So I Got A Banjo...

[God's Fighter]

I've wanted to play the banjo long before I ever got a guitar. I recently came into possession of my father in law's banjo from 1975. I don't know anything about the banjo itself, but I was curious if anyone could recommend some learning material, books or youtube, whichever you found useful.

 

[lightninboy]

Well, I guess if you're good at the guitar you'll be good at the banjo and if you aren't good at the guitar you probably won't be good at the banjo either.

 

[God's Fighter]

That did not help, nor was that what I was asking...

 

[Christownsme]

I started banjo at age 7. Dad bought me an Iida 5 string. I think when I was 12 dad got me an Epiphone Masterbuilt, a much better banjo. I started getting into contests and between the ages of 14 and current age of 41, I've won the IL State Competition about 8 times.

God knew that if he didn't give me a gift in music I'd go crazy mentally! But anyway, I also enjoy recording and mixing in Pro Tools. I play in two bands right now and one of them just got done recording a gospel CD called "Love of the Father."

 

[Bob Carabbio]

I've wanted to play the banjo long before I ever got a guitar. I recently came into possession of my father in law's banjo from 1975.

Congrats - I started out on guitar (12-string), but always employed a "Fingerpicking style", and never really learned to use a pick. That proved to be a significant help in learning banjo.

WHat I've noticed is that SOME "Flat pickers" seem to have a serious problem trying to use finger picks, and move their fingers in sequential fashion. If you don't you're halfway home already.

The Finger picks will DRIVE YOU UP A WALL for the first month, but then you stop feeling them and they just are "NAtural".

I twist the end on my thumb pick (using a hair dryer until the tip softens and you can deform it) so that it meets the 5th string FLAT instead of scraping on the edge of the pick. makes for a cleaner sound.

Earl Scruggs has a good Banjo book with a learning CD published by Peer International.http://www.amazon.com/Earl-Scruggs-5-String-Banjo-Enhanced/dp/0634060430

Tony Trishka has a book "Bluegrass Banjo" published by Oak that I started out with back in the day, http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yoursel...8&qid=1361426423&sr=1-3&keywords=tony+trishka

There's a bunch of learning stuff on YouTube (just put in "Banjo" and a bunch of stuff will pop up) but I THINK it's good to at least START with a book (as noted above) of tablature to get the right fingers (left and right hands) in the right places to begin with.

"Cripple Creek" will probably be the First piece, then Foggy Mountain breakdown, Earle's Breakdown, and "Reuben's train" in "D" tuning.
Dear Old Dixie by the Cedar Junction Bluegrass Band. - YouTube

and if you like "Frailing/Clawhammer style" (Grandpa Jones) - then Pete Seegar has a book that'll get you started.http://www.amazon.com/5-String-Banjo-Music-Sales-America/dp/1597731641/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_4_C10W
Rabbit in the Log by the Cedar Junction Bluegrass Band - YouTube

I use a Gibson "Earl Scruggs" model Mastertone, and an old Bakelite Body "Harmony" banjo in performances. What do you have?

 

[ibelongtothelord]

I would love to learn the fiddle!

 

[HallelujahGlory]

Learn Foggy Mountain Breakdown when you get the chance. I love playing it on the banjo.

 

[Clickster]

Gotta love the sound of a Banjo.

Good Luck!

 

[Dave53]

There's probably a lot of good videos on youtube for beginner banjo. I play guitar and also have a 6-string banjo. I've played in a lot of bands and have tried my hand at the 5-string banjo but could never get good at fingerpicking. I got the 6-string banjo to get that little bit of a banjo sound in some of the songs we do but it's not the same as a 5-string banjo. Hope ya do better at it then I did.

 

[coventrytrey]

learn to roll properly. So many banjos in music today where the people can't actually play the banjo. Have fun with it.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

I would love to learn the fiddle!

It is a nice instrument.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

I have an old banjo as well, it needs the snare part and a set of strings. I have thought about getting it fixed and learning a few songs on it. I noticed that youtube has more lessons for banjo which teach the specific songs that i love, rather than guitar lessons on those same songs. The comedian Steve Martin is a huge banjo fan, he plays it and performs with it too.

 

[Bingo Q Flamingo]

I also recently got my hands on a banjo, but I have to admit I just can't get the hang of it. I'm thinking about re-tuning it to play it more like a guitar, if that's even possible.