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While I'm asking does anyone have recommendations for a good thumbpick? I have a pretty standard on in medium and it is to drat small but I can't find a large at the store for whatever reason. I had someone recommend bridge brand picks?
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Jan 28, 2015 21:27
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ZeusCannon posted:While I'm asking does anyone have recommendations for a good thumbpick? I have a pretty standard on in medium and it is to drat small but I can't find a large at the store for whatever reason. I had someone recommend bridge brand picks? http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik-metal-plastic-thumb-pick/ These are so nice, the metal stays put without clamping down and turning my thumb purple. I actually use the thumb flat, I just like the shape better. I use it for banjo, guitar and electric guitar and it's awesome for all of them Hollis Brownsound fucked around with this message at 21:35 on Jan 28, 2015 |
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Jan 28, 2015 21:33
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I like Golden Gate picks better than Nationals. One of these days, Ill splurge and get a Blue Chip pick. Look them up. You can put your thumb picks in hot water briefly, then shape them to your thumb a bit better. Earl says score the insides of them so they stick to your thumb better.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:25
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Slimchandi posted:Spoiler: they were amazing! Awesome! I hope they make it out here Heading to my first jam in a long while tomorrow. I expect I will know about 3 songs since jams seem to really vary regionally in preferences e. as expected, I knew few of the songs (very different preferences to those in the jams I have attended in California here in Calgary), but I have many in my Dix Bruce Parking Lot Pickers volume and the melodies are pretty simple so its time for some intensive ear training! Then hit Niles' books to start building my ability to improvise over those. I can do this. Just have to keep going back! Bilirubin fucked around with this message at 17:02 on Jan 30, 2015 |
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Jan 29, 2015 04:49
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Kilometers Davis posted:Definitely take a look into old time clawhammer songs. There's a rich history of good slower songs with that meditative idea you mentioned. I love playing fast bluegrass and such but there's something really special about playing old songs and looking up their history. Banjo music is great for submerging yourself and getting a little taste of the past. It puts my mind in a nice place. Agreed. The clawhammer banjo on the tune Riding off into the Sunset here is just amazing. Sadly I can only find that snippet but you can get the while tune on iTunes I think.
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Jan 29, 2015 04:58
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I really have to try and learn clawhammer. But I'm still working on not sucking horribly at picking. Keeping the streak of dumb questions alive is there a reason my banjo might have 21 frets instead of 22? It just seems strange and my teacher doesn't have an answer beyond "why not have 21" Which is fine it is just an oddity I keep noticing and every source quotes either 19 frets or 22 as the standards. Tldr I am troubled by my lack of frets Edit: Also I am picking up one of those propiks as early as I can looks about 100% more comfortable ZeusCannon fucked around with this message at 19:49 on Jan 30, 2015 |
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Jan 30, 2015 17:34
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Man I would be happy if my banjo only had 12 frets, I almost never go above the 12th one Speaking of that, do you guys have thoughts on popping out frets and scooping out the neck? I have a pretty cheap banjo, for what it's worth. Almost exclusively play clawhammer. I just can't drone on the high string over the neck, I always end up banging my thumb against the neck, and I'd like to be able to play over the neck cuz it sounds cool
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Jan 31, 2015 10:32
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Who can tell me things about Irish banjo? My guitar playing has been more and more focused on traditional, and I was about to buy one of those 6 string banjo-tuned-like-a-guitar things but my friend gave me his old 5 string that's been sitting around since he got his new nicer Fender a few years ago. I don't know how much variation there is, I've seen GDGBD for 5 string but I've read GDAE is the way to go for Irish stuff, what of the 5th string then? Dubliners style will be my main focus, but more Luke and less Barney, I'll be singing along.
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Feb 20, 2015 00:52
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codo27 posted:Who can tell me things about Irish banjo? My guitar playing has been more and more focused on traditional, and I was about to buy one of those 6 string banjo-tuned-like-a-guitar things but my friend gave me his old 5 string that's been sitting around since he got his new nicer Fender a few years ago. I don't know how much variation there is, I've seen GDGBD for 5 string but I've read GDAE is the way to go for Irish stuff, what of the 5th string then? Dubliners style will be my main focus, but more Luke and less Barney, I'll be singing along. Look up Enda Scahill. He is an awesome player and has great instructional material. Technique is a bit more like mando but if you are comfortable with a plectrum that is a good start. Luke Kelly played a lot of clawhammer I believe, so that would better suit a five string if that is your aim.
