Banjo

[JM]

I'm interested in learning how to play the banjo and need some guidance on how to get started, what kind of banjo to buy, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

j

 

[sword_of_truth]

What style of banjo do you want to play? I presume 3 finger Scruggs style if you're posting here. Be aware, banjo is hard and it could take you years to get up to speed with a typical bluegrass number. However, it can be done. You can start off on a cheap instrument. quality is not as critical as guitar. Look up bluegrass society websites in your part of the world. If you're in Australia, I can send links. These sites often have tutors advertising. If there are none around, which is sometimes the case, get some good instructional videos from amazon or watch youtube. Hope that helps.

 

[JM]

Thanks sword of truth. I bought a banjo a day or so after this post and have been working on clawhammer banjo since then. I'm getting the hang of it now.

The other day I stopped at a local music store and picked up a ukulele and the clawhammer banjo stuff I've been working on translated very well. I had no idea the uku could sound so good.

j

 

[sword_of_truth]

God speed JM.

 

[dmiller]

JM - - - if you're interested in learning how to pick banjo (any style), may I suggest going to The Banjo Hang Out.

Banjo Hangout Discussion Forums

There were almost 20,000 members there when I joined (about 4 years ago), and there are currently 48,000 banjo pickers registered there now. The forums are an awesome place to ask questions and get answers. Scruggs style/ clawhammer/ tenor/ jazz/ melodic/ (and all other styles of picking) are discussed by both pros, intermediate pickers/ and novices also.

There is literally NO question you can ask about the banjo that won't be answered there. You have to join the site to be able to post there, but you DO NOT have to join to read any and all of the forums available there on site. I "lurked" there myself for a while before joining, but once I did join I was really glad I did. I got to ask a few questions of my own and got qualified, competent answers from folks who have spent their lives on stage making a living playing the banjo and also from others who aren't "pro pickers", but sure knew what they were talking about.

So - - If you ever have any questions, come on over and ask away. You'll find a plethora of folks willing to help, and yes - - - we are a very friendly bunch despite the size of the site. The amount of collective knowledge there boggles the mind, and that's about a lot of things that are "non-banjo" too.

Perhaps you will take a look at the site, eh? I'm dmiller over there too, so if you do have questions, I'm just a PM away.

 

[JM]

I'm on my way...

I started frailing. I'm working on Cripple Creek and different strum patterns right now and lov'in it.

 

[Christownsme]

I'm just going to throw this out in the air; I grew up on a Epiphone made by Gibson Masterbuilt 5-string, if you want to pick bluegrass. They run about $600, and it's a heck of a banjo.

GET THE EARL SCRUGGS INSTRUCTIONAL BOOK FOR THE 5-STRING BANJO!!! It's a great book. Comes with a CD. I still have the original release of book and LP! But the new book is better.

Learn forward and backward rolls, alternating and combinations thereof first:

-------0-----------0--------0--------------0-------------------------
-------------------------0---------0---------------------------------
----0--------0------------------------0------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-0--------0--------0-----------0-----------0-----------------------


I think you'd benefit from learning tablature such as this, which is explained in the Earl Scruggs book.


God bless,

 

[Christownsme]

Sorry, JM, I was thinking 3-finger style, but if you're into working on frailing, that's awesome too.

 

[JM]

I like both styles but prefer the old time frailing style just a little more.

YouTube - "Snowdrop"- Bailey Cooke- Old Time Banjo peformance

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A collection of hymns, country gospel and spirituals arranged for frailing banjo. Patrick walks you through each song on the accompanying DVD.​

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Songs For Sunday also includes basic frailing banjo instruction, companion bible verses and a stories about the origins of the songs.​

Song List:
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12. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
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22. Holy Holy Holy
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95 pages spiral-bound
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