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Nylguts/nylons just seem to last forever, compared to steel. Not that I change my steel strings very often either.
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Jun 28, 2020 19:42
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excellent bird guy posted:Generic piece of poo poo. I guess its fine if you want to bluegrass and you have $200. Yeah I know the type, that's pretty much every banjo I've gotten my hands on without going out of my way. Probably going to pass up this chance to get into banjo. I play pedal steel and mandolin passably, 6 string guitar is my main instrument. Would like to add banjo to the mix and be that crazy guy in the country band surrounded by instruments that I frantically switch to between songs
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Jun 28, 2020 23:28
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There was a Uke at work today, I played clawhammer on it. I do lots of dropthumb on the *bum* part of bumditty, to chop up the beat and make the rhythm funky. People aren't use to hearing stuff like that. I kind of want a Uke now to use for banjo tricks. Did I mention I play guitar like a banjo now? Not so much claw, but using 3 fingers. I played guitar for 20 years but in the last 8 or 9 banjo is the big moment that made me feel what its like to get really into the groove. The loving groove man, that's what it's all about.
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Jul 1, 2020 12:59
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Hello thread, I'm considering buying a banjo. I'm a total newbie to either banjos or any guitar-ish instruments. I am looking at the Goodtime banjos, and debating between the base model or the Goodtime Americana. I'm more interested in the frailing and two finger styles (if those are even the right words), but I also want to try Scruggs style. I'm leaning towards the Americana. Is there any reason that would be a bad idea, other than I'm new to this and maybe shouldn't splurge any extra money?
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Jul 27, 2020 17:05
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The Americana has a slightly different sound but all Goodtimes fundamentally sound like Goodtimes. It's been a while since I heard one but I recall the Americana not having so much of the overly bright tone that Goodtimes tend to have.
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Jul 27, 2020 18:49
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abrosheen posted:Hello thread, I'm considering buying a banjo. I'm a total newbie to either banjos or any guitar-ish instruments. I am looking at the Goodtime banjos, and debating between the base model or the Goodtime Americana. I'm more interested in the frailing and two finger styles (if those are even the right words), but I also want to try Scruggs style. I'm leaning towards the Americana. Is there any reason that would be a bad idea, other than I'm new to this and maybe shouldn't splurge any extra money? I briefly owned the goodtime until I traded it in for a goodtime 2 when I realized I wanted to focus more on scruggs style. I really liked it though and would recommend. Havent tried an Americana but I've heard good things. I ended up later buying a Recording King RK-OT25 for clawhammer which is the same level and price point and its been my main banjo for the past few months. Might be worth looking at. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DyHZegBQXI
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Jul 28, 2020 05:19
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Thank you both for the replies! I have actually seen and enjoyed that video, but didn't realize he was playing a potential beginner banjo. Reading more about it I like the Recording King option. I found another video of that guy playing the same banjo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCOAtDqpCrc I found this site that offers free setup, shipping, and case, and alleges the possibility of lower prices if you call: https://www.banjoteacher.com/banjos-for-sale/open-back-banjos/recording-king-banjo-madison-rk-ot25.html Any thoughts on that site, or do you guys have any recommendations on where to buy online? I'm trying to avoid going into a store.
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Jul 28, 2020 14:52
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I've heard of loads of people being really happy with the Goldtones and RKs in the Goodtime price bracket. Honestly I really wasn't fond of my Goodtime at all, I don't think they're bad banjos but they have a distinctive sound and there's definitely instruments with more features for the money. Can't comment on that seller sadly cos I'm UK based. e; also the blonde goodtimes are not handsome instruments.
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Jul 28, 2020 19:04
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The RK also has the scooped neck which is really nice if clawhammer is your way to go. I also play scruggs on it with a mute (mainly to not bug roommates in quarantine) and its perfect. Edit: Also tha guy's youtube is absolutely worth checking out for learning. He has a video to teach the song in the video you posted and he has a short how to on clawhammer as well thats useful. He's better for learning scruggs but his clawhammer stuff isnt bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2RVFb3wXs&t=3s Eegah! fucked around with this message at 21:25 on Jul 28, 2020 |
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Jul 28, 2020 21:15
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Does anybody study music theory on a banjo? That would be insane. It's the ultimate wiggle your fingers around and beautiful music comes out instrument. Banjo: Get to know the first 5 frets really well before getting fancy up on the neck.
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Jul 29, 2020 01:20
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I just got an OME Single X. It’s been sitting in its case since the 70s. It needs some minor restoration. Anyone have a suggestion for cleaning off some fairly heavy oxidation on the frets?
