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The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > No Music Discussion > Musician's Lounge > Banjo, Bluegrass
 
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Colonel J
Jan 3, 2008
 Looking at getting a banjo; I know Rondo are pretty liked here for their guitars, do you guys have an opinion on their banjos?

* # ¿ Dec 22, 2017 18:30
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# ¿ Apr 29, 2024 00:24
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Colonel J
Jan 3, 2008

Blade_of_tyshalle posted:

I'm just a beginning banjoist, only been playing since March at the earliest. I've got a bunch of books, including Scruggs and the 5-string, and I'm picking along doing my thing, having a great time. I live in the rear end-end of Quebec, and the nearest banjo teacher is like a six-hour drive away, so in-person lessons are out of the question.

I can only progress so far on my own, I think, so I'm curious about any advice on how to get better other than just drilling at my song books everyday. I know buying tchotchkies isn't it, anyway.

Christ, I can't wait til I can sit on my back stoop in the evening and fart my way through some songs. It's goddamn -25C here right now.

Also, are mutes actually worth it? This thing is loud, and it makes me hesitant to really go nuts.

If you're in Abitibi I can recommend a great player, not sure he teaches formally but surely you can jam along and get some tricks.

* # ¿ Dec 30, 2017 06:14
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Colonel J
Jan 3, 2008
 I've coincidentally been learning clawhammer - as I understand it, there are 2 motions :
1) hitting with one finger
2) brushing all the strings + pulling off with the thumb.

Should my thumb come to rest on the smallest string for both motions, or is it fine if it just comes down for the second one? As a guitar player I'm more used to keeping it in the air for motion #1, but I'm wondering if it's a bah habit that'll bite back later.

* # ¿ Jul 10, 2018 18:26
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Colonel J
Jan 3, 2008

quadrophrenic posted:

floating your thumb makes it easier to drop thumb, which you will do a lot of when you inevitably get bored of bum ditty

i don't have my banjo with me atm so I can't check how I do it, but I'm 99% sure I keep my thumb floating for all motions except sounding the fifth string, but again I hardly ever play bum ditty these days so :shrug:

Thanks for the answer, I'll keep doing what I'm doing then. Banjo is amazing, it's like easy mode, better sounding guitar for me so far. I really like the reactions people have when I take out the banjo and just start doing random poo poo, kids in particular get very impressed.

In other news, I'm looking at mandolins on kijiji. For 100$ should I get :

- an Epiphone mandolin : https://www.kijiji.ca/v-amplificateur-pedale/ville-de-montreal/mandoline-epiphone-pedales-overdrives-boss-bd-2-t-rex-et-ehx/1367228362 )

- or this Alabama : https://kijiji.ca/v-instrument-a-corde/ville-de-montreal/mandoline-alabama/1362257403

or there won't be much of a difference anyway at this price level?

* # ¿ Jul 13, 2018 21:03
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The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > No Music Discussion > Musician's Lounge > Banjo, Bluegrass