|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link.
clausont - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:03:05
Hi! We are brand new to this forum and to the banjo also. My five year old daughter decided that the banjo is the instrument that she will want to play when her arms are long enough to play one :)
So we looked around for a banjo and found a $25 Rover at a yard sale that needed a neck repair. I repaired the neck which seems to have turned out "usable".
I myself have a great interest in learning the banjo so I started trying to learn a bit from a book and from the internet.
My question: Where really is the best place to start?
I would not mind even taking some lessons to get started, but after looking there is nobody in our area that gives banjo lessons.
Thanks
pcfive - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:12:43
It depends on whether you have experience with another string instrument, or any kind of musical experience. A lot of us played guitar for a long time and then for some reason switched to banjo. If that is the case, then you have one less string to worry about! But actually, banjo is harder than guitar in some ways, even with only 5 strings. I thought it would be easy to learn banjo after playing guitar for decades. I estimated it would take about two weeks -- now, seven years later, I am still working on it!
If you never played another instrument, then you have to start with basics like keys and scales and chords. You have to understand the kind of patterns that make up a typical song. And, of course, you also have to learn the mechanics of finger picking. This takes many hours of repetitive practice.
But don't listen to me, I am not a teacher, just still learning.
slider1 - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:15:58
ive only been at this 6 months and started out with
a book but switched to lessons on skype (couldnt find one in my area)
a teacher is very hepfull at the start and you will progress a lot faster IMO, I use fiddlen al and he has been great in my progress with the banjo.
Just go to the teachers forum and there are several
that give skype lessons, banjophobic and the kidd
are 2 off the top of my head that also give lessons
as far as who to use thats up to you i use fiddlen al
but have heard nothing but good comments on the others. also as you progress you can pass on the lessons to your daughter
good luck on your new banjo journey
Happy Picken
Tim
Edited by - slider1 on 09/02/2010 18:18:09
mebacon - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:31:04
Consider getting Volume 1 of the Murphy Method. You can get it at murphymethod.com.
It will be the best $30 you will ever spend on banjo education.
Ira Gitlin - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:32:21
A good teacher is the best thing. Where do you live, clausont?
Bizdoc - Posted - 09/02/2010: 18:32:52
for a book and Cd you might try the Janet Davis "you can teach yourself banjo"
It starts from the very beginning and leads you through easy songs and builds with each progressive song.
minstrelmike - Posted - 09/02/2010: 19:03:57
If you don't already play guitar, then get a chord chart for the banjo and just strum your way (open-handed) through a bunch of simple tunes that you've already heard.
Get a few familiar basic tunes just working at a basic level changing chords in time and then worry about doing picking or frailing with the right hand and learning brand new music.
bottom of this page is tuning and basic chords.
moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/speci...ndex.html
And here are chords and word for easy, common folk songs:
moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/songs/index.html
clausont - Posted - 09/02/2010: 19:13:05
Wow! What a great active forum. We live in Central Oregon. I have never played any instruments until the last couple of months when I started playing a harmonica and a trumpet just for fun. We have five kids so there is a variety of interest in instruments here. I have never played any stringed instruments at all. Thanks for all of the great replies. I will check them all out more in depth.
Now I am also interested in the "repair" section to see if I came anywhere near close on the repair I did on this banjo. :)
banjo roo - Posted - 09/02/2010: 19:32:52
I agree with the recomendation of the Janet Davis "You can teach yourself banjo" book.
It takes a very logical progression and teaches you how to improvise on songs.
Roo
Rwh56 - Posted - 09/02/2010: 21:58:18
Search the membership to find a teacher in your area. Go to member homepages. Select your state in the advanced search area and check off "teaching others" under the interests heading and click "Go!". This is how I found a great teacher. I think having a teacher is the best way to learn. A teacher will get you started in the right form. You dont want to learn bad habits that you will need to unlearn later. A good teacher will push you to play more than you would on your own. And you will want to practice more so that you are prepared for the moment of truth at your next lesson. Good Luck.
dgill - Posted - 09/03/2010: 05:30:05
You will be missing out if you do not checkout the pickersacademy.com. I have been a member for a good while now and also take live lessons there. It is a tool box for the banjo player and it is at your disposal any time you want to use it. I am a big fan and benefactor.
dflowers - Posted - 09/03/2010: 05:58:07
Clausont, Welcome to this forum. And welcome to the new world of banjo playing. It is a wonderful journey and much like learning how to first crawl, walk and eventually run, there will always be folks there to pick you up if you should stumble. There are many folks on this forum who have been down the road you are about to travel. Listen to them. I have and have garnered a lot of information that has helped me. I, too, am fairly new at this banjo journey and have learned a very valuable lesson.. Don't get discouraged. You just get better and better. Guaranteed. Good luck, pal. We are all rooting for you. Don
clausont - Posted - 09/06/2010: 05:29:42
Great information and thanks to all who helped out here.
I have checked out pickersacademy.com. It confirmed something that I think I learned yesterday.
I was having a difficult time holding the banjo properly with my left hand as the neck kept wanting to shift so I couldn't hold my hand in a good position to keep my fingers on the frets. I was beginning to think my fingers were just too big. I watched a couple of Rob Bourassa's videos and realized that he had a strap on his banjo. I guess it should have been obvious from the start. I rigged up a temporary strap from one from our fiddle case and it instantly made things 100% easier!
