bluegrassbrown - Posted - 05/05/2009:  14:15:58

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If the teacher I've got (banjo teachers are tough to find) knows how to pick but doesn't have a banjo. I've already committed my self to the first lesson of 3 ($60.00) At first I was going to cancel because a banjo teacher should have a banjo. I do have a 2nd. banjo but that's the one I was going to use to bring to lessons and leave my Deering at home.
So not to waste the introductory lesson how to understand playing in the Key of 'D' where I put the Capo on the 2nd. fret?
The people I jam with are a guitarist and a mandoline.
Any suggestions as far as what to learn from music teacher?
Thanks,
BGB

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Edited by - Banjoman on 05/05/2009 15:27:41

Banjov1 - Posted - 05/05/2009:  14:22:22

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Hmmmmm... I'd be a little skeptical of a banjo teacher w/o a banjo.

But if you want to give him/her a try, a lot of the things that helped me early on were technique related. See what kind of feedback you get about your right hand positioning. How does the arch in your wrist look? Is your hand playing at the right angle? Where are your finger(s) anchored? etc.

Just my opinion, but I think you can learn a lot of the basic rolls and theory from books and online resources. In my mind, I think it's really important for early players to get feedback on their playing. This inlcudes technique and maybe advice on your timing and attack.

I'd be wary if you're just given patterns and easy songs to go home and learn w/o any critique of your technique.

Tony

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Edited by - Banjov1 on 05/05/2009 14:29:12

bakerratliff - Posted - 05/05/2009:  15:17:09

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I agree, its kinda sketchy that your teacher does not have a banjo. How advanced is he? How long as he been playing and not been playing since he is minus an instrument. You can learn a bunch from the Janet Davis book or Earl Scruggs book. If I were you I would pay for one lesson and see where it goes before investing further.

Flying Eagle - Posted - 05/05/2009:  19:44:28

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Here's a suggestion - tell your "instructor" that, as a student, you require that he/she actually have an instrument to teach you with. Take your spare banjo and rent it to the "instructor"... for $20 a session. At that rate I suspect that you'll be getting your money's worth for the lessons.



I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

rollinalong - Posted - 05/05/2009:  20:02:49

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If the lessons don't work out, don't forget the Murphy Method and other DVD lessons that are available too.

Bill

The best you can do is the best you can do, and you can do anything if you want to bad enough." - Barry Abernathy, Mountain Heart

a Flat head
an Arch Top
and an Open back

Texasbanjo - Posted - 05/06/2009:  05:46:02

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I agree with everyone above: I wonder about a teacher who doesn't have a banjo. Unless it's in the shop, he's probably not much of a picker -- at least in my opinion.

Now, you asked about playing in D. You can do this several ways. You can play in D out of open G, using the D, G, A, chords. You can capo up 2 (capo the 5th up 2) and play out of the C chord: C, F, G.

If you're playing out of D using the D chords, you may or may not want to capo the 5th fret up 2, according to the song.

Does that help?

Let''s Pick!
Texas Banjo

Joe Larson - Posted - 05/06/2009:  07:27:09

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quote:

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Originally posted by Flying Eagle

Here's a suggestion - tell your "instructor" that, as a student, you require that he/she actually have an instrument to teach you with. Take your spare banjo and rent it to the "instructor"... for $20 a session. At that rate I suspect that you'll be getting your money's worth for the lessons.



I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

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I like that idea.

If he doesn't have a banjo, first of all how into banjo music can he be? One of the things a teacher does is inspire. The student should go home after each lesson thinking to himself 'man, I've GOT to learn to play like that'. How's he going to do that without a banjo?

I'd be really skeptical.

j

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user...&view=videos
I''d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

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Edited by - Joe Larson on 05/06/2009 07:28:10

KYSLOWFINGERS - Posted - 05/06/2009:  07:45:33

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I ran into a similar situation. Luckily, I didn't commit to any lessons. It was in a music store, yes they sell banjos, but after about 20 minutes, he said he really was only proficient on the guitar and taught out of the Banjo Primer book, which I already had. Hell, I can read. I would strongly suggest the Murphy Method DVDs. I'm actually starting to understand and be able to vamp on the third song in the suggested progression. I was never able to get that from books. Everybodys different, but I'm having pretty good luck there. I wouldn't go to a barber that I had to bring my own scissors and clippers.

I''m always pickin'' on my banjo, but it always beats me up.