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Feb 20, 2015 03:14
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PoorPeteBest posted:Look up Enda Scahill. He is an awesome player and has great instructional material. Technique is a bit more like mando but if you are comfortable with a plectrum that is a good start. Luke Kelly played a lot of clawhammer I believe, so that would better suit a five string if that is your aim. I don't have an Irish tenor banjo, but I have Enda Scahill's "Irish Banjo Tutor" book and CD - it was a gift from an Irish tenor player. Just a note on this text, it doesn't have tablature. Rather, it has musical notation, but the names of the notes are just above the notes on the staff. Since the mandolin and tenor banjo are tuned the same, I use it to teach myself Irish mandolin. codo 27 posted:
I think you made the right choice. Does it have a resonator or no? You can play either style (Scruggs or Clawhammer) on an open back 5 or a resonator 5. I've never tried tuning a 5 string banjo to GDAE (low --> high) like a tenor banjo is tuned. Since the neck is shorter on a tenor, you're probably not going to want to get the strings on your 5 to the same tension as on a tenor. If you want to tune the 4 strings like a tenor, tune them at a lower octave and mess around with it. May not be a bad idea to get it looked at and set up, depending on what kind it is. Definitely put new strings on it and make sure the head is the right tension. Luke Kelly did play a lot of clawhammer, and you can learn Dubliners style tunes on the 5 string, but you aren't going to get a true Irish tenor banjo sound out of a 5 string. With that said, just have fun and learn some tunes and don't let it stop you. I play "Dirty Old Town" on my 5 string resonator Pogues style and mess around with "Maids when you're young" and "Nancy Whisky" by The Dubliners. Great band, great songs. Look at this clip, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5StzrUgmBc Luke is playing rhythm on the 5 string, but the guy next to him is playing lead lines on a 4 string tenor.
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Feb 21, 2015 00:54
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I already sing Maids When You're Young in our band, but with guitar. We have one guy who plays everything he ever picked up, and a whole bunch of guitar players. I'm looking to add another dimension, at least I can accompany on banjo when he is playing guitar. I finger pick mostly now, so maybe I'm better off getting a tenor later on It has a resonator.
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Feb 23, 2015 22:42
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Then a 5 string sounds like a nice addition to your ensemble. You can always play lead lines on the 5 string too.
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Feb 24, 2015 00:20
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Anybody have any suggestions for adapting heavier music to 5-string clawhammer style? Jim Arkus does an outstanding job ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lvKZZB_Ss ), but most others I've seen either lose the feel of the song, or wind up playing the same way they would a guitar and lose the feel of the banjo. I mostly play "old-time", but I'm looking to expand a little. I recently picked up a electric banjo (and restrung the low-E of an electric guitar with high-G), and it's not being used to its potential.
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Feb 25, 2015 02:05
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    I want to share with you guys the banjo I got this weekend. I found it locally on craigslist from a film editor in LA who was clearing out his studio in preparation for a move. In the ad he said he thought it came from a gibson made sometime in the early 60's but the diamond cutouts on the flange and the serial number I had him check were clear indicators for a TB-1 style 1 banjo from 1927. Somewhere in its lifetime a previous owner converted it from a tenor to a five string and had a mock gibson neck (with no truss rod) bolted to it. These weren't mastertone models and so this one is missing the tone ring and has a brass hoop instead. The tailpiece has been swapped out with something no-name. I got it for an amazing price. The owner said he bought it from a preacher in the 80's that was using it for his church band, and after that it just sat in his closet collecting dust. I'm calling it the blessed one. I'm torn about what I should do with it. I could get a tone ring and have a luthier do the full conversion to a poor-man's prewar mastertone, or I could keep it as is for its really mellow sound. F hole fucked around with this message at 07:30 on Feb 25, 2015 |
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Feb 25, 2015 07:06
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I've never seen a 5th string capo like that. It look like overkill.
