Any Banjo Pickers In Here?

[Salsa_1960]

I have a 5-string banjo and have been practicing instrumentals quite a bit lately-- a few hours a day. (Bluegrass, Folk and Gospel music). Songs like:

Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Lonesome Road Blues
This Land Is Your Land
Cripple Creek
Pastures of Plenty
Rocky Top (Tennessee)
Old Time Religion
Worried Man Blues (It Takes a Worried Man)
Do Lord
Ballad of Jed Clampett
Boatman
I'll Fly Away
Old Joe Clark
Crawdad Song
Bile them Cabbage Down
Skip to My Lou
Circle Be Unbroken
I Saw the Light
Mama Don't Allow No Music Playin' 'Round Here

​

I play by ear. I don't do well with music or tablature at all and I don't have anyone to sit down and practice with anymore. I go to a bluegrass jam once a month but we don't sit down and talk about banjo licks afterward so it's still playing by ear and picking up what I can by remembering what I hear.

Does anyone else here play banjo or know any 5-string banjo players? What I'd like to buy are some intermediate videos to learn some new (harder) instrumentals/licks that would have some tablature with it to assist me (but as I said, I play by ear, so I wouldn't be depending on the tablature-- it would be more like a helper). My father bought me a video a while back but it's on an introductory level and is way too simplistic.

~Sandy

 

[Salsa_1960]

bump

 

[GirlDrummer]

Banjos rock! I've always wanted to play one...but I'm a drummer and love drums too much to put my sticks down...lol
But keep it up...keep "the banjo" alive. Bluegrass is pretty cool at times, when good musicians play it right. But anyways...good luck!!!
-God Bless-
**GirlDrummer**

 

[mando-fiddle girl]

Not sure whether there are any banjer pickers in here, but I know there are lots of good videos/DVD on banjo picking out there. I know some banjo pickers online and there's a very nice Yahoo group where we jam online..Unfortunately I don't know anything about banjos, I play the mandolin and some fiddle. But you are very welcome to e-mail me and I can give you some good addresses where you can find other banjo pickers or good material.
Can't you just ask the other pickers at your jam, even if you don't discuss licks, can't you start doing it? Bluegrass jammers normally enjoy talking about this a lot!

 

[CoCoChiCa33]

Well I own a banjo and play it occasionally, but I'm dont have enough talent to consider myself a "banjo picker" lol but it's awesome that you play that instrument, more power to ya! hehe

 

[dmiller]

Sandi ---- where are ya at?? I'm in Minnesota, and pick the five. If you're close, let's get together some Saturday!!

You probably aren't, but reguardless, TAB is easy to read -- and that is all I know how to do on the 5-string. I can read music when it comes to fiddle, piano, organ, and mandolin -- but to my chagrin, I could never do that with banjo, or guitar -- and have to depend on the tabulature when learning a new tune.

Of course, you do need to hear it by ear, and get it ingrained in your head, but the written tab does help too. Good to hear you are trying, and that is a great list of tunes you are practicing!!

You DO REALIZE you are setting yourself up for all sorts of "banjo jokes" don't you??

Q. -- What's the difference between a banjo and an onion?
A. -- No one cries when you cut up a banjo.

Q. -- What is the difference between a trampoline, and a banjo?
A. -- You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline.

Q. -- What is the difference between a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a banjo?
A. -- You can tune a Harly Davidson motorcycle.

Q. -- what 5 words will you never hear?
A. -- There's the banjo picker's Porsche.

Q. -- Why is a banjo picker like a SCUD missile?
A. -- Both are offensive, and innaccurate.

Q. -- What's the difference between a banjo picker, and the PLO?
A. -- You can negotiate with the PLO.

and finally (even though I have a lot more!!)

Q. -- What is the definition of "perfect pitch"?
A. -- Standing 20 feet from the dumpster, and tossing the banjo in without hitting the rim.

oh -- wait !!!

Q. -- What is the difference between a banjo picker, and a photograph?
A. -- The photograph is developed!

I am a banjo picker. And I resemble all of these remarks!

I don't know about any good videos, but if I were you, I would rely on local talent to help you out. And check out the tabulature stuff -- it really is easy to read, once you get the hang of it.

Happy Picking!

 

[ps139]

Thats awesome Sandy. Someday I want to give the banjo a whirl. I've been playing my classical guitarl ately and doing lots and lots of fingerpicking. My friends say I've gotten so much better in the last few months. I dont know the proper methods I kind of just wing it, but it sounds nice. I'm constantly refining it too. The only other thing I know about banjos is that it was Jerry Garcias favorite instrument. He used to walk around with one at all times. He did some nice songs with Merl Saunders for a while.

 

[BjBarnett]

i play banjo. early scruggs is my banjo hero!

 

[Salsa_1960]

Sandi ---- where are ya at?? I'm in Minnesota, and pick the five. If you're close, let's get together some Saturday!!

I live in northern Iowa-- about 30 miles from the Minnesota state line.

I have Tabledit but the tableture I have downloaded for it isn't all that easy. I'd like to play something not TOO simple but not TOO difficult easly. I'm told that I play "2 finger" or "drop thumb" style-- or pretty close to it. I do actually use 3 fingers, but depend mostly on my thumb and middle finger. (Don't use my index often enough).

I play on PAL TALK quite a bit. (A chat program that uses microphones). I've gotten into some banjo rooms, but it's not the same as talking to someone and being right there so you can see what they are doing. I tend to teach myself things and when someone else is teaching me, I catch on slowly.

 

[dmiller]

Sandi --- I just got back from the Clear Lake/ Mason City area. My family has owned a cottage on Clear Lake for the past 95 years, and this is our last year with it, as it has been sold.

I was just there to visit with my folks (up from Indiana), and to visit with my cousins who all live in the area (Clear Lake). Are you in the Mason City / Clear Lake area???

You're 4 1/2 hours away from me in Duluth, Minnesota.

 

[JM]

I do. Clawhammer and thumb lead.

 

[JM]

Old Time Religion - YouTube