Chris Quinn - Posted - 06/11/2009:  09:24:37

These ideas could be intended for the banjo player who usually plays and practices alone, but I really think these ideas will help every banjo player.

Whether you are longing to find other people to play music with or you are a contented banjo hermit; playing the banjo alone has its challenges.

Answer these questions for yourself.

You practice with a metronome, right? Right. Ok. So that means you are working on your timing and phrasing. Good. When you practice without the metronome, how do you go about it? Do you play along with records? Yes? Good. Do you play alone, without any other musical dialogue? Yes? That’s good too.

When you do play alone, do you find that you tend to overplay because you are missing the other band instruments? Does your timing waver? Yes? Yeah, me too.

OK. Here is something you can do to make your banjo playing better. Ready. Here it is.

Imagine the sound that surrounds your sound.

I read a couple of separate articles a few years ago in which two banjo players, who had worked for long periods in bands, were discussing the challenges of performing solo. I took these articles to heart and began practicing some of the concepts myself and teaching them to my students. I now feel confident to put them forth here.

Two points stood out.

POINT ONE. The two players independently described that when they performed solo, they imagined the influence of the other instruments they wished for. They imagined the influence of the mandolin, the bass, the guitar, the fiddle. They carried the band sound in their imagination rather than overplaying their banjo to compensate for the real absence of the instruments. By imagining the effect of those instruments on your playing, you are less likely to rush or play cluttered lines. So, play along with The Bluegrass Album Band cd's; then when you play alone minus the recording, carry the influence of the other instruments and vocals with you as you play. Your banjo playing will be buoyed by the sounds you imagine.

POINT TWO. Both banjo players described that they dealt with issues of sustained notes by imagining the notes on the banjo to be longer; not making the notes longer- thinking the notes longer. In the mind of the player, they allowed the notes to sound on beyond the natural decay of the notes. This facilitated timing, phrasing and the overall quality of the music. This technique would imaginably affect the spaces between the notes and allow the audience to really feel the music as the performer imagined it.

So, record yourself using these ideas and see if it improves the quality of your solo playing.

By the way, the banjo players in the interviews were Danny Barnes and Bela Fleck. For good examples of players who can really play with a great sense of the sound that surrounds them, listen to: John Hartford, J.D. Crowe, Earl Scruggs, Danny Barnes, and surely the list goes on. ........

On a personal note, I occasionally perform solo and these techniques have really helped my playing. I also feel that this has helped my performances in band scenarios. I don't overplay as much as I used to, I am more tasteful, more melodic, and, most importantly, I listen more holistically to the entire band.

Enjoy.


Chris Quinn
www.foggyhogtownboys.com

Edited by - Chris Quinn on 06/11/2009 09:35:42

10gauge - Posted - 06/11/2009:  15:32:47

I was just recently introduced to John Hartford's music, when I hear them talking about his music on the radio on the anniversary of his death. What a blessing that we have video and recordings of greats like John.

Jonathan O''bug

banjo ron - Posted - 06/11/2009:  16:41:52

Great post. Wow--this really seems to work. I would love to know more about the psychology behind this. I think there's a whole chapter in the book "This is your Brain on Music" about how musicians "think" about music and approach playing their instrument. Thanks for sharing this, Chris.

leftcoastbanjer - Posted - 06/12/2009:  08:29:49

So nice to have a teacher like Chris who's willing to take the time to post something like this for no other reason than to help. You're a fine feller Chris Quinn

-Larry
Chief #141

axsis - Posted - 06/13/2009:  04:38:45

Yes he is!

Cheers!
Don

OutlawSteph - Posted - 06/13/2009:  07:30:42

Understanding the role of the other instruments even if you don't know how to play them, is important in becoming a good musician. That means the dynamics of how loud that instrument can play and the melodic range of that instrument and how they might improvise because when you are playing backup, you need to adjust your playing so that you are compliment the other instrument. When the backup musicians can't do that for you when you are taking a break, it is frustrating and doesn't sound like something others want to listen to.

So, I certainly agree with Chris. You can do this even when you are practicing alone. Great advice!

Edited by - OutlawSteph on 06/13/2009 07:31:34

Chris Quinn - Posted - 07/07/2009:  08:43:19

Thanks to all who have chimed in on this one. I hope this has been, and will continue to be, helfpul.

Chris Quinn
www.foggyhogtownboys.com

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 07/07/2009:  12:30:42

Chris, I particularly take your point 2 to heart. Banjos don't sustain and there is a natural tendency to want to fill up all the spaces. Especially with slow songs played solo. But what I once thought of as a liability has turned into quite a strength - rapidly decaying chords can sound quite dramatic and focus the listeners attention on the next musical statement. There is a fragile beauty to this.

Cheers,
Laurence

It takes a lot to laugh, but it takes a train to cry

Tommy5 - Posted - 07/07/2009:  16:49:17

Great points, i also think that if you practice alone you can sing along with your playing to keep timing and melody and harmony on time,the temptation to play easy parts fast and harder parts slower is just too great if your not carefully listening to your playing or using a metronome.

banjerman - Posted - 07/07/2009:  17:38:31

Chris:
I call this focusing on the music instead of the instrument..banjo in this case. I play an archtop in a garage band and just started doing so. We have played 2 gigs so far. The second gig found me thinking of the songs as a "package". I found that my archtop sounded way more mellow when a guitar and bass was added to it. Sounds kinda weird but its true. There was a balance of sound that happened. The banjo was the driver of the tune (IMO) but the blend made the sound deeper and better than the banjo alone.

JR - Posted - 07/07/2009:  20:48:00

Chris,

Thanks for taking the time to post this. I'll be trying out these ideas. I appreciate all the similar "mini lessons" that you've posted.

I long for the time when I can find a guitar player or fiddler to play with. I wish I could find a slow jam or beginner's jam. I have a deep fear of being "that guy" who shows up at a jam and ruins it for other people.