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Feb 25, 2015 14:28
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red_dirt posted:I've never seen a 5th string capo like that. It look like overkill. It's a Vega-Pitman sliding Capo, Probably from the 60's or 70's Here's a better view of it:  It sounds good and although it's just held on with the spring tension of the wire it doesn't feel flimsy at all. I still haven't made up my mind about it. Since the neck is a knockoff I have no qualms about ripping it out and putting in spikes instead. I play melodically with a lot of thumb and although it's thin enough that I can reach over the metal beam, it still feels like its getting in the way. F hole fucked around with this message at 01:12 on Feb 26, 2015 |
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Feb 26, 2015 00:22
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Do you install your own spikes? I've been unwilling to try it myself, though I hear it's easy. I rarely play with a capo though.
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Feb 26, 2015 01:59
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I would never mess around with that myself unless I had a beater banjo I could try it with first. The price of getting spikes put in is anywhere between 15 to 40 dollars, which compared to the price of a decent banjo is nothing. IMO it's absolutely worth the cost of having a pro doing it, although those who have successfully done it themselves would surely disagree.
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Feb 26, 2015 02:50
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F hole posted:I would never mess around with that myself unless I had a beater banjo I could try it with first. I found it very painless. Make a starter hole with a dremel and a very small drill bit and then gently pound the spike in to the appropriate height. No chipping or other damage.
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Feb 26, 2015 17:35
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red_dirt posted:Anybody have any suggestions for adapting heavier music to 5-string clawhammer style? Jim Arkus does an outstanding job, but most others I've seen either lose the feel of the song, or wind up playing the same way they would a guitar and lose the feel of the banjo. I mostly play "old-time", but I'm looking to expand a little. I recently picked up a electric banjo (and restrung the low-E of an electric guitar with high-G), and it's not being used to its potential. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbDoGifpF2o
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Feb 27, 2015 17:03
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Anyone ever dealt with Elderly Instruments? Trying to pick up a tuning wrench but never dealt with them before. Edit: vvvvv Thanks! ZeusCannon fucked around with this message at 23:03 on Mar 2, 2015 |
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Mar 2, 2015 20:52
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I have ordered books to the UK and they have excellent service for me.
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Mar 2, 2015 21:19
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I've not dealt with Elderly personally, but anecdotes from friends who have are overwhelmingly positive.
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Mar 3, 2015 00:10
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I love Elderly, I've always had great service. Just a heads up, you can use small automotive wrenches for tightening your banjo head. 1/4", 5/16", and 9/32" should cover just about everything and these are readily available at just about any hardware store
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Mar 4, 2015 21:26
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Well poo poo. Haha oh well I picked up a three way to leave in my banjo bag. No real loss but I will def remember that in the future.
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Mar 4, 2015 22:16
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My fretting hand isn't where I want it to be. I feel like I've gotten past true beginner problems with reach and positioning, but my accuracy is still off. A hammer on will land on the wrong fret, or I won't hit a string cleanly and it will mute the note. Worse, I feel like I'm not getting any better by practicing songs. Are there fingering exercises I can do to work on accuracy? Or do I just need to slow down. It's always a matter of slowing down...
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Mar 18, 2015 03:14
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Make sure you are fretting in the right place, just behind the fret, close to it - if you don't do this, you may get muted notes. That may help. I was told recently that I need to improve on this as well, as if you fret just behind the fret it lessens the need for a lot of pressure and accuracy and note clarity could improve a bit just by doing that. Yes, slow down. What are you trying to play? Maybe try practicing a new song to mix it up.
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Mar 18, 2015 03:31
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Planet X posted:Make sure you are fretting in the right place, just behind the fret, close to it - if you don't do this, you may get muted notes. That may help. I was told recently that I need to improve on this as well, as if you fret just behind the fret it lessens the need for a lot of pressure and accuracy and note clarity could improve a bit just by doing that. I've got a book of fiddle songs that I'm trying to learn. I've got about four memorized. Whenever I get bored with whatever I'm trying to learn, I just start playing the songs I already know. Invariably I gently caress up a note or two here and there, usually not the same thing. I can't pinpoint any particular problem, just that it's not good enough.
