didnt realise I was going to love it so much. I mainly got it so as to have something constructive to do when I am laid up for a while with my leg ( I will be in plaster for 6 weeks plus an airboot for a month then still off work with a bit of physio etc) so I will have 3 months to concentrate and become an expert ... I WISH !... I go in for my operation on the 29th of this month . Thanks for the info on selling stuff on here - I have a brand new mandolin for sale which I dont really have time to learn in favour of my latest addiction ( plus fooling with the guitar ) .. the banjo . So I will get around to putting that on . Thanks again ....
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Post by Danny on Oct 15, 2008 9:50:45 GMT
Damn Dave, sounds like you're seriously crocked their, whad the hell happened man?
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Post by dave69 on Oct 15, 2008 15:31:32 GMT
Hi danny, I broke my right leg last october in three places and dislocated the foot - it was facing backwards . The breaks have healed ok but the tendons in the ankle have not - so they got to replace the tendons with artificial ones in the ankle . The ankle joint is swollen still and if I dont get it done I will be crippled in a few years - and as its got worse the last few months I know it needs doing . It doesnt help that I have to walk the dog everyday and try to work as well- it never seems to get the rest that it needed. But there are plenty of people worse off and I sit around trying to play music etc as a way of resting it ... as good excuse as any I suppose . Thats why I put myself out with the banjo etc - as something consructive to dofor a few months. I have been working a bit extra to make sure I got beer and curry money to last me a as well - lol. So in a way I will treat it like a holiday lol.... except I wont be able to hop down to the pub . pun intended.....
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Post by Danny on Oct 15, 2008 15:44:04 GMT
That sounds rather painful
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