Newbies and Lurkers - Start Here

[Tommy]

Hi Wolfgang,

I have recently started to play it just as you have described.
As if learning the banjo wasn't difficult enough I am missing the tip of my left index finger so I am limited to 3 finger max chords anyway.
I play the F chord 0-1-2-3 from the 1st string to 4th, not sure whether I should swap holding the 4th string at the 3rd fret for the 1st at the 3rd, if that makes any sense!

[Wolfgang]

Dec 3, 2008 19:59:37 GMT Tommy said:

I play the F chord 0-1-2-3 from the 1st string to 4th, not sure whether I should swap holding the 4th string at the 3rd fret for the 1st at the 3rd

Sorry to hear about your finger.
For the F-chord you need the three notes F, A, C
No matter where you press them on the fretboard, it must be these notes in order to get the real F-chord.
If you leave the 1st string (the D-string) open, you will get another chord. I think the then sounding d-note makes it to an F6-chord - maybe, I´m not sure. But it´s not the F-chord any more.
Same would happen if you press the 1st string at the third fret and leave the 4st string open (as these both are D-strings).
Maybe it would help to change the tuning of your banjo to achieve a way, where you can press only three strings to get the chords you want.
Try searching the Internet for different banjo-tunings. There should be a site somewhere with the chord fingerings for every tuning. Maybe Double-C-tuning would help?
Or you use a capo to choose a fingering you like - and by this avoid the F-chord.

[Wolfgang]

And:
if you choose to press a chord with a "wrong" note in it, it would be clever not to press the "wrong" note on the 1st string as you would normally strum it with your right hand. If the "open wrong note" is on the 4th string, it´s easier to avoid hitting it with the right hand. Hope you understand what I mean.
Argyl isn´t very far away from Sheffield, is it? Will you attend the UK Folkies Weekend? We could discuss these things there.
And: I know that Patrick C. is always eager to help people with "special" questions. Maybe he can tell how to press "most chords" with three fingers?

[Tommy]

Finger is not a big deal Wofgang, lost it when I was a kid. Had forgotten all about it until I started the banjo!
Totally understand what you are getting at, if I have to make do on a chord it would be best to leave out the 4th string if any, won't be quite so noticible when I strum.
Will look into other tunings, just using open G at the moment.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, some very helpful advice.

Cheers,

[Tommy]

Sorry, forgot to answer the second part of your post Wolfgang.
Argyll is in the West Coast of Scotland, would probably be about a 6-7 hour drive to Sheffield. Won't be going down this time but is definately something I would consider in the future.

Thanks again

[dick]

You not the only member in Argyll Tommy. We'll have to get together sometime. I'm just outside Lochgilphead.

[Tommy]

Small world Dick, I live in Ardrishaig!!
I had asked a few guys at work who play guitar if they knew of anyone locally that played banjo, I had drawn a blank! They just said "Why don't you learn to play the guitar like everyone else?" Informed them that they had already answered their own question!

[ste]

Hi all!

Just bought my first banjo, cheap and cheerful but good enough to get started on I think.
Been playing guitar now on and off for around 3 years and am still learning to play the sort of blues rock tunes that I like (AC/DC type of stuff). Saw Patrick on You-tube a while ago and he inspired me to take up the banjo.
I have very fond memories of sitting in various bars in Dublin on holiday listening to the the locals banging out tunes on all manner of old beat up equipment. There was something special about the sound and mood they created with their instruments that I don't think you can get with anything else (or perhaps that was the Guinness talking).
Anyway what do I know, enough for now, back to Patrick on You-tube!

[bigalwhittle]

Hello , I'm Al
Nottingham based
this is me:-
www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/

pleased to hear from anybody

[thevillan]

Hello one and all and a special hello to Big Al Whittle who won't admit it, but is a friend :-)

I am Les and I run www.faldingworthlive.co.uk

If you ever gte the chance Big Al is well worth seeing.

[thevillan]

Oh and can we have a section for Folk Club Organisers please, so we can post up and coming gigs. To include, singarounds, sessions, concert venues, Ceilidh dances, workshops etc etc. No good having the musicians if you dont include the venues. I'll get me Kazoo

Thanks
Les www.faldingworthlive.co.uk

[salutlive]

Colin from Shildon, Co Durham but living in the UAE. I have been hooked on folk since my teens and ran folk clubs in the North East (Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Darlington) back in the late 1960s/early 70s. Played guitar badly, sang even more badly but did lots of floor spots at the various clubs in which I was involved and others around the region.

I run the folk/folk-rock website Salut! Live - salutlive.com - as one of a clutch of sites that started when I lived in France (http://francesalut.com) and have come to include salutnorth.com and salutsunderland.com

None of these will ever make me a living but instead cost me time and money to maintain! So I am still working, at my great age (see above and work it out), as a journalist in Abu Dhabi, my home for the past 16 months.

[leadfingers]

Just Joined ! I found this via Mudcat , which is another site worth visiting ! Been involved in Music FAR too long , and play Wistle , Mandolin , Guitar , Uke , and 5string and Tenor Banjo .
I see Big Al and Villan beat me to it for joining !
I will probably be as much a Lurker as a poster , unless someone says something that Kicks My Dog !

[Marilyn]

Joined today - found this via Mudcat too.
I play flute, recorders and melodeon and am learning octave mandolin and guitar. Sing a bit but am mostly a tune person.
Will probably be a lurker as much as a poster too.

[banjosam]

Hi Everybody!

My name is Sam. I have been learning to play the 5-string Banjo on and off for about a year now. Although I have been practicing more recently (but I am still not that good)

I have joined a few banjo/folk forums on the internet but it is nice to find a UK based one. ;D

Cheers,
Banjo Sam