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Mar 18, 2015 03:48
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ZeusCannon posted:Anyone ever dealt with Elderly Instruments? Trying to pick up a tuning wrench but never dealt with them before. Nicest most decent people in the world, I love dealing with them. I also managed to catch a late night special/infomercial thing about the shop and it made me love them even more. They seem to genuinely love what they do.
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Mar 18, 2015 07:46
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I play mandolin, bass and a little guitar as well. I was given a clawhammer banjo which I was wicked excited about, but it's been a challenge to learn. I can't afford private lessons so I've been teaching myself. I was curious does anyone know what the best video series is to learn the clawhammer? I can spend a little bit of money on video-lessons because I really want to learn this instrument, but the few youtube tutorials I've looked up haven't been much use.
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Mar 19, 2015 17:19
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Rocket science banjo has a huge run of clawhammer instructional videos that might be useful. Clawhammer's been on my list of things to learn for a long time but I've never gotten to it.
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Mar 20, 2015 06:56
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Pantomime Horse posted:Rocket science banjo has a huge run of clawhammer instructional videos that might be useful. Clawhammer's been on my list of things to learn for a long time but I've never gotten to it. I will definitely check this one out, thank you! Clawhammer banjo is a blast to play but very difficult to learn. I know a tiny bit so that I can play a little at the end of the day and have a great time with it, but it's very slow learning to get the basic technique of the "claw" hand.
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Mar 20, 2015 16:10
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It been posted before, but Mike Iverson's site is great (http://www.bluesageband.com/Tabs.html). His sound is what switched me over to clawhammer, and I like his tablature.
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Mar 29, 2015 20:45
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red_dirt posted:It been posted before, but Mike Iverson's site is great (http://www.bluesageband.com/Tabs.html). His sound is what switched me over to clawhammer, and I like his tablature. Originally I got the uke just to have something to do (never played a string instrument before) but found Aaron Keim's clawhammer videos and got his book. Once I got the basic strum down a bit there was really no turning back to playing it any other way. Unfortunately the amount of uke clawhammer content out there seemed a bit lacking it was clear I should just get a banjo. I never wanted to just abandon ukulele, but the little kala barely makes any sound and my hands are a touch big for a soprano. Deering just put out their banjo-ukulele and I think I'm going to have to get one of these. It looks pretty amazing. http://www.deeringbanjos.com/pages/new-goodtime-banjo-ukulele
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Mar 30, 2015 13:14
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ZeusCannon posted:Anyone ever dealt with Elderly Instruments? Trying to pick up a tuning wrench but never dealt with them before. Elderly is the best
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Apr 2, 2015 03:47
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Kobayashi posted:I've got a book of fiddle songs that I'm trying to learn. I've got about four memorized. Whenever I get bored with whatever I'm trying to learn, I just start playing the songs I already know. Invariably I gently caress up a note or two here and there, usually not the same thing. I can't pinpoint any particular problem, just that it's not good enough. Do you practice with a metronome? Flubbing a note is a common thing, but keeping the song going is key--your little ticking friend will keep you honest on that
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Apr 2, 2015 05:00
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Is that Deering Uke a new thing or an old thing? I haven't been able to find any for sale. I just picked up a Deering Terry Baucom. It's going to make me play better right?
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Apr 4, 2015 20:58
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red_dirt posted:Is that Deering Uke a new thing or an old thing? I haven't been able to find any for sale.
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Apr 6, 2015 16:06
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red_dirt posted:I just picked up a Deering Terry Baucom. It's going to make me play better right? Nice. Post pics or a video of you playing? What about that model was appealing?
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Apr 6, 2015 16:41
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Local dealer carries Deering and Stelling (both well below Elderly prices). I preferred the sound of the Deerings in general and it came down to a choice between the Baucom and the Hartford (both higher end than I had planned on). I liked the look and feel of the Hartford (satin finish and much lighter), but the Baucom had a very slightly better sound to my poor ear. Honestly though, I still prefer the sound of my 40 year old aluminum body ODE. I don't have any audio yet. http://imgur.com/Nw35U5W
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Apr 7, 2015 01:27
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