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Aug 4, 2020 20:34
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excellent bird guy posted:Does anybody study music theory on a banjo? That would be insane. It's the ultimate wiggle your fingers around and beautiful music comes out instrument. Someone I took lessons from told me that Bela Fleck at some point learned all seven modes of the major scale in all keys on the banjo. That's quite an accomplishment. I have a hard enough time retraining my fingers to do melodic stuff
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Aug 4, 2020 21:27
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Planet X posted:Someone I took lessons from told me that Bela Fleck at some point learned all seven modes of the major scale in all keys on the banjo. That's quite an accomplishment. I have a hard enough time retraining my fingers to do melodic stuff I was watching a workshop of his the other day and he showed it off like it was nothing. I love him so much.
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Aug 6, 2020 00:47
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I believe it. Bela Fleck is like the banjo player from outer space.
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Aug 12, 2020 08:36
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excellent bird guy posted:I believe it. Bela Fleck is like the banjo player from outer space. Flight of the Cosmic Bela
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Aug 13, 2020 19:10
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I bought the Recording King RK-OT25, and I guess I've learned how to bum-diddy. I still need a lot of work to always hit the string I'm aiming at, or occasionally any string. The nice thing is YouTube has numerous videos teaching you how to bum-diddy. But I need some super basic help on the left hand, and I haven't found a great video for that yet. Do you guys have any suggestions on a resource for just figuring out how the hell to even just position my left hand and hit the right strings with my fingers? I feel like I need help for basic fingering for notes and chords just as much as the more complicated stuff. It seems like every way I hold the neck, either pressing a finger down rests it against an adjacent string, or the meat of the palm of my hand sneaks into contact with the first string. Also, for pull-offs, the videos I watched at first suggested pushing up with your finger off the string. I seem to not be able to do that, but I can pull down from the string. Any thoughts on which way is better? I figured out the right hand pattern for cripple creek and I'm mostly just practicing that right now, then trying to throw in some of the left hand stuff when I get bored, but it's rough.
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Aug 22, 2020 21:20
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For your left hand practice is everything. Try to keep your palm away from the 1st string and practice you chord shapes and cleanly fretting until its instinct. Try to fret with the very ends of your fingers not with the pad. You want to be maybe 5mm tops from the end of you fingernail - if I don't keep my nails short they actually hit the fretboard as I fret strings. For pull offs do whatever is comfortable, I almost always pull down, some people almost always push up.
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Aug 22, 2020 21:46
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I see what you mean about the fingernails, mine were long enough to keep me from pressing the ends of my fingers down. Thanks for the tips!
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Aug 23, 2020 15:02
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If I can say one thing about spending 10 years on and off noodling on my banjo, it makes learning all other stringed instruments seem easy. I started mandolin 3 weeks ago I think I'm already more proficient.
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Aug 23, 2020 16:31
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abrosheen posted:I bought the Recording King RK-OT25, and I guess I've learned how to bum-diddy. I still need a lot of work to always hit the string I'm aiming at, or occasionally any string. The nice thing is YouTube has numerous videos teaching you how to bum-diddy. I recommend Tom Collins on YouTube. He has a big series with tons of exercises to practice hitting strings you want to hit. He even started a new one that goes to the most basic of things like how to hold the banjo. https://youtu.be/ttPgCTXuqzg https://youtu.be/5mJgdatcfSI
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Aug 25, 2020 01:39
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Thank you, I think those videos are going to be very helpful. I wasn't aware of them.
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Aug 25, 2020 01:59
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abrosheen posted:Thank you, I think those videos are going to be very helpful. I wasn't aware of them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nGBjroCv-4 David Holt is extremely legit, has done a ton for the old time country music scene and culture, worked very close with Doc Watson. Suggesting to listen to everything he says and try to follow his instruction, and you'll go in a good direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8A9YH_GAko Mike Seeger has an instructional DVD somewhere if you can find it online somewhere, I don't think it's for beginners though. Good education to know what you can do. I learned how to play Roustabout from his dvd. You can pick up some really cool tricks. His version of Darling Cora too, I learned from him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klDf4Kl_jjA It would be badass if someone's first Banjo was a gourd. I don't have one but I know Jeff Menzies is down in Jamaica living the dream and making banjos from beach wood and whatever local materials. As you can see the banjo Bosco is playing there is a gourd, but it's a huuuge one made by an older banjo maker (Thournburg) that I believe is retired. excellent bird guy fucked around with this message at 12:23 on Aug 25, 2020 |
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Aug 25, 2020 12:14
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https://soundcloud.com/thabirdg/roustabout here is some shameless self promotion while I'm at it, playing a tackhead  warning i am singing tha blues
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Aug 25, 2020 16:39
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUgHEZeIIiw yea thats me ^. I just can't help myself
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Nov 24, 2020 12:00
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuV1JyEnTmE this is genuinely one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. lost a hand attempting to play it
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Dec 20, 2020 07:33
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I've been playing banjo and fiddle again for the first time in like a few years and it's nice. It's amazing how good the muscle memory is with clawhammer and how incredibly terrible it is with 3-finger, lol.