( will be ordering a proper strap shortly... )
Well, I am starting to mess around with one of the many versions of "Cripple Creek" so that should be interesting....
Tyler8 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 06:28:18
Your daughter is a genius, btw. ;-)
Good luck with your learning.
Tyler
Tyler8 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 06:32:40
One other thought, get your daughter a short scale banjo (like an A or C scale).
General info here:savethebanjos.com/Scale%20Length.htm
That or get a capo for your rover and some spikes. Capo 5 will make a c banjo possibly short enough for your daughter to play.
Tyler
Edited by - Tyler8 on 09/06/2010 06:37:40
clausont - Posted - 09/06/2010: 06:57:17
Good thought on the capo, but what are spikes (yes - I AM a newbie!)
Thanks
pickingfive - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:17:59
I second the recommendation for using the Murphy Method.
"Spikes" are the miniature railroad spikes used in the model train hobby industry. They are driven into the fretboard in the middle of the 7th through 12th frets underneath the fifth string. So, when you capo up to the key of A, you insert the fifth string under the head of the spike in the 7th fret, etc. I have installed them myself. However, many banjo players have a luthier install them.
Tyler8 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:20:34
Well spikes are one of the methods used to shorten the 5th string in parallel with the shortening of the other strings that happens with the capo.
They are little ho gauge railroad spikes carefully placed into the fretboard that you hook the 5th string under. I recommend you get a knowledgeable person to do this for you. One other thing is inexpensive banjos (like your rover) sometimes don't sound great when capped but it's probably worth a try.
Tyler
Edited by - Tyler8 on 09/06/2010 08:17:38
Tabs - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:20:47
quote:
Originally posted by clausont
Good thought on the capo, but what are spikes (yes - I AM a newbie!)
Thanks
Since the 5th string on the banjo is shorter than all the others, you can't just use one normal capo to play in a different key. Spikes are basically mini capos for the 5th string. All they are is a tiny metal hook that pulls the 5th string down to the fret, just like a finger. -Ben
Tabs - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:24:27
oops I didn't see pickingfive's and Tyler8's replies! I guess you have enough info on what a spike is!
-Ben
clausont - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:34:34
Ok, I understand what spikes are now. It seems like this method is pretty much a permanent method? In other words, when spikes are used - they are there until removed? So this will make the banjo usable only for my daughter and not the others in our family?
Not sure if that will work as there are three or four of us that are starting to learn on the same banjo.
5stringpicker2 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 07:36:46
Welcome aboard.
(I )===='---<::)
Daveasti - Posted - 09/06/2010: 08:20:50
Hi, clausont. The spikes are permanent, but putting the string under one of them isn't. The string can pop in or out for different tunings.
Tyler8 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 08:22:27
quote:
Originally posted by clausont
Ok, I understand what spikes are now. It seems like this method is pretty much a permanent method? In other words, when spikes are used - they are there until removed? So this will make the banjo usable only for my daughter and not the others in our family?
Not sure if that will work as there are three or four of us that are starting to learn on the same banjo.
Spikes will not make the banjo "unusable" for others. They are "permanent" in that they stay in the neck but they are not "permanent" in that you either have the 5th string hooked under one or you don't. They don't affect the playing otherwise -- other than on the rare songs when you might want to fret the 5th string (not gonna cause problems for beginners). Here's a "how to" page: frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/...ike1.html and another: banjoist.tripod.com/spike2.htmlThat show some pictures about this method of capoing the 5th string. Tyler
patrick martin - Posted - 09/06/2010: 11:46:54
Hey there, I have 5 children and you'll find a great time to practice is at playgrounds. As far as books, I have a bunch and like the MelBay to start and just keep playing. I had a Rogue to start and still play it quite a bit as it is the Banjo in bathroom when the younger kids get a bath. Buy a cheap mandolin, fiddle and/or guitar and you'll be set for any jam...
clausont - Posted - 09/06/2010: 11:55:14
Thanks Tyler - That is what I was concerned about!
Ah! We have something in common Patrick - we have five kids also. (I already have the cheap fiddle.... ) We homeschool all of our kids so we don't often get to playgrounds, but then we make our own schedule also. So we can do this when we are at home, on the boat, at the river or whatever :)
I will look into the book.
Thanks!
Chris Cooper - Posted - 09/06/2010: 12:03:54
Hi and welcome to the hangout!
I can vouch for the Skype lesson option, I know John Boulding(Banjophobic) would be happy to help, I took some instruction from him recently and I will definately be doing so again, he's really helpfull.
John Kuhn(The KIDD) also has openings I believe, John is a great player and teacher, you will also find that he is a great friend.
Another awesome way to learn the right way to play is the Acutab DVD's they are truely magnificent and worth 10 times their price tag!!! acutab.com
stepnahalf - Posted - 09/07/2010: 19:13:14
I can recommend Janet Davis' You Can Teach Yourself Banjo. I've never played an instrument of any kind until I bought my banjo a year ago. Her book starts simple and gets into easy songs right away. I know it keeps me motivated to practice more when I can actually play a (basic) version of a song. The DVD and CD help with being able to see the technique and hear what the song is supposed to sound like when played correctly.
|
Feeds
