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Post by jonfreeman on Jan 16, 2009 8:42:02 GMT
but you need a resonator to learn the best kind of picking right?? What's the best kind of picking? I don't think you can take things that way (unless we agree it's Irish tenor style in which case I might even buy you a pint ;-) ) I think (although I may be corrected) that bluegrass does have a pretty well defined banjo sound. For that, you are probably looking at a powerful instrument with a resonator (to project the sound forward - it doesn't help your picking) and would most likely be looking at something constructed alone the lines of the Gibson Mastertone. Other styles of playing may be different, and I'm under the impression old time players for example can quite like open back instruments and (I suppose, not sure how to word it) gentler sounds. I'd guess some singers might too. In my own (occasional) banjo world, I don't think we have anything that could be thought of as equivalent to a bluegrass desire to get that Scruggs sound (one might want to play like Barney but I think it's more a matter of just getting the right notes in). My own tenor is a "flathead masterclone" but I think you can find all sorts there. One I would like one day if I can afford, at the right time, etc. is one of the Vega Tubaphones, maybe the Artist or Professional. I've "met" a couple of those in sessions over the years and really liked them. I can't help feeling it would be a nice addition for me.
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Post by tylercornett86 on Jan 16, 2009 12:39:13 GMT
but you need a resonator to learn the best kind of picking right?? What's the best kind of picking? I don't think you can take things that way (unless we agree it's Irish tenor style in which case I might even buy you a pint ;-) ) Yeah... Like I said I was naive and just saw the guys playing three finger banjo and thought it was cool. I should have looked into the different styles before running out and getting any old banjo. Now that I know better I can save up for a Somerset S-4
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Post by jonfreeman on Jan 16, 2009 12:59:36 GMT
Best of luck to you, and enjoy!
(btw and drifting, I think me if I ever went 5 string, the Deeirng John Harfrord would be a candidate if I could afford it)
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Post by Danny on Jan 16, 2009 14:52:38 GMT
You can play any kind of style on any kind of 5 string banjo, the rest is just stylistic preference really
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texon
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by texon on Jan 17, 2009 12:04:32 GMT
Hi all first day on here I was on BHO when I heard of this site in a thread so thought I would come along and see what its all about I am on my second time round trying to learn banjo (bluegrass scruggs) and need all the help I can get ,
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Post by Danny on Jan 17, 2009 16:38:23 GMT
My little site is on banjo hangout? Welcome aboard mate
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texon
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by texon on Jan 17, 2009 21:16:38 GMT
Hi Danny thanks for the welcome ,I been looking on the site to see if there is a teachers list on here that can be contacted for lessons but I cannot see one, Dont say I am blind or my banjo days are over
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Post by Danny on Jan 17, 2009 21:46:33 GMT
No teachers list I'm afraid (not a bad idea tho) Mostly we're frailers here (try it, you might like it, I did)
When I was trying s finger style I had a bit of luck with Murphy Method dvd's and banjoteacher.com might be worth a look.
Also Pete Wernick dvd's are highly spoken of.
Try putting a call out on the bluegrass banjo section, you might just get lucky, were getting bigger everyday.
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sliver12
New Member
12-Stringer
Posts: 2
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Post by sliver12 on Jan 24, 2009 4:35:54 GMT
Hey I'm Mike from Maquoketa(Iowa, USA). I tend to be a lurker, but eventually start talking. I play a 12-String Ovation Elite-T(2058T), a Deering Goodtime 2(Resonator removed) banjo, and a Kentucky KM-675 Mandolin. The banjo is my current focus, I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and have been drawn to the banjo by Patrick and Dear Old Dad. The plan is to get a Somerset ordered in the next month, but I am still deciding between an S-2 or an S-4. I am also a regular chess player on frechess.org under the name SliverXII. Not really sure what else to put here so I will put my only YouTube video of me playing Devil's Dream on the mandolin.
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Post by Danny on Jan 24, 2009 11:55:39 GMT
Welcome aboard Mike
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Post by vagabanjo on Jan 30, 2009 23:11:09 GMT
Hi I'm Andy, been frailing for 12 months thanks to Patrick, started Bluegrass on resonator 5 string, didn't enjoy it, but done it, now with frailing I'm enjoying it and have a openback bought second hand totally took it apart rebuilt modified (see Patricks video on setup etc.) and Patrick advised me when I got stuck putting it together, and it now sound great,. Love playing blues on banjo, bought Patricks Frailing the Blues DVD, excellent, I live in Hereford and on Sunday afternoon pop round to a friend who now also frails on a resonator 5 string, we have great fun, especially in summer with the home made Cider.
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Post by Ken from VA on Feb 19, 2009 18:04:54 GMT
Hi all, I live just West of Washington DC in a community called Reston but my lovely wife is from SW London and she still has family there so I kind of have a UK connection.
I've been frailing for a little over a year now and the banjo is my first musical instrument. I've had some personal lessons but I found I did not like feeling like I was supposed to progress at the pace my instructor wanted. I much prefer the online stuff from Pat and Patrick. I met some of you at the Crisfield retreat last year and I will be going again and then a week later heading over to the UK for a few weeks. (I don't think my wife is going to let me bring the banjo though).
Ken
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Post by Danny on Feb 19, 2009 18:23:16 GMT
Welcome aboard Ken
I'm nor far from London if you wanna Jam, I have a spare banjo you could use
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Post by Clangabell on Feb 19, 2009 23:56:32 GMT
Hi Ken how are you and your good lady keeping, nice to hear from you again, hope you enjoy the retreat again this year, I dont think I will make it across, this time, however I'm hoping to get to Wolfgangs retreat in Germany. Are you still doing your mad kayaking over the falls, they were very spectacular. Let us know when your coming across, you can maybe make the Howay the lads jam at Blaydon (we;ve got plenty of spare banjos Anyway nice to hear from you. keep on strumming Colin
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Post by tomdolfan on Feb 22, 2009 22:55:05 GMT
Hi Guys, First let me introduce myself. My name is Tommy and I live near Glasgow Scotland. I am 53 and I have no Musical talent what so ever. I bought a banjo over a year ago mostly to annoy the wife. Well things often turn out the reverse The one good thing about the Banjo is that it's a great instrument to be bad at playing. Let me explain. I have had more fun just trying to tune it, trying to learn chords and trying to convince myself that I am getting better. The household's ears might suffer as my tone death ones enjoy my made up tunes. I would love to say that the above is a joke but alas I cannot. I have bought fraling books from Pat Costello and I am awaiting a the arrival of a DVD covering that style of play. So as you can see I have not gave up yet and after a span of 5 moths I have started to bust a few ear drums again. I hope I have not bored anyone that reads this as I would give my right arm to play the banjo, but who has ever heard of a one armed banjo player?
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