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Mulloy posted:So because I mentioned I liked Steve Martin's banjo playing my in-laws ended up giving me a banjo they've had forever and don't use. Is there a "Here is how to do the very basic things on a banjo" that is recommended? I can poke around on youtube, but I have no clue how to tell good vs bad instruction and don't want to shell out for lessons without having any idea if I'd even enjoy actually playing. I have played other instruments in my past (Woodwind and brass), and only really screw around with digital music now, so I can read music I've just never played strings. I literally just bought a banjo last week, so take this with a heavy grain of salt, but I've been thoroughly enjoying Jim Pankey's lessons on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XswGppdJs_c Coming from a guitar background, it seems to be excellent instruction of breaking stuff down and emphasizing slow practice and building up from there. I also bought Banjo for the Ignoramus on Amazon, because I liked the sample tabs and that it's spiral bound: https://www.amazon.com/Bluegrass-Banjo-Complete-Ignoramus-Book/dp/1883206448 I don't know if that's any good, but it's got decent reviews so I guess we'll see. Here's a picture of my shiny new banjo!
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# ¿ Jan 29, 2018 02:03 |
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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 22:25 |
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Mulloy posted:Thanks! I'll work through those and see where I end up. Also that looks like a sweet setup. Thanks! It's my happy corner I just finished building the shelves and wiring in and installing the lights, switches, and ceiling fan... I just need to finish staining the shelves. I think the key for stringed instruments is absolutely just spending time everyday and gritting through the initial suck. Can anyone recommend me a favorite set of finger picks? I like the metal Dunlop ones, but the thumb pick sucks because it's not flat so it sometimes catches when I pull up after a pick.. The plastic thumb pick I've been using is a lot better, but I think I'd like to try one a bit shorter and I just don't seem to see much variety on Amazon. Catatron Prime fucked around with this message at 17:39 on Jan 31, 2018 |
# ¿ Jan 31, 2018 17:28 |
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Can anyone recommend me a good banjo specific clip on tuner? I've been using my snark as well as a combination of my phone, but the snark doesn't do so well with reading the fifth string since it doesn't go up to the headstock. I figure there's got to be something better out there (besides tuning the strings against themselves).
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# ¿ Feb 13, 2018 14:48 |
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Pantomime Horse posted:You can get a special back for a Snark that clips onto the metal rim of the banjo, instead of the headstock. I’ve seen a bunch of these at jams and the neighborhood banjo players swear by them. This is awesome, thanks! Just bought that and one of the newer snark ST-8 tuners, which is supposed to have more granular tuning. I also bought a case last week for my Deering resonator banjo, the Silver Creek arch top case. The banjo seems to fit in ok, but the lid is fairly difficult to close, especially around the headstock and neck. Am I risking anything by putting this extra pressure on the top of the banjo? The other day I took it out in the case, but I think that caused the bridge to slide up, and now it's making some buzzing sounds, especially along the third string. I moved the bridge back down to where my center line pencil mark is, which seems to have helped, but I'm not convinced it's completely gone away. Are there any good online resources for troubleshooting that?
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# ¿ Feb 14, 2018 07:04 |
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Tias posted:Looking like a D'addario clip tuner myself, but is it any good compared to just tuning with a mic or by ear? I'm on a serious shoestring budget, so I'd rather not pay for anything but picks and strings if it isn't a good investment. So I bought the snark banjo tuner adapter, and go figure, it doesn't actually fit on my banjo, the rims are too far apart. That being said, the Snark Super Tuner I also picked up is working awesomely, even with the fifth string, so I don't really even need the adapter after all. If you're looking for a clip on banjo tuner, I'd just get the Snark ST-8 Super Tuner. It's 12$ from several third parties on Amazon, and doesn't have any problem tuning the fifth string since it also has mic input (which the basic snark struggles with since the string doesn't go up to the head stock).
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# ¿ Mar 8, 2018 17:09 |
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Tias posted:And it will fit a basic epihone 5-string model? It will, I assume, since it's clip on. I can't imagine it wouldn't, I use the same thing for all my guitars and have yet to find something it won't work with. Coohoolin posted:New demo recording from my folk punk band, we had some fun with it. Stripped down cover of Streams of Whiskey. This is great--I thoroughly enjoyed that!
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# ¿ Mar 20, 2018 14:55 |
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Blacknose posted:I bought a banjo today having never played any instrument in my life. I'm interested in learning clawhammer and planning on giving either the Clawhammer Banjo 8 Steps or Banjo Blitz video lessons a go (probably the former). Congrats man! What banjo did you get? I really enjoyed Jim Pankey's learn bluegrass banjo series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XswGppdJs_c I thought that was an excellent place to start, and taught me quite a bit! Please he's got plenty of other videos to keep going on other songs.
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# ¿ Apr 25, 2018 17:29 |
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Bought and built one of the backyard music banjo kits so I could have a lightweight banjo to take backpacking, and holy hell I love this thing so much, I actually play it way more than my Deering Goodtime Special! Also just discovered Jim Pankey has a series of videos for learning clawhammer/frailing style, so that's my next thing I want to work on learning E: fixed link Catatron Prime fucked around with this message at 23:17 on Jul 10, 2018 |
# ¿ Jul 10, 2018 17:55 |
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Colonel J posted: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. If you're interested in a mandolin, I'd sell you a fender with a custom electric output for 100 + shipping. PM me if you're interested
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# ¿ Jul 21, 2018 02:05 |
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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 22:25 |
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Blacknose posted:Did you go for the fireside or the basic kit? How was the build process and what's it like to play? I bought the fireside kit, but didn't know I had to purchase the arm rest separately, so I didn't get one till recently. Build process was pretty simple and straightforward, basically just sanding down the neck and the circular disc for the top, stained the neck with a several coats of Danish furniture oil over the course of a few days, and the disc with a few coats of water based poly. From there, you screw in the tuning pegs and tack in the nails to hold looped strings. If you have an auto center punch, it makes the process a lot simpler for dimpling the wood where you want the screws to go in. Also don't forget to put the brass tacks in for fret markers. After that, dry fit, sand, and glue! Let it set up for a day, and install the strings. Measure between the nut and the 12th fret, and that's the distance for where you place your bridge. I put my bridge on backwards at first, which caused buzzing on my first string, so I had to loosen my strings, flip my bridge around, and readjust. I also glued my nut in with titebond wood glue when I installed the strings, so I could make sure it was oriented straight. After several months of ownership, I will say that I freaking LOVE this thing! It sounds great, weighs drat near nothing, and is so much fun to just grab and play, I don't even touch my Deering Goodtime Special resonator hardly at all. Glad I have the Deering, but if I did everything over, I would have bought this thing first. I take it everywhere and don't give any fucks about the usual white glove instrument treatment. Protip -- for a strap, I used two small S biners and attached a shortened amsteel whoopie sling, which is perfect. Basically it's got two loops and tugging at one end or the other loosens/tightens it, and it locks once you put pressure on the knot. It took me several weeks of staring at the box before I got around to building mine for a bluegrass festival I was going to the next week. Overall though, it was an easy process... Just takes a little time to sand and stain. Again, can't recommend this thing highly enough, especially for how freaking cheap it is! E: If you want to, you could cut out the headstock and do so much more than I did, which would be a great reason to buy the kit vs a premade one. I had planned on stencilling and painting something into the top and cutting out the headstock a bit, but was in a crunch to get it built to take with me Duck Creek Log Jam, so I didn't. No regerts though Catatron Prime fucked around with this message at 21:15 on Jul 21, 2018 |
# ¿ Jul 21, 2018 21:09 |