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Feb 16, 2021 00:50
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V41dO_CSXUU the way this dude flips the banjo while keeping time is the most insane thing I have ever seen.
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Feb 24, 2021 04:14
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Thanks I have something to show my waaaf next time she has trepidation’s about moving to Knoxville E I have been practicing claw hammer a lot and making up songs using it but what are some easy tunes to practice with? A MIRACLE fucked around with this message at 04:43 on Feb 24, 2021 |
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Feb 24, 2021 04:32
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The Sheriff Jake posted:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V41dO_CSXUU There’s gotta be someone else playing, right? That’s insane
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Feb 24, 2021 04:55
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The Sheriff Jake posted:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V41dO_CSXUU Leroy Troy is fantastic. E: I think he pulls out all his tricks in grandfather’s clock: https://youtu.be/uxKXhuyZ4t0 I really love Wade Mainer’s 2 finger style and he does some banjo tricks too starting around 5:30 https://youtu.be/mImNTqSOLrI I Kaiser Schnitzel fucked around with this message at 05:10 on Feb 24, 2021 |
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Feb 24, 2021 05:02
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Hatedad posted:There’s gotta be someone else playing, right? That’s insane It’s audio tricks, you can hear strumming while his right hand is nowhere near the strings.
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Feb 24, 2021 05:58
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He strums with his left hand as he pulls off the strings. It seems rather doable, but I don't know what mind would think to do it. It's like grandmaster of the banjo parade level.
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Feb 24, 2021 07:30
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lol Leroy Troy. He's such a goofball, he's been doing the same tricks for 30 years. He's impersonating Uncle Dave Macon you know. See the tricks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicjw5n92qQ&t=52s
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Feb 24, 2021 07:34
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withak posted:It’s audio tricks, you can hear strumming while his right hand is nowhere near the strings. It’s great old vaudeville/medicine show stuff.
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Feb 24, 2021 13:58
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Isn't a lot of that trick stuff rooted in the minstrel shows?
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Feb 24, 2021 14:19
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Kaiser Schnitzel posted:It’s not editing trickery or anything-it really works. I used to be be able to do about half his ‘grandfather’s clock’ tricks and if you strum hard enough there is enough sustain to keep to sound going. He’s also strumming up at the top of the neck with his left hand too. lol they thought that was an audio trick so he must be pretty good at it. No, that's not even hard to do, you just do a pull off. 50% of banjo playing is hammer ons and pull offs anyway, that's how you get that rolling syncopated sound. I do it when I play Darlin COra
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Feb 24, 2021 16:58
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I thought he was doing it with his left hand way up on the neck at first, but it doesn't sound any different from when he is playing over the head. It's actual strumming, not hammer/pull.
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Feb 24, 2021 17:12
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You could pull the string off to sound an open string, That's what everyone else does. I don't really care about Leroy Troy so not feeling like inspecting him too closely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_G0vVo7zBU See Mike Seeger, on the bumpa-ditty bumpa-ditty part, the PA is from an open string pull off. See about 40 seconds in, his ring finger is pulling off to give it that extra beat. That's not a great video, if you can find the DVD he made, it's great. Lot's of knowledge in it Cheese Thief fucked around with this message at 18:02 on Feb 24, 2021 |
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Feb 24, 2021 17:56
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Watching back that video in higher definition and in slow motion, it definitely looks real. Wild. Off topic but does anyone else seem to get their best practice in when they’re sitting on the can?
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Feb 25, 2021 03:44
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No I have these that I haven't looked at in awhile. You get to transcriptions of the classic tunes. The traditional way and the 'modern' dan levenson way. Really useful tools. I learned by taking the mp3 files that come with it from the site and slowing it way way down in Ableton live, so it keeps its pitch. Then playing along while gradually bringing up to speed.
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Feb 25, 2021 19:21
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