rollinalong - Posted - 07/17/2009:  23:37:58

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I read all of the threads about music theory, about how Earl did it, about how this maker is better than that maker about this bridge or that tail piece and I think why not just play it? Listen to what you like and play with it. Sing it and pick it, have fun and do what makes you feel good. That's what music is about.

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

jfrebel - Posted - 07/17/2009:  23:53:45

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"jist play the durn thang" is my motto too but there's something to be said for knowing what works and doesn't work to make your playing sound better. I'll never get real technical about truss rods and bridges head tension and such, but its nice to know my banjo sounds crappy I can ask one of these banjo geeks and he'll know exactly what's wrong and what to do to make it better. I say there's room for both.
and a banjo forum better have some banjo geeks on it or who do we turn too when we need help?

airborne - Posted - 07/18/2009:  01:28:16

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then what would we have to talk about, i pick 10 hours a day, but i still like to hear what kind of stings, bridge's and tailpiece that other guy's use, if we didn't this great site wouldn't exist, im in the UK we could alway's talk about the weather.

john.

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Edited by - airborne on 07/18/2009 01:31:24

stevena - Posted - 07/18/2009:  01:33:40

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"Sing it and pick it, have fun and do what makes you feel good"
Bill,
Some love to sing it and pick it only, some love to tinker with it. Change this, compare that, discuss tone rings for hours on end.....on and on. As you put it "do what makes you feel good". This is what makes a lot of BOH members "feel good"

It would be a dull world if every woman was a brunette or every woman was a blond...huh?

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Edited by - stevena on 07/18/2009 02:42:22

me!!! - Posted - 07/18/2009:  01:46:08

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amen to that brother!!

with a name like gibson, it''s got to be good!!

OSCAR82AA - Posted - 07/18/2009:  03:05:29

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I agree to have fun and just pick it and play,
but sometimes that gets tough when that 4th String has a buzz and the tail piece has a rattle.
It is good to know and be interested in the workings of your banjo.

GerhardP - Posted - 07/18/2009:  03:05:56

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A musician should know how to keep his tools in good shape, but he shouldn't obsess over them. There is a fine line....

Gerhard

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"Most bullet holes in banjos are a result of poor aim"
(Fretless Josh Saw in BNL July ''02)

fixdent - Posted - 07/18/2009:  04:35:58

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It's what brings us all together, from all over the world. Talking about it is what brings us here.

--
Gordon

Skyraider50 - Posted - 07/18/2009:  04:39:45

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While I try to do the right things: daily practice of the right things, spend time working rolls, chord practice, daily cleaning of my jo', etc. I do not always do these things.
I DO however play and "revel in it" regardless of the poor quality it may be. It makes me happy, and joyful...........

Life is hard. Being stupid makes it harder--John Wayne

jrdew - Posted - 07/18/2009:  05:36:21

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A lot of great points made here. The learning and sharing of information that takes place in these forums is amazing. However, I can also absolutely do without the deprecating and self-aggrandizing posts that pop up from time to time.

Joe Larson - Posted - 07/19/2009:  09:58:24

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Some of us here are obsessed with banjos. How to play them, how to tune them, how others played them, how this lick was done or that progression, or how to make them sound better by tightening this, loosening that or swapping something out. Just into every aspect of it . Some of us will never be satisfied with the way we play or the way we sound. I just think it's all part of the whole banjo experience. But there's no reason to assume that the ones who talk about "music theory, about how Earl did it, about how this maker is better than that maker about this bridge or that tail piece " aren't picking it and singing and having fun with it too.

j

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user...&view=videos
There''s more to life than playing the banjo, but not a lot more.

pcfive - Posted - 07/19/2009:  16:35:00

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"Listen to what you like and play with it. Sing it and pick it, have fun and do what makes you feel good. That's what music is about."

Not for everyone. Some of us need to work at it, and to understand what we're doing. And, as others have pointed out, knowing something about how your banjo works can be very helpful. I am trying to learn what little I can about how to fix things myself. And for someone like me, understanding something about music theory is essential. If I just had fun and played what feels right to me, I would get nowhere. I have to work intensely and record myself and be my own harshest critic. It isn't always fun, but it is always rewarding. Now and then it's great fun, but only because of the hard work.

Maybe if I had been born with talent I wouldn't have to work so hard. But I enjoy working hard at it, so it is what it is, no use complaining.

pcfive

bones - Posted - 07/19/2009:  16:45:13

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it is what it is

For Fun and Frolic the One and Only "Mr. Bones" and his trusty 5 string Banjo !

jharbourmusic - Posted - 07/20/2009:  11:30:36

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Pick it your own version...That's the way I look at it, I don't try to copy anyone.

Jake

mwriley - Posted - 07/20/2009:  12:33:29

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In addition to being musical instruments, banjos are also mechanical devices. If you are the kind of person who enjoys tinkering, then all this fussing with strings, bridges, head tension and the rest is part of the enjoyment.

Mike R

stanleytone - Posted - 07/20/2009:  13:51:24

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quote:

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Originally posted by jharbourmusic

Pick it your own version...That's the way I look at it, I don't try to copy anyone.

Jake

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i really dont understand this "dont try to copy anyone" philosophy.i mean,whats wrong with trying to learn a really kool tune or break the way someone else does it?youy can always change a thing or two to suit your own talent level if you so choose.some people think that by copying someone else that you are limiting your own creativity.i heartily encourage anyone to put their own stamp on a tune,and its a good feeling to be able to do so.but i also get a killer rush when i nail a tune just like it is on the cd.scott vestal did as good a break on" love come home" when he played with livewire,and ill never forget the rush i got when i slowed it down and nailed it exactly the way it was on the cd.i love using my own creativity,but to be able to feed off someone elses creativity can make you come up with ideas you may never have thought of on your own.


"Yeah,I play the banjo.You gotta problem with that?"

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Edited by - stanleytone on 07/20/2009 13:52:26